Woosh

• Number of participants: 10-50
• Age level: elementary school - adult
• Source: This game is suggested by Chicago theatre practitioner and career coach Brighid O'Shaughnessy; learned at a Michael Rohd residency at Columbia College in Chicago
• Uses: Warm-up, establish group rhythm and dynamics, energizer; great for talking about communication

In this game, participants pass a kind of "wave" of energy around the circle. The goal is to establish rhythm, accuracy, and speed.

All participants stand in a circle. One person begins by saying the word "woosh" and moving his arms in a wavelike motion to the person on his right or left, who does the same to the next person. The "woosh" will get passed around the whole circle. Get momentum going before adding the next part.

When you feel as though the group has a good rhythm and speed going, introduce the next part: a "whoa!" Now, by holding your hands up in a "stop" gesture and saying "whoa," anyone can reverse the direction of the "woosh." Continue with "woosh" and "whoa" until a steady rhythm and speed are developed.

Part three is the "zap." Now, after receiving a "woosh" or a "whoa," anyone has the option of sending the energy across the circle with a "zap," while pointing directly across the circle at someone. A "zap" can only be followed by a "woosh," not another "zap" or "whoa."

Notes: Encourage participants to stay energized, and to make eye contact on each move, especially the "zap." If you are playing with young children, limit the number of "whoas," as the energy can sometimes get "stuck" on one side of the circle.

I have played this game with many groups, including in the country of Georgia, where the "woosh" became "woo," the "zap" became "zet," and the "whoa," was a "drrrrr" with a trilled tongue. It was a blast!