The "Your Move x Improvisation" Summer School opened at Derzhavin University. This large-scale educational intensive brought together approximately 100 students from across Russia—improv club activists, KVN (Club of the Funny and Inventive) participants, and anyone interested in stage comedy.
"Derzhavin University has already established itself as a platform for the exchange of professional experience. Now we've added humor and creativity to this mix," says Pavel Moiseev, Rector of Derzhavin University. "As part of the All-Russian 'Your Move' project, which is part of the presidential platform 'Russia – Land of Opportunities,' we're accepting students from other regions. They are all interested in improvisation and KVN. It's gratifying that our own improv club, which opened in Derzhavin University last summer, is also actively developing. It currently has 30 students. We are rightfully proud of our students' achievements. This year, 13 Derzhavin team duos participated in the qualifying round in Moscow—the largest representation among all participating universities. Three pairs reached the finals, and one team made it into the top four of the special project. These results are inspiring. I am confident that the Summer School will give new impetus to the development of student humor and KVN throughout Russia.
Over the course of five days, participants will enjoy a rich educational program: master classes from comedy professionals, practical work on stage, and creative assignments. Participants will learn acting from experienced mentors, master game mechanics, create humorous scenes on the fly, and prepare for the regional and district stages of the special project.
The All-Russian student project "Your Move" is a unified student community where participants have the opportunity to realize themselves in various fields. "These are various competition tracks where any student can find something they're passionate about, begin to develop, and then take action: create projects, initiatives, form teams, and formulate new challenges," says Marina Babachenko, Head of Special Projects for the All-Russian Student Project "Your Move." "We work for students and for the sake of students. We care about their current lives, and that's what we develop. Two years ago, our expert center conducted a survey to determine what young people are currently interested in. Student improvisation ranked first. This was a sign for us that it was time to act, because we not only develop creative skills and stage performance abilities, but also teach teamwork. It also provides an opportunity to act in a stressful situation: participants deliver humor in seconds, in real time, without any pre-rehearsed material."
The new season of the special project "Your Move x Improvisation" launched on January 25th. It aims to promote the creative development of students from universities and vocational schools in the genre of improvised comedy. The project includes competitive trials for student teams, the creation of improvisation clubs at higher education institutions, and training for trainers and mentors.
The all-Russian student project "Your Move" is part of the "Russia – Land of Opportunities" Presidential Platform and is being implemented with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the National Project "Youth and Children."
