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Students across Jeffco Public Schools are learning to think on their feet and build lasting connections through the district's annual Improv Festival.

The festival brings middle and high school theater students together to strengthen the Jeffco theater community and develop skills that extend beyond the stage.

"The Jeffco Improv Festival is an event where students from middle school and high school around Jeffco come together and get to meet each other and support each other," said Jesse Collett, Jeffco theater arts coordinator. "And they get to learn from professionals in the industry."

Unlike traditional theater, improvisation requires performers to create scenes spontaneously, without scripts or preparation. Students say this teaches valuable life skills.

"It teaches you to be confident and to follow through with your choices and to build each other up," said Soren, a Golden High School student.

"There are so many opportunities and moments in every day where you will be expected to make something up on the spot, and improv helps with that more than almost anything," said Owen, a Bear Creek High School student.

The festival features workshop sessions led by theater professionals, culminating in an optional Improv Showcase where school teams can perform. But participants say the real value lies in the connections they form.

"Improv is an absolute team sport," said Amelia, a Ralston Valley High School student. "Your partner is looking out for you, you're looking out for them. Nobody knows where the scene is going. No one's better than anyone because it's all off the cuff. And that carries over into your life, like job interviews, anything."

"There's an absolute law of inclusion. It's rolling with what you're given," Soren said. "It's not sticking to a plan."

"You have to listen to people. You have to be there," Amelia said. "And I think that really helps in such a divided world where the one thing that we really, really need to do above anything else is listen to each other."

"We come together and we mix up all these schools," said Gabriella, a Golden High School student, "and we're going to be cheering for those other schools. I think that's a really beautiful thing."

"We barely know each other," said Katie, a Chatfield High School student, "and then we come together and we create an amazing storyline."

The Jeffco Improv Festival is open to all secondary schools in the district.