The pace should increase as the team finds that connection. “The next person receives that energy and immediately connects and passes it to someone else in the circle saying, “Zap!” That person passes it to another on a “Zop!” The game goes on and on passing energy clearly and quickly all around the circle to the rhythm of “Zip-Zap-Zop! The challenge is to keep the energy moving throughout the team, keep it positive, and don’t let it drop!”Īllow the game to start slowly remind the students that the game is more about connection and being clear than it is about speed. To start the game, I will clearly use my hands, body, eyes, and voice to make contact with a ready teammate in the circle and instantly shoot them that energy. “In my hands, I have a bolt of positive energy. Here’s some good language to explain the game… They do this by looking around the circle, making eye contact, affirming, and “checking in” with every teammate. Say, “Congratulations! You’ve got the pattern we’ll follow throughout the game!”ĭiscuss and demonstrate the physical and mental “readiness,” used in the game (and in performance), then instruct the students to ready themselves and their team. Have them repeat the words, “Zip, Zap, Zop” three or four times, all together. Moreover, it is a great, easy demonstration of the bright, positive, connected energy wanted for creative collaboration. Zip Zap Zop is also a great exercise to explore pace, interpersonal connection, specificity, and clarity of choice. To do this, students must be clear with their intentions, making eye contact and connection with the person they send the energy to, and work together to keep the Zip Zap Zop rhythm going. The goal is to keep the Zips, the Zaps, and the Zops z’moving. As students “shoot” and “speak” this energy to one another, you’ll hear the energy passing through the group following the sequence of “Zip,” “Zap,” “Zop,” “Zip,” “Zap,” “Zop.” Essentially, students use their “pass energy” (in the form of a Zip, a Zap, or a Zop) clearly and rapidly across the circle. Whether the participants are 7, 17, or 67 years old, this game is a terrific way for a teacher or director to rally the troops into a “team,” in a simple yet active way. We often use this game as to open a workshop, class, or rehearsal. Zip-Zap-Zop is about connection, focus, and energy. But, trust me, these three Z words have a lot to offer in the theatre and in the classroom. If, however, you’ve NEVER found yourself in such a time and place, you might think “Zip-Zap-Zop” are just words thrown up on the TV screen whenever Batman and Robin punch a bad guy. If you’ve ever found yourself backstage in the excited, nervous, energy directly preceding an opening night for a middle-school, high-school, or college play, you are likely to know (and know very well) that ever-popular mantra of theatrical warm-up: “Zip-Zap-Zop.”
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