introducing our ensemble: Mayumi Hikida

While we’re looking forward to two more rounds of our Living Stories 6-week course, I would like to introduce you to our course assistant: Mayumi Hikida.

Mayumi came on board as tech host for the first iteration of Living Stories in January. Although we had not worked together before, our conversations flowed naturally and our hosting styles complemented each other.

It was obvious from our first call that Mayumi is a joy to work with! Smooth and calm with the Zoom technology and an experienced improv-performer, she is happy to demonstrate activities and comfortable adjusting to unexpected circumstances.

Mayumi shares:

“From the get-go, I had full trust in Angelina as a facilitator, and working with her was pretty much effortless. Living Stories offers a safe space to explore and share our own stories, and I enjoyed the intimate journey. I’m happy to continue being part of this project and look forward to meeting many more of you storytellers.”

Mayumi Hikida

"A story that is alive for me right now is a search for a place to call home while teaching and performing internationally. A 'home' might be a new apartment, or a city, or a country. I'm feeling a strong urge for change and growth."

Mayumi’s professional expertise is the intersection of mental health and theatrical improvisation. As a mental health coordinator, she offers training, support and consultation in the performing arts field. Her work promotes mental well-being using improvisation practices.

This all fits very well with my vision of how we work at impro studio. When Mayumi and I first connected - prompted by my search for a tech host - our conversation went way beyond the technical aspect. We spent most of our time exploring what it means to host groups with care and professional integrity.

As we both enjoy the process of getting to know each other through bringing Living Stories to life, we have decided to continue our collaboration beyond the initial 6 weeks. Mayumi will continue assisting me on the course and I am honoured to welcome her as the newest impro studio ensemble member.

Looking forward to playing together!