Quinn Fontaine/Courtesy photo

BY CRISTINA OLDS
Friends of Los Alamos Pride

As part of Pride this year, the Friends of Los Alamos Pride, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group Prism, are bringing back comedic performer Quinn Fontaine for several evenings of improvised fun.

On June 7 and June 25, from 6 to 8 pm, Quinn Fontaine will be teaching the art of improv via Zoom. The classes are open to learners of all ages and skill levels. According to Fontaine, the classes will focus on “deep listening and playfulness in a fun and judgment-free zone.”

“Attendees often experience a wonderful sense of connection and expansion where they’ve experienced being seen, heard and felt,” says Fontaine.

The benefits of learning improv skills go far beyond the comedy world, from improved relationship and team building to active listening and a heightened sense of self-confidence. Fontaine says that most who attend improv classes “report a deeper sense of trusting one’s own creative impulses, in addition to better communication skills”.

Fontaine is excited and honored to be a part of Los Alamos Pride this year: “To have been involved since the first Los Alamos Pride is really special. Everyone I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with has been so kind.”

Quinn Fontaine is a comedic performer, teacher, and soul coach. He is also the author of Hung Like A Seahorse: A Real-Life Transgender Adventure of Tragedy, Comedy, and Recovery, his memoir about growing up transgender and healing from the various traumas of his life. In 2020, Fontaine presented the “show and tell version” as a virtual Pride event.

Prism will be covering the cost of the virtual classes, and registration for the general public opens on June 4. Each improv class will have an attendance limit of 22 people. To register, send an email to quinn@quinnfontaine.com.