Cross the Circle
Cross the Circle is a warm-up in which a player in the center calls out a characteristic, and everyone who shares it crosses to a new position in the circle. The exercise functions as both an icebreaker and a gentle reveal of shared experiences within the group. It is closely related to Anyone Who and Come Over Here If...
Worth Reading
See all books →
Creating Improvised Theatre
Tools, Techniques, and Theories
Mark Jane
Group Improvisation
The Manual of Ensemble Improv Games
Peter Campbell Gwinn; Charna Halpern
Business Improv
Experiential Learning Exercises to Train Employees
Val Gee
Improv Ideas
A Book of Games and Lists
Mary Ann Kelley; Justine Jones
Improvisation for the Theater
A Handbook of Teaching and Directing Techniques
Viola Spolin
Improvised Theatre and the Autism Spectrum
A Practical Guide
Gary Kramer; Richie Ploesch
Related Exercises
Meet & Greet Walkabout
Meet, Greet, Walkabout is a physical warm-up and ensemble-building exercise in which participants walk through the space and meet each other in a series of brief, structured encounters. Each encounter follows a format set by the facilitator -- a specific greeting, a specific question, or a specific physical acknowledgment -- and participants move from person to person at a pace set by the facilitator. The exercise builds early ensemble connection and reduces the social distance between participants before more demanding group work begins.
Everybody Touch Someone Who...
Everybody Touch Someone Who... is a physical warm-up exercise in which a caller names a characteristic or experience and all participants who match it must immediately move to touch at least one other person who also matches. The resulting movement creates visible social maps of the group -- who shares which experiences -- while generating physical energy and a sense of collective discovery through quick, full-body engagement.
Come over Here If…
Come Over Here If... is a warm-up in which one player calls out a personal characteristic, experience, or quality, and anyone who shares it crosses to the other side of the room. The exercise reveals commonality within a group, builds ensemble trust, and establishes a norm of personal disclosure at the start of a session.
Back Dancing
Back Dancing is a physical warm-up in which two players stand back to back and move together, each responding to the pressure and rhythm of the other's body. Without visual cues, players must rely on physical sensitivity to stay connected. The exercise builds nonverbal communication and physical trust.
You Are My Best Friend
You Are My Best Friend is a warm-up exercise in which players greet each other with the enthusiasm of reuniting with a long-lost best friend. The exercise practices heightened emotional connection and teaches performers to bring genuine warmth and excitement to their interactions. It sets a supportive, high-energy tone for the session.
Follow the Leader
Follow the Leader is a classic exercise in which one player leads the group through a series of movements that everyone copies. The exercise builds observation skills and comfort with matching another player's energy and style. It can be extended by having the leader change without announcement, forcing the group to identify the new source of movement.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Cross the Circle. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/exercises/cross-the-circle
The Improv Archive. "Cross the Circle." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/exercises/cross-the-circle.
The Improv Archive. "Cross the Circle." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/exercises/cross-the-circle. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.