I didn’t take my first improvisation class until I was 19 years old. At that point in my life, the concept of improvisation was totally lost on me, both in the dance studio and in life. I am a steadfast creature of habit, thriving in the reliability of consistency. I am a planner and a list-maker, and nothing makes me feel more safe than knowing exactly what I have done and will do.

My name is Deborah (deh-boh-rah) Zanelli (zah-nell-lee) Maciel (mah-si-el). I love my name. It holds for me the prophetess Deborah, feminist of ancient biblical times; the Hebrew word for worker bee; the tenacity and will to live of my mother with whom I share Zanelli; and the tender strength of my Father who gave me Maciel. I especially love how it sounds in their Peruvian-Brazilian Spanish acento, and I love how it rolls swiftly off my tongue. Like pouring water.