Inclusivity.

Creativity.

Community.

Community Engaged Arts

Let's get inclusive.

Anti-Racist Pedagogy

Risk, learn, risk again.

Research

Nerd out with me.

About the Artist-Scholar

Imagining a radically inclusive classroom and rehearsal space

Dr. Aviva Helena Neff is the Director of Youth & Community Learning at Columbus College of Art & Design and an adjunct faculty member with Otterbein University Department of Theatre and Dance. An honors graduate of Goldsmiths College (MA, Applied Theatre), Dr. Neff enjoys working in devised theatre and theatre for social change with participants aged 1-100. She is an ensemble member with Teatro Travieso, which premiered her solo performance, Blood, Earth, Water in 2021, written as part of a practice-as-research Ph.D. at the Ohio State University. Dr. Neff has recently published works on mediatized race and identity, mixed-Black women in Reconstruction-era New Orleans, and inclusive theatre pedagogy. Dr. Neff is very fortunate to serve as a freelance intimacy coordinator and director within the incredible theatre community in Columbus.

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What's next for Aviva?

Fairview
Available Light Theatre
(Jan 25 - Feb 10, 2024)

I am thrilled to undertake this challenging script with the assistance of an incredible team of creatives and the support of Available Light Theatre in Columbus, OH. Jackie Sibblies Drury's 2019 exploration of race, class, and hypervisibility means a great deal to me as an artist and scholar. I am honored to embark on the journey that is this play and eager for Columbus audiences to experience its brilliance.

9-to-5

Otterbein Theatre and Dance

(April 4-April 13, 2024)

Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss.

Intimacy Direction

As a certified Intimacy Coordinator, I have worked with actors and directors to create a safer rehearsal environment that prioritizes consent. Get in touch to learn more about my services and how we can work together to create bold, collaborative spaces for creativity!

Course Offerings & Workshops

Anti-racist pedagogy, community engaged art, and more!

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Applied Theatre Workshop Intensive

My extensive background as an Applied Theatre facilitator makes me the ideal candidate for helping your organization shape community engaged programming. I would be thrilled to visit your company, department, or school and share some of my knowledge. During this workshop, we will discuss and practice creating ethical work that suits the needs of your participants while considering the joys and obstacles of community engaged work. Contact me for a sample itinerary and to discuss how I can best serve your needs.

Black American History & Performance

This course is my favorite to teach. I love engaging with historical accounts of Black American life while reading classic and contemporary testaments to this rich culture that has shaped America. Guided by artists such as James Baldwin, Ntozake Shange, and Beyoncé Knowles, students will engage with plays, poetry, and music at a challenging level. Sample syllabus available on request.

Criticizing Television

In this media studies course, students will learn to analyze and engage with television in order to better understand its societal representations. We begin with a crash course in a history of American TV and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into production, followed by a packed syllabus full of binge-worthy shows! From Breaking Bad to Insecure, students read complex literature that accompanies what they're watching while completing short writing assignments that culminate in a portfolio. Syllabus available on request.