Ajay Heble: Intergenerational Courage and the Importance of Improvisation

Social change conjures up an array of topics: politics, activism and development, among them. But what about music, or theatre? How do these art forms connect with activism and social change?

Dr. Ajay Heble explores these fields to understand how improvisation can serve as a model of social change. As Director of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI), he has dedicated his research to analyzing the connections among improvisational artistic forms (in particular, music), human rights, and community-based learning.

“My research has shown that improvisation demands shared responsibility for participation and community, an ability to negotiate difference, and a willingness to accept the challenges of risk and contingency,” he says. “Adept improvisors need to be able to respond and adapt to unprecedented situations, and of course this is something we’ve perhaps seen more now than ever, due to the pandemic.”

It was this research focus and passion for music (being an accomplished pianist himself) that inspired Heble to establish the Guelph Jazz Festival in 1994, to present creative improvisational artists and unconventional live music. With the goals of global reflection in mind, the Guelph Jazz Festival has developed an international reputation, being a three-time recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts as well as the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Through the Festival’s facilitation, Heble has been able to witness the impact of artistic improvisation firsthand. He strongly believes that, if musicians are able to improvise in such a way, this humanistic approach can be extended to facilitate social change.

“I remember one example, at the Jazz Festival, where musicians from Ethiopia, Mali, Mexico, the Netherlands, Canada, the USA came together. They had never met before or had one single language they all spoke – except for music,” he says. “And they didn’t map out their performance. They just met for the first time onstage, in front of an audience, and played. And they created absolutely wondrous music.” Heble is also a professor at the University of Guelph’s School of English and Theatre Studies, inspiring students to understand the importance of fostering connections, community-based learning, and social action. Growing up, Heble was able to experience firsthand demonstrations of these values through stories of his grandmother, a doctor and activist who fought for India’s independence, as well as his father, who was a mathematician and musician.

“I know my grandmother was a freedom fighter, and on some level, that definitely influenced me,” Ajay says. “And I know that it influenced my father, who was also, as a youth, active in that movement.”

This intergenerational activism is just one of the ways Heble is able to connect with his Indian heritage. As a Steering Committee member of the Canada India Research Centre for Engagement and Learning (CIRCLE), he sees various connections between improvisational practice and social activism in India, particularly through art forms such as theatre.

He hopes to build networks that take into account South Asian histories, stories, and resilience. This includes collaborations with organizations such as the India-based video game development studio, Studio Oleomingus.

Heble urges students interested in connecting with their South Asian roots and developing as scholars and changemakers to take the opportunity while they can, to speak to people. “I would have loved to sit down with my grandmother, when I was visiting, or through mail, and have her tell me about her experiences,” he says. “It would have been fantastic! And even with my dad! He was a really modest guy, so he didn’t really want to talk about those things. It was only after he passed away that I started talking to other people, that I learned about these things. So, my advice is, if you want to learn about your family, you can talk to people while they’re still alive, to try to find out more about that history.”

This profile was curated by Liaba Nisar, student writer for CIRCLE and Bachelor of Arts graduate.