SCHEDULE: Saturday, April 28, 2012
* Subject to change.
Scroll down for Session Descriptions
7:45-8:45 |
Breakfast |
|||
9:00-10:30 Session C |
CD1 Crafting Stories from Travel Experiences |
C2 Storyteller’s First Aid: Taking Care of Yourself in Down (or Up) Times |
C3 Successful Grant Writing For Artists And Organizations |
C4 Storytelling? Yes! You Can! |
10:30-11:00 |
Break |
|||
11:00-12:30 Session D |
CD1 Crafting Stories from Travel Experiences (continued from Session C) |
D2 Peace Building & Storytelling: What I Learned Along The Way |
D3 Voiceovers for Storytellers – Find Your Best Storyteller Voice |
D4 Make It, Take It, Tell It |
12:45-1:45 |
Lunch |
|||
2:00-3:30 Session E |
E1 If You Can See It, You CAN Write It! |
E2 Stage Pictures: Adding Physicality to Your Stories |
E3 From Seed to Tree: How to Grow Memories Into Stories |
E4 A Crash Course in Story Performance |
3:30-4:00 |
Break |
|||
4:00-5:30 Session F |
F1 Program Building and CAST - Crafts, Art & Storytelling Theatre |
F2 People Who Made a Difference: Stories that Nurture Our Spirits |
F3 The Healing Voice |
F4 Physicality in Stories: Remembering We Have a Body! |
5:45-6:45 |
Dinner |
|||
7:00-7:45 |
Annual Meeting |
|||
8:00-9:30 |
Story Concert |
|||
10:00-11:00 |
Fringe Performance |
Fringe Performance |
Fringe Performance |
Story Circle |
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
INTENSIVE • Sessions C & D • 9:00-12:30 (with break)
CD1 – Crafting Stories from Travel Experiences
Everyone brings something back from a trip – if only a memory. These treasured souvenirs, lovingly displayed or cluttering closets, are the makings of a unique new story, a story memory waiting to be told. Choose something from your travels: photos, artifacts, treasured objects, exotic to mundane and bring it with you. Learn to craft a story using The Back Story Way as a model to transform your travel experiences into an engaging story to share. (Continues in Session D)
For: all levels of storytellers – including librarians, educators, business
Presenters: Judith Heineman, Illinois and Julie Herrera, Colorado
Illinois Humanities “Road” Scholar,” Judith Heineman, won Chicago’s SAGE Award for “Promoting International Art of Storytelling,” wrote chapter “Storytelling in China”: Storytelling Art & Technique, produces Tellabration in Chicago, Mohegan Storytelling Festival (NY), NSN Chicago Conference co-chair, 2003. Judith’s CD “Grimm’s Grimmest: Darker Side of Fairytales” won a Parents’ Choice GOLD.
Lifelong storyteller, Julie Herrera, is a member of NSN, FSA, TBSG, RMS, and Spellbinders. An educator for over 40 years serving diverse rural populations, she recently finished a manuscript for her anthology of Chinese Folktales, enjoys telling folktales from around the world, and helping others craft their own travel stories.
www.storytelling.org/heineman and www.storiesbyjulie.com
Session C • 9:00–10:30am
C2 – Storyteller’s First Aid: Taking Care of Yourself in Down (or Up) Times
Business is slow. Your new project isn’t going well. The residency you counted on wasn’t funded. Ouch. Or you’re too busy; demands keep piling up. Stress is getting to you; you never have enough time for yourself. Or nerves get you before you teach or perform. How do you calm yourself when the world is spinning? Experience practices for finding peace, no matter the ‘weather report.’ Wear comfortable clothes. Note: this workshop is actually fun!
For: beginning, intermediate or advanced storytellers, education, librarian, healing arts, faith, non-tellers
Presenter: Meg Gilman, New Hampshire
Storyteller, teacher, writer, visual and performance artist, Meg Gilman tells stories to all ages. She conducts workshops on storytelling and creativity, the healing aspects of story, personal story, and basic improv. She serves on the Healing Story Alliance Advisory Council.
C3 – Successful Grant Writing For Artists And Organizations
Learn tips and techniques for successful grant writing for individual artists and arts & education projects. You are encouraged to bring a grant proposal/guidelines for an upcoming grant you are interested in and we will work collaboratively so everyone will get a start on your own grant. This is a great way to jumpstart a submission and receive quality feedback. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops for quick research.
For: artists, arts & educational organizations interested in writing and receiving grants
Presenter: Linda Melcher, Minnesota
Working in community through reflection and story is the bedrock of Linda’s work. She has worked in the non-profit arena for many years as an accountant/financial manager, arts administrator, grant writer, educator, concert producer, and independent artist. The strength of her work is based upon collaboration and conversation.
C4 – Storytelling? Yes! You Can!
So, you want to be a storyteller!?! With over 20 years experience teaching young people and adults the art of storytelling, Judy will take you through “Six Quick Steps to Storytelling Success.” This introductory workshop will give you a template for creating, developing and remembering exciting tellable tales, whether traditional or personal, and leave you with the ability and confidence to tell stories immediately.
For: beginner storytellers
Presenter: Judy Sima, Michigan
An award winning Storyteller, Author, and Teaching Artist, Judy has been featured at conferences and festivals, schools and libraries throughout Michigan and across the country. A retired school librarian, she has been delighting audience since 1983. Her book, Raising Voices: Creating Youth Storytelling Groups and Troupes has received numerous awards and accolades including Storytelling World Honor Award. She is also a contributor to the August House Book of Scary Stories. Judy’s enthusiasm is contagious!
Session D • 11:00am–12:30pm
CD1 – Crafting Stories from Travel Experiences
(continued from Session C)
D2 – Peace Building & Storytelling: What I Learned Along The Way
Israeli born Noa Baum created and performed a show based on dialogue with a Palestinian woman. The story offers inspiration for listeners to take the first step towards building bridges of peace in their lives, communities and the world. Hear about Noa’s journey, her process and what she learned about the power of story to transform listeners and teller alike.
For: beginner, intermediate or advanced storyteller, business, librarian, education, faith, healing arts.
Presenter: Noa Baum, Maryland
Israeli born Noa Baum focuses on her craft’s power to heal across the divides of identity. Trained in theatre and education at Tel Aviv and NYU, she’s been performing and teaching from Head Start to the Kennedy Center, World Bank, US Defense Department, The Mayo Clinic, Brandeis University and more.
D3 – Voiceovers for Storytellers – Find Your Best Storyteller Voice
This workshop engages participants in a vocal warm-up, reading voiceover text aloud, reciting first lines of stories, and experimenting with new and different ways of using your voice, cadence, pacing, and oral interpretation. Discussion and handouts include an introduction to digital recording techniques, how to record a story CD, producing your own voiceover demos, seeking employment in the field of voiceovers, and setting up and operating a home recording studio.
For: storytellers of all levels, librarians, folklorists, teachers, actors, docents, tour guides, studio
recordists, and general audience.
Presenter: Bill Ratner, California
Bill is a workshop presenter and one of America’s most successful voiceover performers on Discovery, History, Smithsonian Channel, movie trailers, and computer games. He teaches voiceovers for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Bill Ratner’s stories from The Moth are featured on NPR.
D4 – Make It, Take It, Tell It
Join Storyteller Jenifer Strauss for a Make-And-Take workshop, and leave with two hand-made puppets and two easy-to-remember and ready-to tell tales. (Now say that fast three times!!) Participants will make snake puppets out of socks and learn the story of “Sniggle and Snaggle”, and/or make a turtle puppet out of gloves, and tell their own version of “The Turtle Who Talked Too Much!”
For: early childhood and elementary educators, librarians, those new to storytelling
Presenter: Jenifer Strauss, Michigan
Jenifer Strauss offers a unique brand of energy-injected performances, workshops, trainings and keynotes to capture interest, motivate learning and inspire writings. Since 1993, as Story Be Told Productions, Jen has combined her love of teaching and telling to help businesses, organizations, educators, and individuals use story to connect, communicate and clarify their goals.
Session E • 2:00–3:30pm
E1 – If You Can See It, You CAN Write It!
Constructing Abstract Thoughts Using Images and Visualization
Classroom Storytelling with Thinking Maps™
Students knowledgeable in their ability to organize their thoughts can fill a blank paper with visual stock containing rich vocabulary, details, organized ideas and literary elements. In this workshop we will merge Classroom Storytelling, Organizational Patterns; Defining in Context, Sequencing, Cause and Effect, Describing, Problem/Solution, Compare/Contrast, and the eight visual patterns of Thinking Maps™. (Designed within K-6 English Language Arts Common Core Standards)
For: intermediate to advanced storyteller, K-6 educator
Presenter: Eileen DeLorenzo, Michigan
A dynamic teller of world folktales and personal stories, Eileen has been telling stories in schools, libraries and storytelling events throughout Michigan for nearly 15 years. A K-6 Educator and Certified Trainer of Thinking Maps™ her work in Classroom Storytelling/Storyteaching for Writing, is designed to meet ELA Common Core Standards.
sites.google.com/site/eileenstoryteller/home
E2 – Stage Pictures: Adding Physicality to Your Stories
We've all heard the cliché "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words." When you perform a story, do the pictures you make with your body say as much as your mouth does? Come explore new ways to move and think about movement, including the 8 Efforts (or Qualities of Movement) developed by Rudolf Laban. Use these qualities to create dynamic new characters in your stories. Come well hydrated and prepared to move.
For: storytellers of all levels who want to add more physicality to their stories
Presenter: Katie Knutson, Minnesota
“Enchanting and magical,” Katie Knutson works as a storyteller, actor, playwright, director, improvisational performer, coach, and teaching artist. She has a background in physical theater and mask work that includes a degree in Theater and Drama. Knutson has used Laban's methods to help other storytellers expand their physical vocabulary.
E3 – From Seed to Tree: How to Grow Memories Into Stories
Often our most vivid memories come out as brief, isolated anecdotes. How do we develop those funny or poignant moments into full, shapely stories that can delight an audience of strangers? This active workshop offers a whole toolbox of techniques and practical experiments. By the end, you will have a new story well on the way to performance.
For: beginner to intermediate storytellers
Presenter: Jo Radner, Maine
Jo creates personal tales and stories about the people and history of northern New England. She delights in eccentrics, believes that humor and gravity are good bedfellows, and favors characters whose lives defeat simple explanations. Jo is past president of the American Folklore Society and the National Storytelling Network.
E4 – A Crash Course in Story Performance
No experience necessary. Whether you are a beginning storyteller or someone who “never tells stories,” this workshop will lead you through the steps of finding, choosing, practicing and performing a story in front of a small group of supportive listeners. This workshop is a combination of demonstration and small group games and activities designed to ease beginners through the steps of telling their first story.
For: beginners
Presenter: Kevin Strauss, Minnesota
Award-winning naturalist author and storyteller Kevin Strauss tells animal stories and folktales from around the world. Energetic and dynamic, Kevin has presented numerous workshops at Northlands and has presented at the National Storytelling Conference.
Session F • 4:00–5:30pm
F1 – Program Building and CAST - Crafts, Art & Storytelling Theatre
Programing with our gifts...this highly participatory workshop features arts, crafts, and brainstorming on how and where to take your storytelling programs beyond the ordinary. In this workshop we will create two story based crafts including Story Sticks and Fairy Doors and use these newly created crafts to build storytelling activities. Learn to construct & shape your own unique programs incorporating various art forms, talents or hobbies and create new opportunities for your storytelling work.
For: teachers, librarians, storytelling teachers, beginner to advanced storytellers, education, faith
Presenter: Karen Czarnik, Michigan
As a Storyteller, Artist and Musician Karen’s unique performances combine music and tale to teach, engage, encourage and tickle the funny bone. Karen has crafted with her art, stories, music, performance, writing and musings throughout her life and has learned to merge all that she loves into successful marketable programs.
F2 – People Who Made a Difference: Stories that Nurture Our Spirits
True stories about people who have made a difference nurture your listeners and give them stories worth remembering. These stories concentrate on the people, not on the frequently dull historical facts and figures nor on their famous persona. Learn how to find inspiring historical people, research their lives, and create memorable stories about them. Includes exercises, example stories and a handout.
For: intermediate and advanced storyteller, education, healing arts
Presenter: Kate Dudding, New York
Award-winning storyteller and author Kate Dudding has told stories since 1995 at many venues in the Northeast. The focus of Kate's work is giving a voice to people from the past who have made a difference. Kate has been commissioned to create stories from the past by four organizations.
F3 – The Healing Voice
In this workshop, participants will develop preparation techniques to use as performing speakers. Participants will learn breathing exercises – utilizing rhythm to enhance articulation and release the power of the voice as a healing instrument, light touch massage, easy stretch games and tongue twisters. All these activities will help participants prepare for any speaking engagement, teaching assignment or storytelling presentation. Vocal warm-up activities are great for mid-day relaxation.
For: all
Presenter: Oba William King, Illinois
Oba is the founder of JUSTUS Arts Programs for Youth. He has produced, performed in, and directed presentations and educational workshops designed to introduce students to the power of the spoken word. He brings stories, poetry/cultural songs to life through interactive and dynamic presentations. He enjoys coaching others to enhance their storytelling and speaking skills.
F4 – Physicality in Stories: Remembering We Have a Body!
Storytelling is an oral tradition. Yet as performers our bodies also can speak volumes! We will explore the many ways we can include both large and subtle movements to help tell a story and how movement can compliment the voice. Very Participatory and active! Come ready to play, explore, take risks in a safe environment and walk away with new tools! Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
For: all
Presenter: Rona Leventhal, Massachusetts
Rona Leventhal, Storyteller, Improvisational Theatre/Movement Specialist and Coach does performances, school residencies, keynotes, workshops, graduate courses internationally. Rona has taught graduate courses for Columbia and Lesley Universities and has performed at NSN 's annual conference. She facilitates the Summer Storytelling Institute Retreat and is Coeditor, Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories for Peace, Justice, and the Environment.