Transition in Eloquence: A Unique Storytelling Workshop with Antonio Rocha Storytellers - Walk, Crawl, Run, Drive, Bike - This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Find a way to get there!
I have seen Antonio Rocha float above the stage! His gestures and body movements are living, breathing artistic compositions. His voice is deep and resonant. His stories have intent!
The SMCC Storytelling Institute presents master storyteller and mime, Antonio Rocha in a magical workshop. He will lead participants in the exploration and creation of transitions during the telling of a story with a creative and eloquent approach. Antonio will teach how to identify areas where the story changes mood, location and direction. These are "delicious" moments where your style of telling can shine . . those places where one can create eloquent works of art with either gesture, sound and even stillness. These transitions give the story momentum, moving the plot forward while keeping the story deeply connected to its essence.
Saturday February 13th - 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Fee: $90 - You can't beat this price for the chance to study with this Master Storyteller!
Two Extra Slots Open! Bad News - Good News!
The bad news is that two folks have dropped out. The GOOD NEWS is that we now have TWO EXTRA SLOTS OPEN!
The cost is STILL about $2480 including airfare!
If you love to tell stories, talk about stories, craft stories, have fun and see the sights with friends, then this tour is for you. The plan is to spend ten days touring these iconic sites.
Listeners, spouses, partners and friends are welcome too!
The tour and workshops will be lead by me and my friend and colleague, Colorado Storyteller Pam Faro.
An Unexpected Turn Of Events From Storyteller Mark...
Over the six semesters I have been teaching the Art of Storytelling, I have had three classes with deaf students. I sign a little, but thankfully the college provided two interpreters for each class. They were all wonderful as they interpreted for the deaf students, and also voiced for them when they performed a story.
So it was only natural that when I got a case of laryngitis that I thought, “No problem, I will just get an interpreter to come in and ‘voice’ for me.” I E-mailed the disabilities department and asked how much lead time they needed. Unfortunately, the supervisor wrote back that they only provided interpreters for the students, and I would have to contact HR. So I did. . .
Happy Anniversary! Happy Anniversary to Teller-Tapper Dustin Loehr and wife Caila! The "dynamic duo" have been married for three years! Dustin has been a staple figure in the Valley Storytelling community for many years, and his wife Caila has produced and directed most of Dustin's recent performances.
They have also formed a production company, Transformative Arts Productions (TAP). I can attest to their open and ongoing process of collaboration in artistic endeavors. It was a joy to work with them last September on our storytelling show, Life and Limb at the Herberger Theatre.
Happy Anniversary you two! May the collaboration flourish even more!
Seaglass Storytelling Saturday - January 30th
9:30 am - 1:30 pm (registration required)
Seaglass Storytelling is a new workshop from long-time Valley teller/coach Sean Buvala.
A workshop on using the unique light of a folktale to improve our personal stories.
The workshop explores the "Three Refractions" and the shadow sides of personal tales. There will be time to work on one's own tale in a small group. Like rare sea glass, the best personal stories are intentionally constructed stories that have the long-term impact of the world tale.
Learn to craft your personal tales to have more impact and a lasting memory in the hearts and minds of your listeners. The "Sea Glass Storytelling Workshop" includes workshop, materials and a working lunch all for $39! Registration required.
Out Of The Box Storytelling Women Storytellers
Saturday, January 30th - 10am - Noon (doors open at 9:30 am)
Anne McDowell has organized another event: Out of the Box Storytelling - Women Storytellers.
A place for Christian women to get together to hear and tell of the wonders that God has done in their lives or (with permission) in the lives of others. This is a fun, exciting new way to hear six 8-10 minute personal, uplifting, faith-promoting stories about the wonders of God, and enjoy a delicious brunch! They offer fun, laughter, and a chance to win door prizes!
It's at Dobson’s Restaurant at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa from 10am - 12 Noon.
Tucson Tellers of Tales - Guild Meeting Saturday, February 6th - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
The Unscrewed Theater
3244 E Speedway
Tucson, AZ
The Unscrewed Theater is a great place for TOT to meet. It is located across the street from The Loft Theater in a strip mall next to Walgreens. There is plenty of parking in the back of the building, and the entrance to the theater is next to the parking lot.
Kim Weitkamp telling a personal story from 5th grade
Not just "be yourself", but be the YOU that is telling the story. It may actually be YOU if you are telling a personal story. But it might be the narrator of a folktale or other traditional story. It could also be a character in the story. Whoever it is, be the YOU that embodies that entity. Yikes, embody, what the heck is that?
It's not as complicated as it may sound, but it does take time and work. How do you embody a character? First, you have to know three things:
What's the story about?
What's the character about?
What connects YOU to the story and character?
Susan Klein said,
"When something within a folktale resonates with your own story, it calls you to be it's voice. And then the responsibility begins. You do whatever you need to do to get to the root of what it means to you and the truth that resides in the story." - From The Oral Tradition Today, An Introduction to the Art of Storytelling by Liz Warren (p27)
There's the key: "...the root of what it means to you."
Once you have that, then you can BE YOU. Whether it's in the role of the narrator, a character, or actually YOU in a personal story. You can begin to embodie that person. You can fel all the emotions; the fear; the anger; the joy; the trepidation; and show the one YOU are feeling in the moment.
And if you breathe, and let yourself truly be there, you can experience that feeling as if for the first time. And your audience will experience it with YOU!
Act Like An Owner Many of you know that I work at a restaurant as a daytime host/manager. An unabashed plug here for Delux at 32nd street & Camelback in Phoenix - Best burgers in town!
One of the things I am always asking employees to do is to "Act like an owner." How would things be different if every worker acted as if they were the owner? Virtually NOTHING would go unnoticed.
Taking pride and ownership means that you would want everything to be perfect. You wouldn't walk past a piece of paper on the floor, thinking that "someone else" will pick it up. If you couldn't actually do what was needed (like mop up a spill) you would let someone know. You would not just walk past the spill.
You would smile and greet customers and do everything within your power to make them comfortable and feel at home. You would let people know that you cared about what their experience was.
Now the BIG IDEA...
I was in the grocery store recently. An item had fallen from the shelf (or was dropped by another customer and left there). I picked it up and returned it to the appropriate place on the shelf. As I did so, I thought, "What if EVERYONE acted like an owner WHEREVER they were? What if NO ONE passed by a scrap of paper on a floor? What if EVERYONE called an employee or the manager to alert them to a spill? What if EVERYONE was concerned about QUALITY on EVERY level, no matter where they were?
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
So it was only natural that when I got a case of laryngitis that I thought, “No problem, I will just get an interpreter to come in and ‘voice’ for me.” I E-mailed the disabilities department and asked how much lead time they needed. Unfortunately, the supervisor wrote back that they only provided interpreters for the students, and I would have to contact HR. So I did. . .
Happy Anniversary to Teller-Tapper Dustin Loehr and wife Caila! The "dynamic duo" have been married for three years! Dustin has been a staple figure in the Valley Storytelling community for many years, and his wife Caila has produced and directed most of Dustin's recent performances.
Saturday - January 30th
Women Storytellers
Saturday, February 6th - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Many of you know that I work at a restaurant as a daytime host/manager. An unabashed plug here for Delux at 32nd street & Camelback in Phoenix - Best burgers in town!
