A Rising Tide...Guest Blogger's Share Their Expertise

The Greek Fleet from 
 The Complete Poetical Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Illustration by Warwick Goble, 1912

A few months ago I reached my 2012 personal blog goal of 100,000 readers. I am a firm believer in the quote, "A rising tide floats all boats"  so I decided to share the audience with my intelligent and creative colleagues in the form of Guest Blogger articles.

The response has been overwhelming, which is not surprising, considering their generosity of spirit. I know it takes time and effort to pen an article for publication and I am grateful for their willingness to share their experiences. Currently, these talented writers have reached over 1,600 readers with their work!

It is with great appreciation and admiration I offer you the links to the current Guest Blogger articles from my storytelling and business colleagues in the USA and beyond. I will continue to add more as they are published.

If you are interested in becoming a Guest Blogger email me at storybug@aol.com for details with “Guest Blogger Information” in the subject heading and be part of  the rising tide!
 

GUEST BLOGGERS

Pinocchio's Nose Grows by Linda Gorham
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-your-story-ring-true.html

Her Story, Your Story, Our Story: An Afternoon with Women Who Have Escaped the Troll by Regina Ress
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/07/escaping-troll.html

Sweeping the Air, Catching the Dust by Eileen DeLorenzo
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/08/sweeping-air-catching-dust.html

Five Minute Creativity Boost by Monica Davis
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/08/send-your-senses-soaring.html

Superlative Speakers Tell Superlatives Stories by Bill Lampton, Ph.D.
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/08/weaving-spell-with-stories.html

Fighting Demons with Compassion by Gaye Sutton
http://www.karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/08/fighting-demons-with-compassion.html

Everything Old is New Again…by Mike Speller
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/09/flying-high-with-fringe.html

Jake’s Head by Gwen Bonilla
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/09/spinning-stories-into-gold.html 

Bridging Difference through Storytelling by Noa Baum

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/10/bridging-differences-through.html

 

Stories from Cave Art to Computer by Jerry Haigh
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/11/stories-from-cave-art-to-computer.html

An Audience of One by Barry Stewart Mann

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/12/an-audience-of-one.html

The Folly of Callow Youth Age by Judith Black
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/12/listening-to-sirens-call.html

 

 

Karen Chace 2012 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Spinning Stories into Gold

The Alchemist
from The Wind's Tale
"Gold! Gold! he shouted."
by Edmund Dulac, 1911

Jake’s Head
Gwen Bonilla © 2012

One of the most wonderful things about being a storyteller is the shared connection between the audience and the teller.  There is something truly magical about the giving and receiving of a story that allows everyone -- those hearing the story and the person telling it -- to grow and be enriched by the experience.

I began as a storyteller in schools, telling to elementary children -- mostly as a volunteer, but occasionally would luck into a paid gig.  I dreamed of one day making my living doing this thing I loved, creating worlds of words.  My heroes were the magnificent performance storytellers who have been talented enough and fortunate enough to make their living creating these story worlds: Bill Harley, Kevin Kling, and Elizabeth Ellis to name a few.  I loved to watch how they could hold an auditorium, a tent, a noisy gymnasium, utterly captivated with the tales they wove.

A few years ago, I discovered multi-sensory storytelling.  Multi-sensory storytelling is the use of sensory elements -- sound, smell, touch -- to enhance the story experience.  I was drawn to multi-sensory storytelling as a means to share stories with people with developmental disabilities such as Autism or Down’s Syndrome. 

For people with developmental disabilities, isolation and a sense of separateness are too often a fact of life.  Without language to receive, or to share conversation and communication, they are often left out of their communities.  Stories have always been a tool to connect people with their communities.  I wanted to bring specialized stories to these special audiences. I wanted to help them be a part of the story.

Two years ago, I formed the non-profit, Touching Stories, in order to bring multi-sensory stories to adults and children with developmental disabilities.  

Multi-sensory storytelling looks a little different than the storyteller at the campfire.  Different than the work of Bill or Kevin or Elizabeth; or the wonderful storycraft on programs like The Moth or This American Life.  In multi-sensory storytelling, the stories are simple -- short on plot and character and long on sensory experience.  They are told as the teller guides the audience, one-by-one, to explore items to touch, to manipulate, or to smell.  These stories are more snapshot than portrait.

And yet... that special connection still occurs.

Recently, I was telling at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities.  My audience on this day was a combination of non-verbal individuals, who required a great deal of hand-over-hand assistance to explore the sensory elements of the story, and others who were much more able to communicate verbally and to explore the sensory elements in their own way.

I was telling the story of The Monster on Grandma's Bed.  In that story, young Sarah, at Grandma's house for a sleepover, is awakened by a terrifying sound in the middle of the night.  When she reaches out in the dark to see what's there, she encounters something furry.  The sensory item for this part of the story is a canvas board covered in short, thick faux fur.

As always, I asked the participants what they thought it was.  Usually, the responses I get are "a wolf," "a bear," or "a monster."  But on this day, all the participants were in agreement:  the board felt like "Jake's head."

“Jake” was one of the audience members that day.  A young man in his early twenties, Jake was engaged and enthusiastic.  He had a bright smile and a lot to say.  As the board was passed from audience member to audience member, each said that they thought that the thing that Sarah was feeling in that dark room was Jake's head. Even the non-verbal participants, when asked, would point to Jake.  Each time, Jake’s smile grew wider.

The audience laughed on cue when the story went on to reveal that the furry thing was Grandma's fuzzy bathrobe and the terrible sound was Grandma's loud snores, but at this telling -- different from any other time I've told it -- that punchline was not the best part of the story. The sparkle had happened when they had made the decision to make that furry thing Jake's head. I had a lot of fun with it, but didn't really understand.

After the story was over, and I was packing up, Jake came to talk to me.

He told me that he is a cancer survivor, and had only in the last few months finished his course of chemotherapy.  His hair had just come back.

And in that telling, in that delightful, spontaneous improvisation, the whole room had celebrated the return of Jake's hair.

It just goes to show, no matter how simple, there's a whole lot of connecting that happens when a story is told.  

Gwen Bonilla has worked with people with intellectual disabilities as a Human Services Professional for the past eight years. 

She created the StoryCrafters program to bring multi-sensory storytelling to children in elementary schools.  In addition, she has presented her stories to literacy programs, after school clubs, and charity fundraisers. She has served on the Rocky MountainStorytelling Board of Directors since 2008. Two years ago, she launched the Touching Stories program for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Gwen's passions for storytelling and for working with people with disabilities have informed every aspect of the Touching Stories program.


Gwen Bonilla is a guest blogger for Karen Chace and Catch the Storybug blog. All rights to this article belong to Gwen. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without her expressed, written permission. Of course, if you wish to link to the article via Facebook or Twitter, please feel free to do so. I you would like to be a Guest Blogger contact Karen at Storybug@aol.com for the details.

Down on the Farm - Animal Stories

Frolic Farms
 by
N. Parker, 1910

The third week in September is National Farm Animals Awareness Week. With that in mind I corralled a few folktales for you to harvest,as well as crafts, curriculum and songs.

I have also included a link to one of my previous newsletters about Cow Appreciation Day and Yellow Pig Day. Who knew?

STORIES

Cow’s Head – Ukrainian
http://tinyurl.com/35hk8vx

The Dog and the Pig – India
http://tinyurl.com/3y9z8pk

The Goose Maid – England
http://tinyurl.com/353asdm

The Magic Horse – Iran
http://tinyurl.com/2utybbx

The Owl Never Sleeps at Night – African America
http://tinyurl.com/38rzzph

The Talking Goat – Africa
http://tinyurl.com/22ne4mh

The White Rooster – Tibet
http://tinyurl.com/23tpzrc

Visit my newsletter from 2011 with stories and more to celebrate National Cow Appreciation Day and Yellow Pig Day.
http://storybugnewsletter.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-august-2011-newsletter.html

CRAFTS

Crayons, Crafts and Coloring Oh My! This is one of my blog posts from 2010, which is compilation of all of the crafts sites I’ve highlighted from 2008-2010. Everything is categorized and of course, there are additional animal crafts there as well. There are dozens of categories for the wide variety of special days and themes throughout the year.
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2010/11/crayons-crafts-and-coloring-oh-my.htm

Crayola.com – Coloring pages, crafts, lesson plans to help you celebrate the week.
http://tinyurl.com/8e6xjrf

CURRICULUM

Education World – Some wonderful resources here about farm animals to use in the classroom.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_sites/sites050.shtml

SONGS

Songs for Teaching – Animal songs for young children.
http://www.songsforteaching.com/animalsongsforyoungchildren.htm

Relive those childhood days with this cute video of farm animals and the song, _Old MacDonald Had a Farm_ from Laurie Berkner’s CD.

Karen Chace 2012 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.

Flying High with the Fringe!



The Juniper Tree
by Warwick Goble, 1913
"Out of the fire flew a beautiful bird,
who, singing deliciously, flew
high into the air."



Everything Old Is New Again...

By Mike Speller © 2012

What’s 65 years old and still as edgy as a teenager at a formal wedding?  The Fringe Festival.

What began in Edinburgh, Scotland, as a groundswell gathering of artists has become a world-wide buzzword in the storytelling sphere.  Many story conferences and festivals have added “fringe” performances but to communicate properly with Fringe Festival artists (and curious potential audience folk), first-hand Fringe-ing is a good idea.

As a performer seeking this ‘Holy Grail’, you must answer three questions:|

1.      What is your ‘name’?  The reputation or image you wish to maintain may not be the best Fringe fodder.

2.      What is your quest?  Sharing a new genre, experimenting with show-format, or finding a fresh audience?  This is a proving ground for any and all of the above.

3.      What is a true Fringe?  If you don’t know--Go and See.

Answering the last question first isn’t difficult.  There are more than 40 annual Fringe Festivals around the globe and at least half are in North America.  They each last 1-2 weeks; each contains a smorgasbord of live music, drama, comedy, and schlock; AND all display a rare community of local and visiting performers. Every Festival has its own website complete with show descriptions & reviews, how-to-produce tips, etc.

I started adult life as a theatre performer.  By age 30, though, I had yet to experience a Fringe Festival.  So the city where I lived—Orlando, Florida—created one (Just for me??).  I volunteered for the initial Orlando Fringe and witnessed a mud-covered man spouting angst, blah improv and inspired improv, even a juggling duet with drama ‘chaser,’ among other shows.  Since then, I’ve been to dozens of Fringe performances all over the continent.

Generally, the shows that let me down—a decided minority--as an audience member were the ones that were not prepared.  The Fringe is a do-it-yourself arena where people pay to see you take risks:  Risks with your message, your body, or your audience-interaction.  An audience should respect the work, but don’t expect respect if you-the-performer don’t care what state the show is in.  Fringe audience turnout is largely based on word-of-mouth…’nuff said?

IF I was an aspiring Fringe performer, I’d look at those festival websites to see what’s involved in applying for a festival (entry fee, application form, lottery or jury selection process).  Then, I’d assess the necessary investment in props, costume, PR materials, housing, etc. Next, my script must be vetted & rehearsed in front of a good director-coach.  Finally, I’d market the hell out of said show to my ‘target’ audience! 

Some years ago, I did all that homework.  I did produce and perform my own six-character show.  I took HUGE risks and got hate mail, sob-filled hugs, and a writing award out of the experience!  Last year, after a lengthy hiatus, I took up the gauntlet again and got rave reviews as well as break-even ticket sales.

I plan on returning to a Fringe next year.  You’re literally never too old to try it…so how ‘edgy’ are you feeling now? 

Mike Speller is a veteran performer and teacher based in Illinois. His one-man productions of “The Road Less Traveled” and “Fear Itself” have been Fringe favorites. By day, Mike Speller is an interpreter (teacher) at a fur-trade history museum outside Chicago, Illinois; by night, he is a freelance actor-writer-director. During the in-between times, he is a storyteller who enjoys sharing the good old days of horror literature or living his dream as class clown or 'traveling the world' with audiences of all ages. Mike Speller is also Vice-president of Illinois Storytelling Inc. For more info about him, visit www.storytelling.org/speller.

Mike Speller is a guest blogger for Karen Chace and Catch the Storybug blog. All rights to this article belong to him. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without his expressed, written permission. Of course, if you wish to link to the article via Facebook or Twitter, please feel free to do so. I you would like to be a Guest Blogger contact Karen at Storybug@aol.com for the details.

Education Highway:Storytelling Concerts, Workshops and More!

List your storytelling events here for free, no strings attached. It will also be listed in my
bi-monthly newsletter. International events are most welcome as are events taking place beyond 2012.

Please follow the detailed instructions at the bottom of this page. and email your event to me with Education Highway listed in the subject heading at storybug@aol.com .

ONGOING SERIES

Needham, MA Stories in Progress -second Monday of every month - An open story laboratory with innovative coaching technique for works in progress. Listeners also participate in improvisational responses to the stories. Contact cindy@cindymarshall.com , call 781-444-1986 or see http://www.cindymarshall.com/calendar.html .
2013 Events

 

February 3, 2013 Berkeley, California - Workshop: Building Stories from Scratch by Tim Ereneta, to be held at a private residence. Address will be provided once you have registered.  10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. Presented by Storytelling Association of Califronia. For registration (required) http://storyscratch.eventbrite.com . For  more informaton contact Tim Ereneta at *510) 931-3194 or email at tim.ereneta@gmail.com .

February 8-11, 2013 Brattleboro Vermont - 7th annual Springboards for Stories workshop held at Kipling's historic home. It is designed to help individuals develop their own personal stories and is open to all, regardless of experience. Jackson Gillman, jxsong@comcast.net, 508-295-0886. Details and testimonials on http://www.jacksongillman.com/public_html/workshops.html

 

April 5-7, 2013 South Portland, Maine Sharing the Fire: Northeast Storytelling Conference,, More information will be posted in the future. Visit www.lanes.org

 

April 11-14, 2013 Beaufort, South Carolina - BIG Story Fest & Liars Competition, headlined by Bil Lepp, a recipient of the Storytelling Circle of Excellence Award. The BIG Story Fest is an esteemed gathering of those who shoot the breeze with the greatest of ease, of the lying liars and the audiences who laugh with them, including workshops, children’s events, special theater events, concerts, and audience participation activities. A project of ARTworks, the arts council of Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands. www.artworksinbeaufort.org, 843-379-2787.

April 26–28, 2013 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Northlands Storytelling Conference. More information will be posted in the future. Visit http://www.northlands.net

 

June 7-14, 2013 Nairobi, Kenya SIGANA International Storytelling Festival, various venues.For information contact: Zamaleo Arts and Culture Trust, http://www.zamaleoact.org . For dates Kristin Pedemonti performs, www.storytellerkp.com
August 1-4, 2013 National Storytelling Conference, Richmond, Virginia. More information will be posted in the future. Visit http://www.storynet.org

RADIO

Here Women Tell. We air a new show every 1st and 3rd Monday each month. Each show is up for two weeks and then it goes into our archives. www.herewomentell.com

Alamosa, Colorado - Children’s Hour on KRZA 88.7 FM radio or streaming on the net at www.krza.org 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Katy’s Tales Revisited – Produced and hosted by Colorado storyteller Katy Little. Storytelling programs from the past interspersed with new stories, reflections and comments from storytellers around the country. It airs on the 4^th Sunday of the month from 6-7 pm (Mountain Standard time) on KRFC FM 88.9 from Fort Collins, CO. You can STREAM the WEB “live” at www.krfcfm.org. Click on “Listen Live” in the top right corner. For more information contact Katy at katy@katystales.com, www.katystales.com or call 970-613-1197.

Call for Storytellers: Yes, your great stories, well told and well recorded, can be on internet radio. We have listeners in 101 countries and are rated 29th out of 434 spoken word stations. Our DJ is Buck P. Creacy. Visit http://live365.com/stations/storytellingradio/ 

 

SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the large number of submissions I receive please follow the directions and format rules below or your submission(s) will be disregarded. I will no longer contact you to alert you of a problem with your format as it has become far too time consuming.If submitted correctly I will email you that it has been received and that it will be included. I hope you understand and will continue to submit your wonderful venues. ** Before you submit take a look at the list above to see if the event has already been included. Everything is listed in chronological order.

 

 

Please DO NOT use abbreviations; this is an international list.

Examples:  

Massachusetts not MA.

Avenue not Ave.

• Please DO NOT send me flier's to edit or anything that needs rewording, spell checking or rearranging to fit the format.
• Please include year of your event.
• Submissions must be in paragraph form, NOT a bulleted list.
• Only workshops, conferences, festivals, classes or retreats. NO personal performances or personal conference workshops.

 

Required informaton:

Date(s) of venue

Location: City and state (No abbreviations and list country if outside of the United States.

Two sentence synopsis describing venue.

Contact information. i.e. name and website, email or phone

Font: Times Roman size 12 black

Please do not submit flyer's to edit.

Here is an example of the correct format:

March 3, 2012 Urbana, Illinois - Workshop: Building Oral Narrative: The Practical Construction of Effective Stories for Telling by Janice Del Negro at the Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory. 8:30 AM. Part of the Museum’s annual WorldFest multicultural performance celebration. For registration (required) or information, contact Kim Sheahan at 217-244-3355 or ksheahan@illinois.edu .
 

Incorrect format:

Date: March 3, 2012

Location: Urbana, IL

Description: Building Oral Narrative: The Practical Construction of Effective Stories for Telling by Janice Del Negro at the Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory. 8:30 AM. Part of the Museum’s annual WorldFest multicultural performance celebration

Contact information: For registration (required) or information, contact Kim Sheahan at 217-244-3355 or ksheahan@illinois.edu .

 

 

Swimming Towards the End of Summer: Oceans and Whales

The Sea Fairy
by Warwick Goble

Are you looking for some fun additions to finish off your summer programs with the little ones? Here are some songs, fingerplays and story stretches about whales and the ocean to help cool them off during the last hot days of summer!

There are also additional links for two separate blog posts with more fun and some lesson plans, games and activities for the older children.

SONG

A Sea Song (Sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus)

The waves at the beach go up and down, up and down, up and down.
The waves at the beach go up and down all day long.

The lobsters on the beach go snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
The lobsters on the beach go snap, snap,snap all day long.

The crabs on the beach go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
The crabs on the beach go back and forth all day long.

The clams on the beach will open and shut, open and shut, open and shut.
The clams on the beach will open and shut all day long.

The jellyfish they go wibble, wobble, wibble,wibble, wobble, wibble, wibble, wobble, wibble.
The jellyfish they go wibble, wobble, wibble all day long.

FINGERPLAYS

A Whale Is Not as Small as Us

A whale is not as small as us (shake head and finger)
Most whales are bigger than a bus! (stretch arms out wide)
A whale is not like a fish in the sea (shake head and finger)
A whale breathes air like you and me.(take deep breath)
A whale can't walk upon the ground (shake head and finger)
A whale must swim to get around (make swimming motions)
A whale is a mammal just like you and me, (nod head and point to self and children)
But his home is in the deep blue sea! (make wave motions with hand)

I Walked to the Beach

I walked to the beach, (Swing arms and walk in place)
And what did I see? (Put hands over eyes, looking)
A lot of little fish, (Place hands together, wiggle)
Looking at me! (Point to self)
I jumped into the water, (Jump)
And splashed all around. (Put palms down; make splashing motions.)
The fish swam away, (Place hands together; wiggle)
And didn't make a sound! (Put fingers to lips)  

STORY STRETCH

Ocean Motion  (To the tune of Hokey Pokey)

You put your crab claws in,
You take your crab claws out,
You put your crab claws in,
And you snap them all about....
You do the ocean motion and you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about! (Make wave motions with the hands as you turn around)

Swish your eel's tail in..out....sting it all about
Show your shark's teeth...bite them all about
Put your star fish up......down......flop it all around (spread hand wide to be the star fish)
Reach your octopus arms out..in....hug them all around (hug self)
Put your clown fish stripes on...off...swim all around.

The Whales (To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a humpback whale,
I'm very strong.
I leap about
and sing a song.
I like to eat my fill
In the Northern Sea.
But in the winter,
South I flee.

I am a beluga,
I'm all white.
From head to tail
I'm quite a sight.
You can hear me singing
Way up north,
Playing and swimming
Back and forth.

I'm a mighty orca
Black and white.
In the sea I'm a beautiful sight.
I'm not very big, but I am sleek.
I hunt for my food
Cause I have teeth.

Another blog post connected to my lapsit program with songs and fingerplays.

Let’s Swim with the Fishes!

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/05/lets-swim-with-fishes.html

And another to celebrate World Water Day.

Water, Water Everywhere

http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-water-everywhere.html

 

GAMES, ACTIVITIES AND LESSON PLANS

Mr. Donn.org – Ocean information and lots of links here to keep you and your students swimming along for the year.

http://geography.mrdonn.org/oceans.html

Karen Chace 2012 ©

This blog post was researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.