Beauty Floats on the Water

Claude Monet is one of my favorite painters and the water lily is also one of my favorite flowers. Once, when I was visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art some of Monet's paintings were exhibited. I stood there in front of his gorgeous work completely mesmerized. It took every ounce of effort not to reach out and touch the canvas.

In summer's past I have vacationed in New Hampshire, high up a winding mountain road that leads to a lovely cottage. The front porch offers a gorgeous sweeping view of the lake, home to loons, beavers and water lilies.

When I am there, one of the most relaxing moments for me besides reading on the porch, is kayaking among the delicate, white water lilies that speckle the lake. The experience always feels magical, almost reverential, as I slowly glide past, gently touching the velvet, soft petals. For some reason, the flower came to mind today and so I offer you a few stories to add some magic to your day.


From the earliest Indian collection of Buddhist sutras, from the reign of Ahyu, comes this description of the beginning of the world:



“Between the mountains there were many rivers, flowing in all directions along 100 different routes, moving slowly downhill, without waves. The rivers were shallow and their banks weren't steep, making them easy to ford. The water in them was clean and pure, and flowers floated on the surface in abundance. The currents were full of them…”


According to this passage, the lotus was the first flower appearing in a world of water.
http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/flowers/lotus.html



THE WATER-LILY. THE GOLD-SPINNERS
by Andrew Lang - The Blue Fairy Tale Book


Once upon a time, in a large forest, there lived an old woman and three maidens. They were all three beautiful, but the youngest was the fairest. Their hut was quite hidden by trees, and none saw their beauty but the sun by day, and the moon by night, and the eyes of the stars. The old woman kept the girls hard at work, from morning till night, spinning gold flax into yarn, and when one distaff was empty another was given them, so they had no rest. The thread had to be fine and even, and when done was locked up in a secret chamber by the old woman, who twice or thrice every summer went a journey. Before she went she gave out work for each day of her absence, and always returned in the night, so that the girls never saw what she brought back with her, neither would she tell them whence the gold flax came, nor what it was to be used for.

Now, when the time came round for the old woman to set out on one of these journeys, she gave each maiden work for six days, with the usual warning: "Children, don't let your eyes wander, and on no account speak to a man, for, if you do, your thread will lose its brightness, and misfortunes of all kinds will follow." They laughed at this oft-repeated caution, saying to each other: "How can our gold thread lose its brightness, and have we any chance of speaking to a man?"

On the third day after the old woman's departure a young prince, hunting in the forest, got separated from his companions, and completely lost. Weary of seeking his way, he flung himself down under a tree, leaving his horse to browse at will, and fell asleep. Click here for the rest of the story: http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/309.htm


I love how legends and folklore travel. Here are three legends, all with the same title, from distinct and different cultures. A bit of trivia before you begin: Some Maya believed that the earth was actually the back of a huge crocodile, resting in a pool of water lilies.

The Legend of the Water Lily - Folklore from Central Java
http://folklore4u.blogspot.com/2009/11/legend-of-water-lily-folklore-from.html

The Legend of the Water Lily - Brazil
http://www.cantaremusic.com/stories/amazon.htm

The Legend of the Water Lily - Native American - Ojibwa Nation
http://tinyurl.com/3ybl3gt

CURRICULUM


An Education Resource from the North Carolina Museum of Art - Grades 6 - 8
http://ncmoa.org/artnc/content/lesson/wordDoc/45.pdf
 
Information about Water Lilies by Monet
http://www.ehow.com/about_5100967_information-water-lilies-monet.html


MISCELLANEOUS

Karen's Whimsy - Beautiful images of waterlilies for your use.
http://karenswhimsy.com/water-lilies.shtm

Water Lily Coloring Page
http://www.first-school.ws/t/coloring-pages/flowers/3-water-lily-pad.htm


Image: Claude Monet - Waterlilies

Let Me Tell You 'Bout the Birds and the Bees...

The warmth of the sun is with us once more; flowers are blooming, birds are singing and crickets are chirping. I offer you some folktales to help us welcome summer!

Akanidi the Bright Sunbeam – A Siberian Tale
http://tinyurl.com/9v3un8

Clytie, the Heliotrope -An adaptation of the Greek myth
http://tinyurl.com/9mz8ql

The Cricket’s Song - Guatemalan Folktale
http://tinyurl.com/7ofxz8

Daffodeelia – A Sri Lankan Fairytale
http://tinyurl.com/35fpkyf

The Flower Queen’s Daughter - By Andrew Lang
http://tinyurl.com/77uooc

How the King of Birds Was Chosen: and other Mayan folk tales
http://tinyurl.com/cbhsw3

The Language of the Birds
http://tinyurl.com/dgtupm

Why Cats Sit on the Doorstep in the Sun
http://tinyurl.com/2xga8h


CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
I know school is out in many parts of the USA for the season but these sites may be useful in your storytelling and library programs this summer.

Flower Facts and Trivia – Add some interesting trivia about flowers to your storytelling or classroom lessson plans. http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/flowers/pcd11.html

Flowers in the Classroom - Grades 5 to 8 Language Arts: Legendary Flowers lesson plan including myths, folktales and legends of flowers. http://www.teachertube.com/support_files/1390.pdf

Honey Bees and Cultural Attitudes - Grades: 4-6 Essential Skills: Literature, Language Arts, Social Studies Students explore how honey bees are portrayed in art and literature. It also offers a comprehensive and age appropriate bibliography at the end. http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/ahb/lsn25.html

The Teacher’s Guide: Plants and Flowers - Lots of lesson plans and ideas to keep the ideas blooming! http://www.theteachersguide.com/plantsflowers.htm
 

CRAFTS
 
ChildFun.com - Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruit so why not have some fruity fun! http://tinyurl.com/m99dj4
 
Kaboose.com - Lots of fun Fourth of July crafts to make your holiday sparkle!
http://tinyurl.com/nymrap
 
Kinderart - Summer is time to take the children to the zoo. Download some cute animal printables to keep your students and children roaring with delight long after the field trip!
http://tinyurl.com/mfoajz


MUSIC

Loowit Campfire Songs - Summer is just around the corner. Get ready for those scouting camp gigs with songs that will have them merrily singing long. http://tinyurl.com/kjfhqb

Bus Songs - We all know that sometimes our audiences need to “get the wiggles out” and what better way than to have them sing along! Your toes will be tapping and your fingers snapping as you explore this fun site full of songs that just add some extra Zip A De Doo Dah to your storytelling programs. http://www.bussongs.com/

Karen Chace  2010 ©

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.

Remembering Those Who Serve

My step-father Joe served during World War II and when he died in 2008 at the age of 90 we found an old metal box among his belongs. The contents gave us a completely different picture of the man we thought we knew; a quiet man who could lean towards the cantankerous, yet took great joy in patiently searching for four leaf clovers in my backyard. We were given a rare gift, a glimpse into his past.

Inside the cold, grey metal box we found remnants of his youth. First, his Army dog tags. I was struck by how incredibly light they were, too light for the heavy significance they bear. Then, two letters written to his first wife Dorothy in 1943, one as he left the railroad station to go to training camp, and another on his first New Year's Day away from home. Joe only went to school up to the fourth grade and although his spelling was rough, the sentiments he shared were gentle, lovingly sprinkled with "honey" and  "I love you" throughout.

There was also the original Western Union telegram sent to Dorothy when he was wounded in Germany, as well as the postcards the Army sent updating her on his hospital status. The messages were brief and to the point and I couldn't help think how difficult it  must for her to read those few words, devoid of any real emotion, nothing but "just the facts".  And last, folded neatly at the bottom a signed letter by President Harry Truman, on White House stationary, thanking him for his service to our country. Those letters, now creased and yellowed with time placed a real face on one of the hundreds of thousands of who left their homes to fight in WWII.

During his tour Joe received the Purple Heart and was buried with Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Months later, when his stone was placed to mark his grave we went back to honor him once more. The picture at the top of this page is of his stone, nestled among the thousands of others who served. It is a humbling experience to walk among the rows, reading the names of those gone far too soon.

I hope in between the hot dogs and fun these last few days, each of us took time to reflect, remember and say "thank you," not only for the chance to spend time with our family and friends this weekend in peace, but for the many days to come. May all of our men and women be home soon.



"Peace is more than the absence of war.
True peace is justice, freedom, the recognition of human rights.
So it is with nations, so it can be within each of us.
I will be at peace when I tender justice to others, and when others are just with me.
I will be at peace when I yield freedom to others, and when others free me.
I will be at peace when I recognize the rights of others, and when others value My rights as highly as theirs.
I need not look for peace. Peace will find me when I seek it for others."
                                                                                              ~ Hiba Taha 


The Real Meaning of Peace
Author Unknown

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall.

This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart."

"That is the real meaning of peace."


 
When the Twins Went to War - A Fable of Far East Russia
Adapted by Aaron Shepherd

On the Amur River, in the tribe of the Nanai, the ones who most loved to fight were the men of the Beldy clan. They were always rushing off to attack another clan’s village, or defending themselves from a clan that had come for revenge.

They neglected their hunting. They neglected their fishing. They got so bad, they felt lost when they weren’t fighting. They just sat around and waited for the next war.

And every year, there were fewer of them left alive.

Now, into this clan was born a pair of twins whose names were Chubak and Udoga. The Beldies were careful to honor the boys, because they knew that twins are good luck.

Besides, there was something special about those two. By the time they were five years old, they were wiser than anyone else in the village. So both the men and the women of the clan often came to them for advice.

One day, a Beldy hunter found that one of his traps had been sprung, but the animal was missing. He could tell from the signs that the animal was a weasel and it had been taken by a man of the Zaksuli clan.

The hunter went to tell the Beldy chief.

“This is a great insult!” roared the chief. “Prepare for war!”
To read the rest of the story click here http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/047.html

 
WEBSITES

Beyond the Fire: Teen Experiences of War - Real-life stories of 15 teenagers, now living in the U.S., who have survived war in seven war zones: Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Includeslesson plans and conflict timelines, and links to related sites. Copyright 2005 by Librarians' Index to the Internet, LII. http://lii.org/
http://archive.itvs.org/beyondthefire/  

What Did You Do in the War, Grandma? - Twenty-six interviews with women who served in WW II.
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/tocCS.html

Veterans History Project - Focuses on World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars.
http://www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/about.html

New Songs for Peace - This UNESCO-endorsed "New Songs for Peace" project is intended to encourage people to think about peace, talk about peace, and write a new song that we will collect and self-publish in a book. These new songs will promote peace, cultural acceptance and understanding for those who work towards peace throughout the world.
http://www.newsongsforpeace.org/

Seeds of Peace - "Treaties are negotiated by governments. Peace is made by people." And so begins the opening of Seeds of Peace, "a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to preparing teenagers from areas of conflict with the leadership skills required to promote coexistence and peace. Seeds of Peace has focused primarily on bringing Arab and Israeli teenagers together before fear; mistrust and prejudice blind them from seeing the human face of their enemy. Seeds of Peace goes beyond international agreements and treaties. It reverses the legacy of hatred by nurturing lasting friendships that become the basis for mutual understanding and respect. By training these young leaders in conflict resolution skills, Seeds of Peace helps them become the seeds from which an enduring peace will grow."
http://www.seedsofpeace.org/

The World & I - Since 1986 this online monthly publication has offered information "that presents thought-provoking reading in politics, science, culture, humanity." It offers a wide range of articles, a Teacher's Guide with activities that meet State Standards, and seven specialty sections that includes World Wide Folktales. There is a reasonable subscription fee for those interested in this insightful publication. http://www.worldandi.com/

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Taking With Children About War and Terrorism

http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/talk_children_about_war.pdf

 
CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN
 
Children of the World Necklacehttp://tinyurl.com/l6cqsu
 
World Neighbors: Handprint Craft and Poemhttp://tinyurl.com/l45smb

Peace Dovehttp://tinyurl.com/n4wfwh

Karen Chace ©

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.

Flowers, Fairytales and Folklore

Today I received a lovely surprise from a storytelling friend Georgy Rock.  She bestowed upon me The Sunshine Award. Not only did it make me smile but it gave me the idea to share some stories about flowers, who need the sun to grow, and more stories about the sun.

So thank you Georgy, not only for the award and ideas, but for the smile. We can never  have enough!

"Peace begins with a smile."
                                       ~Mother Teresa


THE MYTH OF PERSEPHONE
Based on the Greek Myth - An original story and interpretation by Laura Strong, PhD

It was a beautiful day like all the others in this land, the sun shone brightly in the sky, the hills were lush and green, and flowers blossomed from the earth. The lovely young maiden, Persephone, frolicked with her friends upon the hillside, as her mother Demeter sat near by, and her father Zeus peered down from the sky above. Laughter could be heard in between the young girls' whispered secrets, as they gathered handfuls of purple crocuses, royal blue irises and sweet-smelling hyacinths.

Persephone thought to bring some to her mother, but was soon distracted by a vision of the most enchanting flower she had ever seen. It was a narcissus, the exact flower her father hoped that she would find. As she reached down to pluck it from its resting place, her feet began to tremble and the earth was split in two. Life for Persephone would never be the same again...Read the rest of the story here:  http://www.mythicarts.com/writing/Persephone.html

WHAT CAME OF PICKING FLOWERS
From the Grey Fairy Tale Book, collected by Andrew Lang

There was once a woman who had three daughters whom she loved very much. One day the eldest was walking in a water-meadow, when she saw a pink growing in the stream. She stooped to pick the flower, but her hand had scarcely touched it, when she vanished altogether. The next morning the second sister went out into the meadow, to see if she could find any traces of the lost girl, and as a branch of lovely roses lay trailing across her path, she bent down to move it away, and in so doing, could not resist plucking one of the roses. In a moment she too had disappeared. Wondering what could have become of her two sisters, the youngest followed in their footsteps, and fell a victim to a branch of delicious white jessamine. So the old woman was left without any daughters at all. Click here for the rest of the story:
http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/fairy-grey/fairy-grey%20-%200193.htm


THE STORY OF THE QUEEN OF THE FLOWERY ISLES
From the Grey Fairy Tale Book, collected by Andrew Lang

There once lived a queen who ruled over the Flowery Isles, whose husband, to her extreme grief, died a few years after their marriage. On being left a widow she devoted herself almost entirely to the education of the tAvo charming princesses, her only children. The elder of them was so lovely that as she grew up her mother greatly feared she would excite the jealousy of the Queen of all the Isles, who prided herself on being the most beautiful woman in the world, and insisted on all rivals bowing before her charms.

In order the better to gratify her vanity she had urged the king, her husband, to make war on all the surround­ing islands, and as his greatest wish was to please her, the only conditions he imposed on any newly-conquered country was that each princess of every royal house should attend his court as soon as she was fifteen years old, and do homage to the transcendent beauty of his queen.

The Queen of the Flowery Isles, well aware of this law, was fully determined to present her daughter to the proud queen as soon as her fifteenth birthday was past. Click here for the rest of the story:
http://www.childrensnursery.org.uk/fairy-grey/fairy-grey%20-%200241.htm

HOW SUN, MOON, AND WIND WENT OUT FOR DINNER
From Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs

ONE day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother (one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky) waited alone for her children's return. Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, without a thought of saving any of it to take home to their mother--but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.

On their return their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, "Well, children, what have you brought home for me?" Then Sun (who was eldest) said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends--not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I. have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before... To read the rest of the story click here:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/ift/ift28.htm


Flower Fables - From the gentle hand of Louisa May Alcott, nine lovely, short fables.

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/AlcFlow.html

How the Sun Was Rescued - Siberia
http://windows2universe.org/art_and_music/hsr.html

Solar Folklore - http://tinyurl.com/7syur

Sun Folklore - Activities, lesson plans and stories.
http://tinyurl.com/34blrj

Why Cats Sit on the Doorway in the Sun - Romania adapted by storytellery Barry Eldrbarry
http://www.eldrbarry.net/rabb/folk/noahcat.htm


CURRICULUM

Cross-Curriculum Flower Activities - An Elementary Gardening Theme Unit
http://lesson-plans-materials.suite101.com/article.cfm/crosscurriculum_flower_activities

Spring Theme Activities for Young Children
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-spring.htm

Fast Facts on Persephone - http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythpersephone.htm

Flower Week Theme Lesson Plan
http://www.adaycare.com/PreschoolCurriculumSample5.html

Early Childhood Sun Protection Curriculum
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/SkinCancer/Documents/skin_sunproteccurriculum.pdf


CRAFTS

Enchanted Learning Flower Crafts http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/flowers/

Flower Crafts for Kids  http://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/crafts-flowers.htm

You Are My Sunshine Crafts for Kids
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/mom/msunandflower.html

Karen Chace  2010 ©

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.

A Storyteller's Summer Journey

Two weeks ago I was lucky to co-teach a workshop with storyteller/teaching artist Norah Dooley. It was the first in a series offered by Massmouth for those who are interested in the upcoming story slams and improving their telling skills.

There was an eclectic array of folks, from a teacher who shares storytelling Kamibishi style with her students, a lawyer, slam poet, other participants and Nabil, an MIT student is hitting the road this summer. He has planned a summer internship on storytelling and will be traveling across the country, ending in LA at the National Storytelling Conference.

It was obvious to both Norah and myself after Nabil took the stage to "slam" out his personal five minute story at the end of night that he has the gift!  Not only is he a natural storyteller but he pays attention! The day after the workshop Nabil posted this terrific blog entry about his experience and what he learned. Nabil has graciously given me permission to repost it.

If you are heading to the NSN Conference this summer, be sure to connect with Nabil. He is the real deal, genuine, interesting, interested and talented. Read his post below, he did a fantastic job of encapsulating much of what we discussed in the workshop.

7 Lessons from a Storytelling Workshop

This evening I attended a super helpful workshop in Boston, hosted by seasoned storytellers Norah Dooley and Karen Chace. In our workshop I, along with eight others, practiced storytelling technique and then performed, on stage and with a mic. Brilliant.

A few key lessons that I learned:

• Shed my ego: To be a great storyteller I should realize that it’s not about me; I’m merely a conduit for the story itself. Once I realize this, and my ego subsides, I will connect with my story more deeply and so will my audience.
• Don’t memorize: I need to see the imagery in my story in order for the audience to see it. This is easier to do when I’m making up the story as I go along, as opposed to reciting a memorized transcript.
• Project confidence: If I appear nervous on stage, the audience will feel an urge to take care of me and will lose focus on the story itself.
• Slow it down: There is a lag between when I speak a word and when it is processed by my audience. Allow my audience to process one image before moving on to the next one.
• Kill my darlings: Superfluous narrative needs to go. No matter how beautiful it is, if it’s not the meat of the story, my words will lose my audience. We practiced this until 30 seconds felt longer than 60 seconds.
• Recover gracefully (clever): If I accidentally omit a part of the story that is critical to understanding the ending, rather than saying, “I forgot to tell you something,” instead say: “but what you don’t know…” or, “what I haven’t told you yet…”
• Take a moment: At the beginning and end of my performance, take a moment to connect with my audience. Starting too soon or leaving the stage too quickly will undermine the power of my story and might also slight my audience.

Among us was also a 10 year old girl. I was amazed at the ease with which she spun stories, and it reminded me that storytelling is less about learning a new craft and more about rediscovering an old one.
http://www.mbastoryteller.com/?p=140

Naked Hearts at the Story Café

Naked Hearts

Featuring Eshu Bumpus
and
Motoko Dworkin

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Humor, music, love and desire intertwine as these two award winning storytellers weave tales that speak to the vulnerability of human hearts. Eshu's smooth, bluesy voice and Motoko's graceful movement will entice you to a journey of the ins and outs of romance.

A rare opportunity to hear two amazing award-winning storytellers in one evening! Eshu and Motoko shine up a storytelling event wherever they appear. Though diverse in style and culture, they blend and tell as one. Absolutely charming, they bring humor, a sense of drama, a talent for singing, and present a seamless performance.

ESHU - Eshu Bumpus captivates his audience by telling a variety of African, African-American and World folktales leavened with music, humor and mystery. He is a renowned storyteller, an accomplished jazz vocalist and a master at physical characterization. He has performed on the Exchange Place stage at the National Festival (1998), and performed 36 sold out shows in 13 days at the Smithsonian (1997). After appearing at the 10 Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival (1991), Eshu was acclaimed as," … a fresh, responsible and knowledgeable voice... distinct and compelling... the hit of the Festival.

MOTOKO - Parents’ Choice Award-winning storyteller Motoko enchants audiences of every age with her weaving of ancient lore, original tales, lyrical movement and traditional music. Her repertoire includes Asian folktales, Zen tales, comical tales from rakugo (a Japanese traditional style of storytelling), funny mime vignettes, as well as personal stories from her childhood in Japan and her life as an immigrant in the U.S.

ADULT OPEN MIC: Sign up for your eight minute (maximum) turn at the mic beginning at 7:00 p.m. Share your own story, song, music, essay or poem.
TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. (Feature begins at 8:00 P.M.)
LOCATION: Artworks, 384 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA
ADMISSION: FREE (pass the hat for the featured performers)
AUDIENCE: 18 and older
For more information email Karen Chace at storybug@aol.com or call Artworks at
(508) 984-1588 For directions: http://www.artworksforyou.org/hours.html

ArtWorks is right in the middle of the historic district of New Bedford. Come early and enjoy a beautiful spring day, have dinner, then join us for the perfect "night cap" at the Story Cafe!

City of New Bedford http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/
Restaurant Information: http://www.freestones.com/
Parking: Elm Street Parking Garage and Custom House parking is within easy walking distance. http://tinyurl.com/ylx2akr

How To Tell a Kick Butt Story in Five Minutes!

How to Tell a Kick Butt Five Minute Story!
Come and enjoy a 1.5 hour workshop on finding a story from your life experience with coaching and pointers on performance. Storytelling is a whole performance art unto itself.

A series of workshops beginning  May 10, 2010 at 6:30 P.M.  to September 13, 2010 at 9:30 P.M. REGISTRATION REQUIRED!


Location: http://kennedysmidtown.com/
Street: 42 Province Street
City/Town: Boston MA 5 minutes from Park Street T
Website or Map: http://kennedysmidtown.com/
Phone: 617-460-3544 and 781-267-9979
Event Type: workshop, open, mic
Organized By: Norah Dooley Andrea Lovett

Each workshop is one time/ free standing event and taught by professional teaching artists. The workshops may be different in flavor and perhaps worth taking twice BUT are meant to be a jump start, all-in-one experience. The cost is $20 for each session/workshop and, if you stay for open mic (recommended) you must purchase something ($5 minimum) at the venue.

In this workshop you will begin to learn how storytelling differs from theater, stand up and twisting balloon animals and how to mine your life experience to craft a story. Followed by an open mic opportunity to tell your story to an audience.

Limited to 16 and minimum of 6 to run. Taught by professional massmouth tellers who will feature with a ten minute story at the open mic 2nd Mondays from MAY 10th - SEPT 13th

Coordinated by Norah Dooley and Andrea Lovett; educators, professional storytellers, performance coaches, and story lovers. http://www.norahdooley.com/  and http://andrealovett.blogspot.com/

MAY 10 Norah Dooley and Karen Chace
JUNE 14 Andrea Lovett and Lani Peterson
JULY 12 Norah Dooley and Judith Black
AUG 9 Andrea Lovett and Doug Lipman
SEPT  To be announced

Sign up to reserve your space: stories@massmouth.com

Cost for each workshop is $20 cash. Personal checks/cash accepted. We are not set up for credit cards or debit cards. The $20 fee for each session/workshop does not include food or drink and if staying for the open mic, you must purchase something ($5 minimum) at the venue.
http://massmouth.ning.com/events/massmouth-storyworkshop-and