Art of storytelling

ONLINE VERSION: Zoom Sessions January 21 & 28 and February 11
Each Session from 1:00pm to 5:00pm PST

Program Information Page

We’re very excited that you’ve joined us for this three session online adventure into the Art of Storytelling! Storytelling is an art form that extends beyond entertainment and performance, and reaches into the depths of the soul as a reflection of identity, meaning and cultural significance. It demands we use our imagination, life experience, and verbal skills. Storytelling also calls on us to be acutely aware of the audience, their experience, and subtleties of the relationship between story, teller, and audience. 

In this three-part online workshop we will:

• Session 1: Explore storytelling through fairy tale and the oral tradition. Stories have been the foundation of human existence for as long as we know. 

• Session 2: Engage storytelling through personal narrative. Here is the opportunity to apply the Mythic traditions to one’s own story and the life it takes on when shared with others. 

• Session 3: Imagine storytelling as an agent of social awareness and transformation. This may be the most powerful role a storyteller has—to affect how a storyteller engages with the larger community to create a better world. 

This page is your center for all information for your program. You can complete all your registration forms, make any remaining payments, find out about preparations you can be doing, and link to the Zoom session when your program begins. Bookmark this page, and please be in touch if you have any questions!

WHAT TO DO NOW…

GETTING READY FOR YOUR PROGRAM

1. Before the first class session please find one or two stories that catch your fancy or that you find particularly interesting or “juicy,” and have them available during the session (printed out is easier so you don’t have to double-screen).

We’ll be using the classic Grimm’s collection of tales from Europe as a starting point. Our recommended collection is the Jack Zipes translation, here’s a link to Amazon if you want to purchase it. Project Gutenberg has a public domain text available that was translated by Edgar Taylor and Marian Edwardes. Aesop’s Fables is another classic. Here’s the Project Gutenburg translation by George Townsend. Stories from all traditions are welcome, so please don’t feel limited to these suggestions, they’re just a starting point.

2. If possible, please join us from a quiet place with limited distractions. You’ll likely get a chance to tell a story yourself at some point, so being in a place where you feel free to speak from your heart is helpful.

ZOOM LOGIN GUIDANCE & INSTRUCTIONS

We’re learning a lot about how to conduct classes and workshops on-line through Zoom! The Zoom link for this class is above, please test it before our first class. Here are a few tips that we’ve found help things go smoothly:

1. Please login 5 to 10 minutes early to make sure you have time to deal with any challenges

2. When you Login, you will start out in the Waiting Room. While here, please:

   • Make your User Name correct, and please add your personal pronouns. ex. “Ben Dennis (he/him)” You can change your user name by clicking the icon in the upper corner of your video square.

   • Turn on your Video. You can find the toggle in the lower left corner of the screen.

   • Mute your microphone. You can find the toggle in the lower left corner of the screen. Remember to un-mute when it is your turn to speak! Your presenter will explain how speaking will be organized at the very beginning of the class.

3. During Class, please don’t use the Chat until your presenter explains how that feature will be used for the class. It is often used as a way to ask questions, and to distribute instructions.