Storytelling St. John's

Delf Hohmann to host the St. John's Storytelling Circle

2012-01-16T04:44:00.000-08:00

St. John's Storytelling Circle

Thursday, January 19th
Crows Nest Officers Club (beside the War Memorial, off Duckworth Street, St. John's)

7:30pm

$3 at the door

This week’s storytelling circle features host Delf Hohmann. Delf, originally from Germany, plays guitar, 5-string banjo, recorder, concertina, dulcimer and various percussive instruments. His repertoire features contemporary and traditional folk music in English, French, Yiddish and German. He has performed across Canada including the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Home Country Folk Festival in London, Ontario.

From 1981 to 1985 Delf worked for the environmental project Clearwater on the Hudson River, and performed with Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall in New York and Massey Hall in Toronto. He is artistic director of the Cape St. Mary's Performance Series, and serves on the programming committee of Sound Symposium. Aside from that he creates soundtracks for documentaries, and writes Harbour Symphonies, Music for Ships' Horns.

For the past ten years, Delf has been collaborating with storyteller Dale Jarvis on various projects, and together they have performed twice at the Yukon International Storytelling Festival in Whitehorse. In 2012, Delf and Dale will be touring a new two-man show based on the lives and stories of the Brothers Grimm. Expect a Grimm tale or two on Thursday night!

Recitations and Storytelling in January

2012-01-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

Folk Night at the Ship

Wednesday, January 11th, 9pm

$5.00 at the Door

Join Chris Brookes, Ford Elms, Hubert Furey, Dave Paddon and Dave Penny, as we present an accordion-free evening of recitations, tales, old foolishness and perhaps a ballad or two if necessary!

Traditional Newfoundland Concert

Songs and Stories

Location: The Historic Basilica Museum

Time: Friday, January 13 @ 8 pm.

Host: Eleanor Dawson

Featuring: Performances by Allan Byrne, Mary Fearon, Monica Walsh, Jason Dobbin, Linda Byrne, Melanie Martinand Andy Jones.

Cost: $20.00

Limited seating – available. Please reserve your ticket by contacting Eleanor Dawson @ 579-7839 oreleanordawson@gov.nl.ca

And don't forget to join us for this month's Storytelling Circle with Delf Hohmann

Thursday, January 19th, 7:30 pm
Crow's Nest with host Delf Hohmann
$3.00 at the door, seating limited.

We need storytellers and we need good listeners, so all are welcome!

Storyteller Dan Yashinsky at The Crow's Nest, Thursday Nov 17, 8pm

2011-11-11T05:07:00.001-08:00

Stories from the Crossroads
with Dan Yashinsky
The Crow's Nest, St. John's
$5 at the door
Thursday, November 17, 8pm.

Lucky October 13 - Ghost Story Night with the Newfoundland Paranormal Society

2011-10-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

In honour of Hallowe'en and things that go bump in the night, theNewfoundland Paranormal Society will be hosting a night of ghost stories and spooky tales at the Crow's Nest on the lucky 13th of October. Have a true ghost story to share? Or know a legend from your home town? Come spook the crowd! Created in 2009, the Newfoundland Paranormal Society is made up of not-for-profit groups of investigators, private researchers, and paranormal enthusiasts dedicated to researching and documenting the paranormal history and events occurring in Newfoundland, Canada.

Anyone interested in cultivating the traditional art of Newfoundland storytelling is invited. Both experienced storytellers and newcomers are welcome. Just want to listen? Then come along! Every kind of story or recitation can be told as long as it's by word of mouth, rather than being read aloud.

The St. John's Storytelling Circle runs from 7:30-9:30 at the Crow's Nest Officer's Club, with opportunities for new storytellers to spin a yarn. The Crow's Nest is located off the public stairs at the east side of the War Memorial on Duckworth Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. (Map It)

Admission:   $3 at the door
Time:             7:30 - 9:30 pm
Location:      Crow's Nest Officers Club

The moving story of a man and his snowmobile

2011-09-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

One of the St. John's Storytelling Circle regular recitationists, Dave Paddon, is putting out another chapbook with Running the Goat Books & Broadsides.

"The 12" ... the moving story of a man and his snowmobile, is a handmade, letterpress-printed version of the recitation with original linocut illustrations by Duncan Major.

To celebrate the launch, you are invited to join Dave on Tuesday, September 20th from 7pm to 9pm at the Crow's Nest Officers' Club. Music by Dave Penny.

Dave Paddon will begin reciting around 7:45; goodness knows when he'll stop! There will be food, fun and a cash bar!

For more information about Dave's other recitations, visit www.runningthegoat.com.

An Evening With Century Farmers: The Rubys and The Lesters

2011-08-11T13:26:00.001-07:00

An Evening with Century Farmers: The Rubys and Lesters

Tuesday, August 16
Free admission
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Lester Farms Inc, 92 Pearltown Rd., St. John’s

As part of the Seeds to Supper Festival, host Kevin Aucoin, of the Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, will sit down with Leonard and Lena Ruby, and Jimmy and Michelle Lester, and share stories about farming past, present, and future. Jimmy Lester represents the 6th generation Lester to continue farming in this area. Jimmy and his wife Michelle produce vegetable crops, bedding plants and flowers and operate the Lester catering facility on Pearltown Road. Leonard and Lena Ruby continue to grow vegetables on their own historic farm, where others might choose to retire and travel, reflecting their close connection to the soil. Join us, and fill your ears with some home-grown stories!

(NOTE: Lester Farms, Inc. is located at 92 Pearltown Road, not to be confused with the Lester's Market on Brookfield Road. If driving from St. John's along Brookfield Road, pass the Market, and turn left onto Pearltown Road).

Storytelling with Ease workshop with Massachusetts storyteller Karen Chace

2011-05-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, July 16th, 2011
Time: 1pm – 4pm
Location: Gower Street United Church Hall (downstairs), St. John's, Newfoundland
Admission: $20 Pre-register at: storytelling@nf.sympatico.ca
Perfect For: Educators, Librarians, Students and Adults interested in exploring and learning the art of Oral Tradition

A fun and interactive workshop for those who wish to open the door to a world full of stories. Explore the basic skills needed to begin your own journey: story selection, rehearsal methods, visualization and relaxation techniques, gestures and body language, stage presence and more! Discover ways to put participation into your stories and come away with new tales to share.

No storytelling experience is required, just a willingness to learn and play in this supportive and fun environment. The goal is to encourage beginners to “put the book down,” and begin to tell! If you consider yourself to be an intermediate storyteller, please join us as well. An extensive handout will assist you in continuing.

About Karen

Karen grew up among a large, extended Irish family in Massachusetts, surrounded by stories and storytellers all of her life. She has been sharing stories professionally with a wide range of audiences since 2000 and is the founder and director of a student storytelling club in her hometown, producing their Storytelling Festival each year since 2002. She is also the author of Story by Story–Building a School Storytelling Club.

Karen presents her enthusiastic, interactive and illuminating workshops and residences at conferences, libraries and schools around the country. Combining her passion for literacy and storytelling in delightful programs with stories from around the world, Karen mesmerizes audiences everywhere. She strongly believes that storytelling nurtures children, offering them opportunities to succeed in ways they never imagined!

Here Be Monsters! Encore Family Performance

2011-05-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

It sold out its first run, so the Monsters are back!

Sunday May 15 - Here Be Monsters!

In the ocean's depths lurk rarely seen horrors. From giant squid and a whale the size of an island, to mind-reading mermaids and the most angry sea-horse you'd ever want to meet, the seas off the shore of Newfoundland and Labrador have seen it all! Join storyteller Dale Jarvis of St. John's Haunted Hike fame for tales of creatures of the deeps. You may never want to dip your toe in the water again!

Admission: $5 and free for Rooms Members.
Time: 2 pm
Location: The Rooms

Storytelling Circle with Sharon King-Campbell

2011-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

Join us at the Crow's Nest on Thursday, May 12 at 7:30PM for this month's Storytelling Circle hosted by Sharon King-Campbell.

Whether you come to tell a story or just to listen, you are welcome to join us!

Admission $3.

About our host:

Sharon King-Campbell is an Ottawan-turned-Newfoundlander working as an actor, director, writer, storyteller and teacher in St. John's, NL. Sharon moved to St. John's in 2007, after graduating from Grenfell College with her BFA in Theatre (Acting). She has been participating in workshops and storytelling circles since 2008, and was the winner of the Youth Storyteller scholarship at the Storytellers of Canada annual conference in July of 2010. She is blessed with two excellent storytelling mentors, and credits Dale Jarvis for pushing her into situations outside her comfort zone, and Jennifer Ferris for making those situations as comfortable as possible.

Gary Green Hosts the Storytelling Circle Tomorrow

2011-04-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

Late notice, but this month's Storytelling Circle is tomorrow night.

Here are the details:

St. John's Storytelling Circle with Host Gary Green
April 14, 7:30-9PM at The Crow's Nest Officers' Club
Admission: $3 at the door

Some information about our host:

Gary Green has been telling stories for a number of years. He has told tales of the sea and local history to passengers aboard the schooner J&B, a tour boat operating mainly out of St. John's, NL and briefly out of Halifax, NS. Gary has performed at the Cape St. Mary's Festival and on television as part of the series Legends and Lore of the North Atlantic. He has presented to groups of children and seniors and is a valued contributor to the St. John's Storytelling Circle.

Join us to hear Gary and others tell stories, and, if you're up for it, to tell one of your own.

See you there!

It ain't over 'til it's over. The Jack Cycle is this evening.

2011-03-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Stories from Here and Away was an absolutely charming evening, and with tea and treats and Kelly Russell's informal, friendly hosting it was more like a gathering of friends than a performance.

After a short introduction and musical selection from Kelly, Marc Cormier took the stage with a scary story that made us all jump, and followed up with a Jack tale (see below).

Kelly then introduced Petronella Van Dijk to the stage and performed another brief selection before Petronella shared two stories of two very different kings.

The final teller for the evening was Clare Muireann Murphy, and when she took the stage after her brief introduction I was curious as to why Kelly hadn't played any music in her introduction. It turns out it was because she and Kelly had incorporated his music into her first story of a gypsy and his fiddle. She finished with a story about an old man who entertained Death with stories, and tale of how a storyteller came out on top made a perfect end to the evening.

Usually, the Storytelling Festival would end there, with a Saturday night performance, but this year we have bonus storytelling with an Epic Jack Cycle this evening at the Ship.

I'm sure you have all heard stories of Jack, the hapless lad who is always getting himself into one sort of trouble or another but always gets out of it either by his own cleverness, by sheer luck or with the help of a magical creature or some sort (Marc Cormier's Jack had help from a magic bee, for example.). Tonight, you'll be hearing all about him in Newfoundland and Labrador's first epic telling of Jack tales, details are below and here.

Get there early for a 'Jack Snack' - roast hen on a bun!

Tuesday, March 15th
The Jack Ring Cycle

The Ship Pub
TONIGHT! March 15
265 Duckworth, Solomon’s Lane
5:00 PM – Midnight
Admission $5

Hosted by Chris Brookes and featuring Storytellers Anita Best, Andy Jones, Marc Cormier, and Mary Fearon with Speakers Richard Cashin, John Fitzgerald, Marjorie Doyle and Ryan Cleary. Details here .

Stories From Here And Away

2011-03-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

After you attend Clare Muireann Murphy's 'Finding Your Voice' workshop this afternoon, be sure to come to 'Stories From Here And Away' this evening so you can see Clare's advice in action.

Voice is such an essential part of storytelling, since it is each teller's unique approach to the tales that draws us in, even if we've heard the stories before. Come see what I mean at tonight's event.

Stories from Here and Away
Saturday, March 12th

Gower Street United Church Hall
8:00 - 9:30 PM

A delightful evening of tales hosted by Kelly Russell and featuring storytellers, Clare Muireann Murphy, Marc Cormier and Petronella Van Dijk.

Admission: $10

TGIFMF - Thank God It's Five Minute Friday!

2011-03-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

Petronella Van Dijk's War Time Stories played to rave reviews last night for a full house at the Crow's Nest and so we are on to our Friday events.

This afternoon, the ever-popular Clare Muireann Murphy and special guest Maria Mills will be telling stories to kids at the AC Hunter Library. This evening it's Five Minute Friday - a cabaret of short stories from some of our best tellers.

Details are below.

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Today, Friday, March 11th

Storytelling for Children with Irish storyteller, Clare Muireann Murphy and special guest, Maria Mills

A.C. Hunter Library, Arts and Culture Centre
3:30 - 4:30 PM

Free Admission

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Friday, March 11th

Five Minute Friday

A cabaret of short tales and ballads with Delf Hohmann (host), and Anita Best, Carol Dwyer, Ruthanne Edward, Didi Gillard-Rowlings, Gary Green, Dave Paddon, Dave Penny, and Ellen Power. See everyone's bios here.

Gower Street United Church Hall
8:00 - 9:30 PM

Admission; $10

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NOTE: Don't forget to register for the workshop tomorrow!

Saturday, March 12th

Gower Street United Church Hall
1:00 – 3:00 PM

"Finding Your Voice" Workshop with Clare Muireann Murphy

Turn familiar stories into true treasures! Each storyteller is blessed with their own unique style. Having trouble finding yours? Treat yourself to this workshop and find your own voice! A workshop focused on how to make stories uniquely your own; how to discover and develop your own style of storytelling. Learn how to uncover your own voice, turning old or familiar stories into something beautiful and inherently yours.
Aimed at: Beginners / Intermediate storytellers
Admission: $20 Pre-register at: storytellingstjohns@gmail.com

Next Up: War Time Stories with Petronella Van Dijk. Tonight at the Crow's Nest.

2011-03-10T06:29:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to report that Clare Muireann Murphy held about 100 people captive at The Rooms last night - but in a good way. I brought my 9 year old son to the performance of 'On the Heels of the Hound' and he clapped so hard he was bouncing in his seat. When we came home he shared the story of the Irish warrior Cú Chulainn with his 6 year old brother who has since demanded to hear more. I guess I'll be doing Irish myths for bedtime stories for a while. :)

We also knocked 'em dead at the Story Slam last night. We had 9 slammers (plus yours truly, the sacrifical lamb) and the stories ranged from improvised accounts of Junior High life to a full-on recitation of a berry-picking war. The winner of the $150 prize was Dave Paddon, with a recitation that ended with things in a bit of a jam. Congratulations to Dave and to all the other slammers!

Now that we've covered last night, let's move on to tonight.

IMPORTANT: There was an error in our program, admission for tonight's event is $10 not $3. (That's the admission for a regular storytelling circle night, hence the mistake .)

War Time Stories with Visiting Storyteller Petronella Van Dijk
8PM, March 10 (tonight!) at the Crow's Nest Officer's Club.
Admission $10
Space is extremely limited, get there early!

The St. John's Storytelling Festival is pleased to present a special one-night performance by Dutch-Canadian storyteller Petronella Van Dijk, who will be sharing a set of moving stories set in Holland during and after the tumultuous years of the Second World War. ...And what better place to do so than the Crow's Nest? After friends convinced her to become a teller herself in 2000, Petronella has told in Canada, Cuba, Europe, and in her native Netherlands. She mostly tell folktales from around the world, but also tells war-time stories, to inspire peace. An accomplished storyteller in English, French, Spanish, and Dutch, Petronella is the heart and soul of Productions Littorale.

(Note: Petronella's performance will replace the regular open-mic storytelling circle for March only, as part of the St. John's Storytelling Festival. Admission is $10 per person, payable at the door, with limited seating. Regular open mic sessions return in April.)

Performing or Slamming: All Stories, All the Time.

2011-03-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Clare Muireann Murphy rocked her workshop last night in Mount Pearl. The Introduction to the Art of Storytelling was like a story itself, she engaged our attention (with a game), introduced all the characters (elements of storytelling), let us get to know them before revealing a challenge (learning a short story), and then clued everything up with a great ending (a game and some storytelling hints). It was a fabulous evening, which is why I'm recommending you head out to her performance at the Rooms this evening.

Then, once your appetite for fabulous stories is whetted, you should head down to the Ship for the Story Slam! Details are below.

Wednesday, March 9th

The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery and Archives
7:00 – 8:00 PM

“On the Heels of the Hound” with Irish storyteller Clare Muireann Murphy

A dark and ferocious journey where warriors leap with blinding frenzy, one-eyed monsters hunt the shores, and shape-shifters blur the line between this world and the Otherworld. Presented in collaboration with The Rooms.
Free Admission

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Ship Pub
Solomon’s Lane, 265 Duckworth
9:30 PM

5-Minute Story Slam with host Ruthanne Edward and music by Stan Pickett.

A Story Slam is a contest of words; imagine a poetry slam format meets Canadian Idol, with a storytelling twist. Story Slammers will sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute short story on the evening’s theme and a lucky eight names will be drawn at random from a bag. Each of the featured 5 minute stories is judged on how well it is told, how well it is constructed, and how well it honours the time limit and relates to the theme.* Prize of $150 Presented in collaboration with the Folk Arts Society of Newfoundland & Labrador.
Admission: $5

*What is the theme, you ask?

You know all the stuff they say about March, right? All about lions and lambs, and weather and the like?

Well, whether you are a ferocious lion or a meek little lamb, we want to hear you slam a story down.

So give us a tale about someone gentle , someone fierce, or someone gentle who became fierce.

Share a story about a lion tamer, a shepherd, or a lamb amongst the lions.

Gossip about a stormy beginning and an easy ending, or about the calm before the storm.

Tell us about mama lions, hunting prey, lamb stew, or how cute you look in that fluffy white sweater (awww).

Heck, we're even interested in how you pulled the wool over someone's eyes when you started lyin' after drinking too much Lambs.

How ever you spin it, stick to the theme and keep it under 5 minutes and we'll see if you earn pride of place (and $150!) as our Story Slam winner.

Introduction to the Art of Storytelling - Tuesday, March 8

2011-03-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

It's a lot of fun to come listen at a storytelling event but if you are anything like I was, you also feel drawn to tell a story of your own. It stops there though because you don't know where to start, or what makes an interesting story, or you're afraid that anything you tell is going to be too self-indulgent.

That's why you need this workshop!

Clare Muireann Murphy has come all the way from Ireland to help bring you into the tradition of storytelling by teaching you the fundamental tools to tell a great story that will keep your audience entranced.

The best part is that the skills you learn for storytelling can be used in a huge variety of other contexts, whether you are entertaining kids on a long car ride, doing that presentation for work or just trying to one-up your friends with tales of your weekend adventures.

See you on Tuesday so we can get started!

Introduction to the Art of Storytelling with Clare Muireann Murphy

Tuesday, March 8, 7-9PM
Admiralty House Museum, 23 Old Placentia Rd, Mount Pearl

Admission - $20
Register at storytellingstjohns@gmail.com

Experience Canada’s North in the East

2011-02-23T04:50:00.000-08:00

St. John’s, NL- If ever you wanted a glimpse of life in Canada's north, writer and storyteller Pat Braden will give you a captivating view. Braden who grew up and still lives in Yellowknife brings his one-man show A Place Called Home to NL beginning in Goose Bay on February 19. From there he will tour the province finishing in St. John’s on March 5.

Through story and song, A Place Called Home reflects on growing up in a northern mining town.

"This show was inspired by family and friends and from experiences growing up in the north,” said Braden. “It came from finding my place and peace of mind within my community and recognizing the importance of generations passed and yet to come.”

Braden brings to the stage a variety of musical styles, steeped from his early days playing Electric and String Bass. In addition to his Bass skills, he writes, records and performs his music on the Chapman Stick, a Guitar/Bass hybrid that expands his contribution to the arrangement of a song by adding subtle, chordal pads or melodic, rhythmic parts on the five guitar strings while playing a bass groove on the lower five bass strings.

Braden has released 5 CDs, the latest, a live recording of A Place Called Home. Having spent most of his life in the north, his creations are a sonic reflection of the land and of the people, in all of their beauty and extremes.

The tour which will see Braden perform 14 dates across Newfoundland and Labrador is a first for the artist who has never performed in the province before.

“I am very much looking forward to performing my show in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Braden. “I’m looking forward to meeting the hearty and colorful folks who call the Rock home and to explore and learn more about this part of Canada so rich in history and culture.”

Tickets for Pat Braden can be purchased at provincial Arts and Culture Centre Box Offices. Braden performs at The Basement Theatre at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the St. John’s show are $20 and can be purchased by calling 729-3900. For more information on Braden visit his website at www.patbraden.com

Storytelling Festival Ahoy!

2011-02-18T06:20:00.000-08:00

The Storytelling Festival is coming! The Storytelling Festival is coming!

Are your stories ready? Have you got your ears trained to catch every story detail?

Do you know the time and place for all the events?

No?

Well, no worries! Your friendly neighbourhood festival guide (that's me!) is on the case.

Over the next 3 weeks I will be posting information about the events, the storytellers and the hosts and I will be providing storytelling tips and guidelines from our best tellers as well as links to other storytelling sites that can help you make the most of telling or of listening.

Today, I'll just start with a list of our events but drop back next week for more information!

Tuesday, March 8th
Admiralty House Museum,
23 Old Placentia Rd, Mount Pearl
7:00 – 9:00 PM

“Introduction to the Art of Storytelling”

The Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl is pleased to present storyteller Clare Muireann Murphy offering a workshop in the fundamentals of storytelling that will teach the essential tools for creating and telling stories. Pre-register at: storytellingstjohns@gmail.com
Admission: $20

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Ship Pub
Solomon’s Lane, 265 Duckworth
9:30 PM

5-Minute Story Slam with host Ruthanne Edward and music by Stan Pickett.

A Story Slam is a contest of words; imagine a poetry slam format meets Canadian Idol, with a storytelling twist. Story Slammers will sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute short story on the evening’s theme and a lucky eight names will be drawn at random from a bag. Each of the featured 5 minute stories is judged on how well it is told, how well it is constructed, and how well it honours the time limit and relates to the theme. Prize of $150 Presented in collaboration with the Folk Arts Society of Newfoundland & Labrador (website).
Admission: $5

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Thursday, March 10th

The Crow's Nest Officers Club
8:00 – 9:00 PM

War Time Stories with storyteller Petronella Van Dijk

Stories from times of war, to inspire peace.
Admission: $3

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Friday, March 11th

A.C. Hunter Library, Arts and Culture Centre
3:30 - 4:30 PM

Storytelling for Children with Irish storyteller, Clare Muireann Murphy and special guest, Maria Mills
Free Admission

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Friday, March 11th

Gower Street United Church Hall
8:00 - 9:30 PM

Five Minute Friday

A cabaret of short tales and ballads with Delf Hohmann (host), and Anita Best, Carol Dwyer, Ruthanne Edward, Didi Gillard-Rowlings, Gary Green, Dave Paddon, Dave Penny, and Ellen Power.
Admission; $10

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Saturday, March 12th

Gower Street United Church Hall
8:00 - 9:30 PM

Stories from Here and Away

A delightful evening of tales hosted by Kelly Russell and featuring storytellers, Clare Muireann Murphy, Marc Cormier and Petronella Van Dijk.
Admission: $10

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Tuesday, March 15th

The Ship Pub
265 Duckworth, Solomon’s Lane
5:00 PM – Midnight

The Jack Ring Cycle

Hosted by Chris Brookes and featuring Storytellers Anita Best, Andy Jones, Marc Cormier, Mary Fearon and Ford Elms with Speakers Richard Cashin, John Fitzgerald, Marjorie Doyle and Ryan Cleary.

Final storytelling circle for 2010 a success. Now, on to 2011!

2010-11-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

We had our final night for the St. John's Storytelling Circle last night, and closed off in style. Mike Boyle hosted, with stories from regulars like Gary Green, Chris Brookes, and others, and a first time story by regular attendee Jeff Foran. Overall, I'm very pleased with the year. We've had great attendance, and as the crowd last night demonstrated, we have a good mix of ages coming out to listen and tell, something which I like to see.

For the first few years of the Circle, I hosted every night, and this past year I've switched to having a different guest host every month. I quite like how that has turned out, and it is a tradition I plan on continuing.

In light of that, I'm excited about the prospects for 2011! I'm busy lining up hosts, and while you'll see some of your favourite hosts from sessions past, I'm very pleased that we'll have some very new hosts, and some new themed nights. I can tell you already that Crystal Martin, who has been a regular teller at the Crow's Nest over the past year, will lead things off on January 20th. We'll also see visits from the 2010 Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship winner, Sharon King-Campbell, a guest appearance by Massachusetts-based teller Karen Chace (who will also be teaching a workshop for beginning storytellers while she is in Newfoundland), and a night of true ghost stories in October hosted by the Newfoundland Paranormal Society! We'll finish off the year in November with Hubert Furey and stories of remembrance.

I'll post a full roster of Circle hosts as I confirm tellers, so check the website over the next few weeks. It is going to be a fun year of storytelling! I'll also be compiling a schedule of people volunteering to work the door, so if you want to add your name to the list, let me know.

Storytelling Circle Volunteers needed for 2011

2010-11-17T03:22:00.000-08:00

Hi all! I am looking for some regular Storytelling Circle goers to volunteer to help out with two things:

The Door - helping to collect money at the door, collect names for the email list, and keep a tally of people as they enter. Easy stuff! You'd need to be available from about 7 o'clock on the night of the circle, and would not need to be available for all of them.

Facebook Guru - someone who might be willing to help out with the Storytelling Circle Facebook account, by sending out notices and making event listings.

Both of these are unpaid positions, but you recieve my undying thanks, praise and admiration!

The dates for 2011 are:
January 20, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9,
July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13 and November 10.

If you want to help out, you can reach me at:
storytelling@nf.sympatico.ca
http://www.twitter.com/DaleJarvis
http://www.facebook.com/dale.jarvis

Mike Boyle Hosts the St. John's Storytelling Circle

2010-11-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

**Please note that due to the Remembrance Day Holiday, the November Storytelling Circle will be held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, Nov. 18th**

This month's host is Mike Boyle. Mike is a former Social studies teacher in Newfoundland and has recently taught some Irish Language courses at Memorial University. In 2009, Mike organized The Salon: a monthly cultural evening of poetry, story-telling and folk music. He has written several articles for Irish Language magazines about the culture and history of St John's, and operates a historical and cultural walking tour in the city of St John's. See www.boyletours.com for more information.

The St. John's Storytelling Circle will run from 7:30-9:30 at the Crow's Nest Officers' Club, with opportunities for new storytellers to spin a yarn. The Crow's Nest is located off the public stairs at the east side of the War Memorial on Duckworth Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Cost $3.00 at the door
Come early, as space is limited.

http://www.storytellingstjohns.ca/

What to wear for your trip to Newfoundland

2010-07-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Accordion Revolution Tshirt is a must, of course! (available from Living Planet T-Shirts)
http://livingplanet.ca/

But if you are wondering what to pack, see the ideas below from the Newfoundland and Labrador tourism website:
http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com/planatrip/traveltips/default.aspx

Apparel

Our weather has been known to be variable, so bring appropriate apparel for your itinerary. Our temperatures are usually mild in comparison to other parts of Canada, but vary a great deal from day to day, and sometimes hour to hour. For this reason, it is best to pack clothing that you can layer, and a light bag to carry it in for your day trips.

In winter, you will be thankful for a warm coat, hat, and mittens. A warm pair of shoes or boots that do not leak will ensure that you won’t be hindered by slush, snow, and ice.

For summer travel, don’t forget your swimsuit, sunscreen, and sandals for your trips to our sandy beaches. In spring, summer, and fall, a raincoat is a good idea.

Comfortable footwear is important if you plan on walking at any time of the year. We’re called “The Rock” and “The Big Land” for good reason! If you plan to explore, make sure your shoes are ready to explore with you.

Weather listings:
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/nl-24_metric_e.html

Storytelling Conference Transportation In and Around St. John's

2010-07-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

I've had a few questions about transportation in and around St. John's. If you are arriving by air, the best way to get to the university residences is by taxi. There is no bus that will take you from the airport to the university.

Info on taxi rates can be found here, on the airport website:

http://www.stjohnsairport.com/index/index.cfm?id=74

Taxi cabs queue outside the Arrivals Area. A taxi dispatcher is available to assist you. A cab to the university should run you about $18-$20. There is an ATM at the airport if you need Canadian cash.

If you are arriving late, and are staying at the university, you are responsible for checking with the university about where and when to get the keys to your room.

Taxis in St. John's are pretty easy to find, and for a fee, some companies will drive you around for the afternoon, taking to the sites for a fixed rate. The easiest thing is just to check the yellow pages when you arrive, or ask around.

If you haven't rented a car, and expect to do so, wear your lucky rabbit's foot. It is notoriously difficult to rent a car last minute.

Local bus information is online at:
http://www.metrobus.com

And yes, the trip to Cupids and Brigus on Saturday is included in your conference fee. If you miss the bus Saturday morning, however, it is a VERY long walk!

Crossing Borders with Laura Kamis Wrang - The Tea Show from Denmark!

2010-07-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

“Crossing Borders” with Laura Kamis Wrang
Sunday August 1st at 7:30 pm
Newman Wine Vaults, Water Street
$12 (seating limited to 50 people)

"Crossing Borders" is the story of Denmark’s Laura Kamis Wrang and her family, told travelling across borders and while drinking tea. Join Laura as she remembers her grandmother’s Russian samovar and strong tea drunk with rock candy, and her grandfather’s Syrian heritage in the tents of the nomads where sweet mint tea was served. Journey with her through England and tea served with milk or lemon and ginger snaps, scones and clotted cream with strawberries; and through Spain where the tea is scented with orange blossoms and sweetened with orange honey. A multi-sensory exploration of family, travel, and personal history, complete with teas served by Newfoundland’s own Kelly Jones, The Tea Lady, of Britannia Teas and Gifts.

Tickets may be purchased in advance at Britannia Teas and Gifts located at 199 Water St. in St. John’s. Sponsored by the St. John’s Storytelling Festival, Inc.

This show is wheelchair accessible.

Dale Jarvis book launch to kick off international storytelling conference

2010-07-07T09:57:00.001-07:00

St. John's will soon be host to an international conference of storytellers, with lovers of stories coming from across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Local storyteller and author Dale Jarvis will start things off on Monday, July 26th with a pre-conference book launch.

From an encounter with a shrieking horror on Signal Hill, St. John’s, to the legend of the headless pirate of Red Bay, Labrador, Jarvis has captured stories of white horses, men in black, haunted punts, vanishing boats, and things that go bump in the basement.

Blending local history, folklore, eyewitness interviews, and archival research, Haunted Waters is the latest collection of ghostly tales from one of Canada’s finest, and creepiest, storytellers.

The book launch will take place on Monday, July 16th at the Martini Bar (upstairs) on George Street at 8:00pm. The author will read from his book, and will be signing copies for sale.

Watch the book trailer at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltS_QZM2xOo

Pre-Conference Event, July 23rd - 25th, 2010

2010-06-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

First Annual Feile Seamus Creagh
July 23rd - 25th, 2010
St. John's, Newfoundland

"Feile Seamus Creagh" is a festival of Traditional Music and Song from Newfoundland and Ireland. It is named in memory of the late fiddle master Seamus Creagh. The festival will feature top performers, and indeed, tradition bearers from both the Newfoundland musical tradition, and its forebear, the Irish musical tradition. The weekend will consist of three concerts that focus on particular instruments in the tradition, and a Grand Finale Concert on the evening of Sunday, July 25th.

For more information go to: http://www.feileseamuscreagh.com

For more information contact: Graham Wells @ gewells1@hotmail.com

Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship – Call for applications

2010-06-06T10:09:00.001-07:00

The St. John’s Storytelling Festival and Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada (SC-CC) is pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship. Each year, SC-CC holds its annual conference in a different location across Canada. The Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship will send a young storytelling enthusiast from the conference’s home province or territory to that year’s conference.

In 2010, the conference is being held in St. John’s from July 28th to August 1st, and the first recipient of the Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship will be from Newfoundland and Labrador. One scholarship winner from Newfoundland and Labrador will be invited to the conference to meet and interact with storytellers from across the nation and around the world, take part in exciting workshops, and be invited to concert performances by some of Canada’s and the United Kingdom’s finest storytellers. The winner receives:

• Free admission to the SC-CC conference, July 28-August 1, 2010
• Entrance to all concerts and workshops
• A one-year membership to Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada
• A $250 grant to help offset the cost of travel and accommodation
• Partnership with an established storyteller, who will act as a mentor, guide and resource.

WHO MAY APPLY:
Youth aged 18-30 interested in using storytelling in their respective fields (i.e., education, psychology, museum work, environmental education, healing arts, law, religion, business, theatre, or freelance storytelling!)

HOW TO APPLY:
Please provide the following information via email:
• Name, Address, City, Province
• Telephone Numbers (home and cell)
• Email Address
• Date of Birth
• Storytelling experience (either telling or listening)
• Answer the following three questions:

1. Why are you interested in attending the Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada Annual Conference?

2. What do you hope to gain from the conference?

3. How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?

Completed applications for the Canadian Youth Storytelling Scholarship must be submitted, by email, to youthstorytelling@gmail.com by Wednesday, June 30th, 2010.

Information about the annual conference may be found at www.sc-cc.com

Storytellers: Final chance at registration for 2010 storytelling conference

2010-05-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

The response to the July 2010 Storytellers of Canada conference in St. John's has been fantastic! We have only twenty slots left before we're completely sold out, so we have decided on extending the registration deadline! If you haven't registered yet, it isn't too late, and we will take the first 20 people who send in their registration forms and payment.

http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/2010-registration.html

If you have already registered and haven't make your room bookings, you can get the information on accommodations at:

http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/2010-accommodation.html

Don't forget the 5-Minute Story Slam, happening Wednesday July 28th, at 7:30pm. We want the slam's theme to fit the local environment, and for St. John's, that means fog, and lots of it! The foggiest place in the world is the Grand Banks off the island of Newfoundland, the meeting place of the cold Labrador Current from the north and the much warmer Gulf Stream from the south. With storytellers from all over the world congregating in St. John's this July, all that hot air is bound to see an increase in the misty stuff. We welcome stories related in any way to fog: foggy days, the mists of time, fog horns, fog banks, lost in the fog, living in a fog, condensation nuclei, various visibility hazards or drizzle, fo' shizzle! Have your foggy tale ready.

Storytelling Conference Registration Deadline May 1st!

2010-04-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Registrations for the July 2010 Storytelling Conference are coming in, but I wanted to send around a quick reminder that the deadline for registrations is May 1st!

We've got lots of great stuff planned, and hope you can attend. If you have already sent in your registration information, fantastic! If not, you can get all the info at:
http://www.sc-cc.com

Dale Jarvis
Conference Co-Chair

Alice Lannon - Storykeeper

2010-03-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the special places in North America that has a rich tradition of local folktales.

In his book “Little Jack and other Newfoundland Folktales” researcher Dr. John Widdowson writes, “these fictional stories, which form part of an international stock of such narratives, used to be common in the British Isles, but have survived in Newfoundland for much longer than in most, if not all, other parts of the English-speaking world.”

As part of the conference, one of the most recognized tradition bearers of Newfoundland folk material, Alice Lannon, will be honoured.

Widely known and highly respected on the island as a teller of traditional and community tales, Alice Lannon lives in Southeast Placentia. She has told stories at festivals, workshops and special heritage events, and credits her gift as a storyteller to her grandmother.

Mrs Lannon, and the fascinating world of Newfoundland folktales, will be introduced to conference goers by Dr. Martin Lovelace of Memorial’s Folklore Department. Dr. Lovelace's areas of research and teaching are in folk literature, especially Märchen, and ballad, with an emphasis on the relationship between these genres and social reality. Atlantic Canada is an ideal context for work on this theme, given the region’s long history of folklore collection, rich archival holdings, and its continuing opportunities to work with tradition-bearers.

Newfoundland Tradition Bearer to perform at storytelling conference

2010-03-14T07:22:00.000-07:00

Kelly Russell, well-known fiddler and tireless promoter of Newfoundland and Labrador’s traditional music, is the first Newfoundlander to be recognized officially as a Tradition Bearer for the province.

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, has announced designations under the newly-established Provincial Historic Commemorations Program, which recognizes and commemorates distinctive aspects of our province’s history, culture and heritage.

Importantly for storytellers, the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program includes a category for "Tradition Bearer." This marks the first time that a bearer of a living tradition has been commemorated as a historic resource in the province.

"This program is unique to the country," said Minister French. "In addition to recognizing persons, places and events of provincial historical significance, the Provincial Historic Commemorations Program also acknowledges our customs, practices and traditions – the intangible cultural heritage that defines us as a people and makes us who we are."

No stranger to members of SC-CC, Kelly Russell has been a professional musician since 1974. An original member of such iconic Newfoundland and Labrador groups as Figgy Duff and The Wonderful Grand Band in the 1970s, and more recently The Plankerdown Band, he also spent 10 years working closely with the late, great fiddle masters, Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit. Recognizing a need to preserve the music of older performers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Russell founded Pigeon Inlet Productions in 1979. The label has since produced more than 30 full length recordings on LP, cassette and CD.

With wife and partner Tonya Kearley, Mr. Russell also runs music and dance events in Trinity such as Dance Upand the popular dinner theatre show A Time in Pigeon Inlet in Bay Roberts. He has performed locally, nationally and internationally, bringing the unique music and storytelling of Newfoundland and Labrador across Canada and around the world. Most recently, Mr. Russell performed in Vancouver, British Columbia, at BC Place on February 26 – during Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Kelly and Tonya will be hosting one of the evening events at the July 2010 Storytelling Conference. The program, called "Dance Up!", will introduce conference goers to the world of traditional Newfoundland dancing. Bring comfortable shoes!

For more information, visit:
http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/2010-dance-up.html

Introducing the 5-Minute Story Slam!

2010-03-03T03:40:00.000-08:00

Story Slam at Bitters Pub
Wednesday July 28th, 2010, 7:30pm

What is The 5-Minute Story Slam? A Story Slam is a contest of words; imagine a poetry slam format meets Canadian Idol, with a storytelling twist. Story Slammers will sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute short story on the evening's theme and a lucky eight names will be drawn at random from a bag. A story slam is a challenge to the teller and a gift to the audience.

Each of the featured 5 minute stories is judged on how well it is told, how well it is constructed, and how well it honours the time limit and relates to the theme.

Don’t have the foggiest idea what the theme is? Read on!

Then tales were told of gun barrels bent to shoot around the cliff,
Of men thawed out and brought to life that had been frozen stiff,
Of bark pots carried off by flies, of pathways chopped through fog,
Of woodsman Bill who, barefoot, kicked the knots out of a twelve inch log.
- Ted Russell, The Smokeroom on The Kyle

We want the slam’s theme to fit the local environment, and for St. John’s, that means fog, and lots of it! The foggiest place in the world is the Grand Banks off the island of Newfoundland, the meeting place of the cold Labrador Current from the north and the much warmer Gulf Stream from the south. With storytellers from all over the world congregating in St. John’s this July, all that hot air is bound to see an increase in the misty stuff. We welcome stories related in any way to fog: foggy days, the mists of time, fog horns, fog banks, lost in the fog, living in a fog, condensation nuclei, various visibility hazards or drizzle, fo’ shizzle! We won't allow reading, so be prepared to TELL your story.

Judging and Scoring

Non-telling audience members may feel moved to join in on a judging team. We’ll have five judges randomly selected from the audience, who will then score each performance. Scoring is out of 10 to 1 decimal place. The judges score on content, performance and how it fits the theme. We will calculate and announce the score after each teller. It is out of 30 - the highest and lowest scores are thrown out. The highest score at the end wins!

What do you mean 5 minutes?

5 minutes means...5 minutes. There is a penalty for going over time. Our Señorita del Slam will deduct -0.5 for every 15 seconds over with a 15 second grace.

¿Quién es la Señorita del Slam?

Ruthanne Edward has been telling stories for over 10 years; as a heritage interpreter, tour guide and now as a freelance storyteller. She has also been involved in the slam poetry community in Canada for 4 years. She helps run Capital Slam in Ottawa and is on the organizing committee for the 2010 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, which includes the Canadian National Slam Championships, happening in Ottawa in October. We are delighted to have her host SC-CC’s first ever story slam competition!

Conference Early Bird Registration closes March 1st!

2010-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars - make some calls, and plan to join us for SC-CC's 18th Annual Conference and AGM!

Early Bird Registration closes March 1, 2010, so be postmarked by that date!

Storytellers from throughout the world will merge in one place - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - for the 18th annual conference of Storytellers of Canada. For five days, participants will be engaged in an international meeting place of culture, art, and tradition.

This summer’s conference is brimming with opportunities for professional development. Participants will learn international perspectives about the art and tradition of storytelling. They will gain marketable skills to help them with the business side of their storytelling performances and teaching. Most importantly, they will be immersed in the story telling and story sharing of Newfoundland and Labrador.

For more details visit: http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010

For Tellers that would like to set up some merchandise at the sales tables, be sure to register at http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/2010-merchandise.html

For further information, read through the website, or contact the Conference organizers at conference@sc-cc.com

Canada Council for the Arts Storytelling Grant Info Session

2010-02-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

Canada Council for the Arts
Grant Information Session
Thursday July 29th, 2010 - 3:15pm - 4:00pm

Paul Seesequasis is a program officer with the Canada Council for the Arts. One of his programs is the Spoken Word and Storytelling program, which provides grants to individual storytellers, collectives and storytelling festivals. Seesequasis is also a writer and journalist.

Paul Seesequasis will present a grant information session for storytellers, including such issues as the jury process and what juries look for; what kinds of support material often works best; and how to present a clear and persuasive grant application and budget.

Session open to all conference participants. Registration open at:

http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/index.html

Conference Registrant #1 - Kathy Jessup!

2010-02-16T06:44:00.000-08:00

Registrations are starting to come in for the July 2010 Storytelling Conference, so I thought I'd just give a shout out to our first registrant, Edmonton storyteller Kathy Jessup, who is currently busy working away on the Olympics (her and I had great plans for our pairs figure skating career, but alas, I have to learn to skate first...)

I met Kathy years ago at the Yukon Storytelling Festival (http://www.storytelling.yk.net) and I'm delighted that she's coming to St. John's. You can check out her website at: http://www.kathyjessup.com/ or better yet, come meet her in St. John's. Newfoundland will never be the same...

If you haven't registered yet, get them in quick! Early bird deadline for reduced fees is March 1st, and workshop spaces are on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration info at: http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/

2010 Storytelling Conference Registration Now Open!

2010-02-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

18th Annual Conference
Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada (SC-CC)
July 28 - Aug 1, 2010
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Storytellers from throughout the world will merge in one place - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - for the 18th annual conference of Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada. For five days, participants will be engaged in an international meeting place of culture, art, and tradition. Storytellers from across Canada will meet and work with storytellers from the USA, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, England, Netherlands, and South Africa, and attend celebrations for the 400th anniversary of English settlement in Canada.

Conference registration is now open! For registration forms, links to tourism sites, info on accommodations, and to preregister for one of our exciting international professional development workshops, visit:

http://www.sc-cc.com/conference/2010/

Et cette année, nous avons des ateliers en français, aussi!

Early-Bird Registration ends March 1st

Sometimes you’ve got to go to the edge for a good story!

Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada 2010 conference – a global meeting place of storytellers held at the eastern edge of North America!

International Panelists Announced for 2010 Storytelling Conference

2010-01-31T13:13:00.000-08:00

International Perspectives on the Art and Tradition of Storytelling.

On Wednesday July 28th, 2010, we'll be presenting three special international panel discussions on the art, use, and tradition of storytelling around the globe, at the Arts and Culture Centre in St. John's as part of the 2010 Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada Conference (http://www.sc-cc.com)

1:00pm - 2:00pm Peace Panel
2:00pm - 3:00pm Children`s Panel
3:00pm - 3:30pm Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm International Panel

"Storytelling, Peace and Conflict Resolution" A Panel with Karen Gummo (Canada), Michael Williams (Scotland) and Liz Weir (Ireland)
Moderator Albert Fowler (Canada)

"Storytelling, Education and Children" A panel with Cindy Campbell (Canada), Laura Kamis Wrang (Denmark), and Karen Chace (USA)
Moderator Gail de Vos (Canada)

"International Perspectives in Storytelling" With Christina van der Wal Anonby (Netherlands), Dr. Ntombizodwa Cynthia Gxowa-Dlayedwa (South Africa) and Terry Rollins (USA)
Moderator Mariella Bertelli (Canada/Italy)

Presenters:

Karen Gummo gives adult workshops through TALES (The Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling), the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts in Calgary, and through a program called Storytree where she facilitate young students to uncover, recreate and perform their stories in a theatre setting. She nurtures the creative spirit in folks of all ages.

Michael 'Doc' Williams tells contemporary and traditional tales from around the world with a particular focus on North America. His repertoire includes Native American tales, Canadian folktales, and stories and songs from Appalachia, the Wild West, and the folk tradition. He particularly enjoys sharing stories and songs of peace and non-conflict drawn from a variety of cultures and suitable for all ages.

Liz Weir has thirty years of storytelling experience and was the first winner of the International Storybridge Award for "exemplary work in promoting storytelling between Ireland and other countries". She is director
of the Ulster Storytelling Festival and a featured teller at major festivals in Ireland, England, Scotland, and in the United States.

Cindy Campbell was born and raised in Nova Scotia with roots in Prince Edward Island and heard her first oral stories as a child while sitting around my grandparents kitchen in P.E.I. After 25 years of performing, she is foremost a storyteller but also a varied performer: singer, musician, puppeteer, actor, writer.

Laura Kamis Wrang is a Danish and Canadian storyteller, actress and teacher living in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since 1990 she has been telling stories and doing workshops on storytelling drama and voice and body work.

Karen Chace grew up among a large, extended Irish family in Massachusetts, surrounded by stories and storytellers all of her life. She has been sharing stories professionally with a wide range of audiences since 2000 and is the founder and director of a student storytelling club in her hometown.

Christina van der Wal Anonby is working as a researcher in the department of Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at Leiden University in the Netherlands; as well she is an honorary member of Khanogo Kumzari (the Kumzari cultural association) of Oman and Iran. Currently Christina is writing her doctoral dissertation on Kumzari storytelling, grammar, and discourse.

Dr Ntombizodwa Cynthia Gxowa-Dlayedwa teaches in the Linguistics Department of the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Her earliest research focused on analysing orally transmitted traditional folktales, and her most recent research interest is rooted in culture and verbal and nonverbal Intercultural and Cross-cultural Communication.

Terry Rollins grew up in a Southern family where storytelling was a way of life. Whether it was conversation at supper or at a holiday get-together, or talk heard at a big family reunion, no time together was complete without loads of stories and laughter being shared. Terry returns to Newfoundland to take part in the international panel, but will also be presenting a pre-conference evening of stories by Edgar Allan Poe in the historic Newman Wine Vaults.

Newfoundland 2010 Storytelling Conference makes headlines in Tuscon, AZ

2010-01-23T04:44:00.000-08:00

"This summer you could be enjoying the cool days of Canada and participating in a five day storytelling conference, International Perspectives on the Art and Tradition of Storytelling," writes Penelope Star in the January 21, 2010, edition of TusconCitizen.com. "Plus, history buffs can partake in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of English settlement on the island of Newfoundland."

Star is the founder and producer of the Odyssey Storytelling Series (http://www.Odysseystorytelling.com) and is currently writing a book about community storytelling.

"I’ve learned that personal storytelling with an audience can build community, become a personal achievement and be a lot of fun," she writes.

In addition to fabulous stories and an opportunity to network with international tellers, the mid-summer Newfoundland conference offers something special to overheated citizens of Arizona -- a chance to cool off!

"Plan ahead for your get-out-of-the-heat excursion," writes Star.

For American tourists and story lovers, Newfoundland is just one hop away from Newark, with direct flights on Continental Airlines to St. John's.

See Star's full article at:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/stories/2010/01/for-a-good-story-go-to-newfoundland-and-labrador/

A Toy Theatre: A Story from Boccacio's Decameron

2010-01-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to a special performance of Toy Theatre in the old tradition, followed by special guest Martha Baillie reading from her novel, "The Incident Report", in support of the Alice Kane StorySave Project. StorySave has chosen Alice Kane as its featured storyteller for 2010, and her CD will be launched at the July 2010 International Storytelling Conference in St. John's, Newfoundland. StorySave is a program of Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada dedicated to creating CD recordings of notable Canadian storytellers.

MaryContrary presents
A Toy Theatre
A Story from Boccacio's Decameron
Sunday, February 7
Adults only.

Time: 3 p.m. Toy Theatre and Author Reading
Time: 4 p.m. Toy Theatre only

Refreshments will be served.
Suggested donation: $15

Where: 140 Ellsworth Avenue, Toronto
1 block South of St. Clair, East of Christie

R.S.V.P. to mariella.bertelli@gmail.com
Please reply by January 30th.

Alice Kane StorySave CD to be launched in Newfoundland

2010-01-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

A three CD set of stories by the late Canadian storyteller Alice Kane is set to be launched at a major storytelling conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, this July.

The recordings of Kane’s stories is part of StorySave, a program of Storytellers of Canada / Conteurs du Canada which records the voices of elders from the Canadian storytelling community.

“Her storytelling and teaching inspired many storytellers now active in Toronto and all of Canada,” says storyteller Lynda Howes, past chair of StorySave Committee, and present chair of the Toronto production committee.

“Alice spent her earliest years in Northern Ireland, and her telling of Irish hero tales and folk tales was magical,” Howes says. “The set includes The Story of Flann and a number of folk tales and wondertales from the Celtic tradition.”

A deeply literate person, trained as a librarian and full of respect for books, Alice Kane was a primary figure in the revitalization of storytelling that led to the establishment of the Toronto Storytellers School and the city's famed storytelling festival. She contributed greatly to a rich cultural life in Ontario by encouraging storytellers from many different cultures to share their stories.

As a librarian in the Toronto Public Library's "Golden Age," Alice Kane played a major role in developing the library's world-renowned children's library services. She trained, influenced and inspired many other librarians to provide children with the best and most significant access to the world's literatures. In the process, Ms Kane also offered access to the world of wonders to be found in oral narratives.

“These previously recorded stories have been rescued from deteriorating cassettes,” says Howse. “We are delighted that Alice’s voice and feeling for the stories will now be available to a wide audience.”

The CD set will be launched as part of the Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada International Storytelling Conference to be held Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 1, 2010 in historic St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

For more on the conference, subscribe to the conference blog at:
http://storytellingstjohns.blogspot.com

For more on the life and work of Alice Kane, see:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/cmarchive/vol19no6/alicekane.html

For a good story, come to Newfoundland and Labrador!

2010-01-06T19:06:00.000-08:00

Picture it. Summer 2010.

Storytellers from throughout the world will merge in one place - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - for the 18th annual conference of Storytellers of Canada. For five days, participants will be engaged in an international meeting place of culture, art, and tradition with performances and workshops by storytellers from Canada, the United States, Italy, South Africa, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland and England.

This summer’s conference is brimming with opportunities for professional development. Participants will learn international perspectives about the art and tradition of storytelling. They will gain marketable skills to help them with the business side of their storytelling performances and teaching. Most importantly, they will be immersed in the story telling and story sharing of Newfoundland and Labrador.

For centuries, we’ve opened our doors to people from throughout the world. We’ve shared stories of mermaids swimming at sea, fairies hiding in woods, and mummers visiting our homes. Participants will be invited to listen to our stories and music; meet our people; explore our rocky coastline; and attend celebrations for the 400th anniversary of English settlement in Cupids, a community within an hour’s drive from St. John’s.

Sometimes you’ve got to go to the edge for a good story! Storytellers of Canada 2010 conference – a meeting place of storytellers held at the eastern edge of North America! Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 1, 2010.

To keep informed, join the Facebook group at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136795485624&ref=ts

Or subscribe to the blog at:
http://storytellingstjohns.blogspot.com/

World Storytelling Day Events - March 2010

2010-01-02T11:14:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

I've made a change to the World Storytelling Day website at:
http://worldstorytellingday.webs.com/apps/calendar/

Anyone who is a member of the site can add an event. If you are not a member, you can sign up on the site.

I did this because I am going to be travelling and working a lot over the next few months, so I won't be able to maintain the site as much as I have in previous years. So, the calendar is now in the hands of all of us!

Please start adding your events and good luck! If you have problems, send me an email.

Dale

Tales From an Irish Fireside - St. John's Storytelling Festival

2009-11-06T20:54:00.001-08:00

Date:Saturday, November 7, 2009
Time:8:00pm - 10:30pm
Location:Gower Street United Church Hall, Queen's Road

Hosted by Fergus O'Byrne, an evening of tales from tellers, Mike Burns,
Mary-Eileen McClear and Katherine Grier.

Cost $10

Fergus O'Byrne

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Fergus O'Byrne emigrated to Canada in 1967. While
living in Toronto he became a founding member of the Irish folk band Ryan's
Fancy. In 1971 the group moved to St. John's, Newfoundland. During the next
fourteen years, Fergus toured extensively throughout North America and
Ireland as part of the trio. In the years since, Fergus has been an integral
part of the traditional music scene in St. John's, performing with the late
Dermot O'Reilly, Tickle Harbour, A Crowd of Bold Sharemen, and long-time
collaborator, Jim Payne.

Mike Burns

Funny, magical, and mysterious, Michael Burns is an Irish storyteller and
aikido master living in Montreal who tells stories in Gaelic, French and
English. He has been telling stories he originally heard from his father for
over 40 years. Mike has a repertoire of several hundred traditional stories
from the lore of Iveragh (South Kerry, Ireland) and gives concerts regularly
at festivals across Canada and abroad. He co-founded the Regroupement Du
Conte au Québec (RCQ) in 2003, and has been twice awarded the Girouette
Cuivrée, which is given to outstanding individuals who have made
storytelling shine in Quebec and abroad.

Mary-Eileen McClear

Storyteller Mary-Eileen McClear may live in Ontario, but her stories carry
her, and her listeners, across Canada and around the world. She is the
founder of The Story Barn, a centre which promotes storytelling through
courses and events and which is now in its twenty-second year. Whether she
is telling stories or leading workshops, Mary-Eileen has an engaging way
with people, "a captivating sense of humour with an intriguing touch of
magic." She is the recipient of local arts awards and of the Governor
General's Canada 125 medal for contributing to the cultural life of her
community.

Katherine Grier

Katherine Grier is delighted to be returning to St. John's (where she lived
for 10 years) after 8 years back in Ontario. She has been telling stories
formally since the early 1980s - in schools and through the Parent-Child
Mother Goose Program (which she helped co-found), as well as in libraries
and at festivals and concert venues. She retains a deep interest in how
stories affirm and allow us to explore our own experience.

St. John's Storytelling Festival Starts November 3

2009-10-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

From November 3 – 8th, 2009, The St. John's Storytelling Festival celebrates of the art and tradition of storytelling. Storytellers from around the city, across the island and farther away gather to share stories. Come along and see why storytelling is one of our most entertaining and enduring forms of expression.

"Storytelling is such an important part of the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador," says Dale Jarvis, festival president. "This year, we wanted to showcase our exciting local storytellers, ballad singers, and recitationists. We wanted to emphasize that this is still a living tradition, that telling stories is still something that we do."

Activities include fun and inspiring workshops, free events, and stories of every shape and size for every age. Highlights include a Tall Tale Competition at the Ship hosted by Stephen Lush. Thursday will be an evening with our younger storytellers at Gower Street United Church Hall and after, it’s over to Quidi Vidi Brewery for a few late night tales. Five Minute Friday, hosted by Anita Best, features a cabaret of the most entertaining stories and storytellers from around here. Saturday evening is devoted to tales from Ireland. With host Fergus O’Byrne Mike Burns, Mary-Eileen McClear and Katherine Grier, it will be a night of imagination and delight. Evening concerts take place at Gower Street United Church; admission is $10 at the door.

Visit our website at: www.storytellingstjohns.ca for more details. Here is what’s happening:

Talking Stick Workshop

2009-10-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl is pleased to present visual artist Barb Wood for a workshop on making talking sticks. Come out and try your hand at some arts and crafts while learning to tell stories in this creative way.

Barb Wood lives in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Her paintings and craft work bring together a diverse mix of natural materials and textiles. Her artistic expression is nurtured by a strong sense of connection to the land that living in Labrador inspires. Barbara has received a number of honors for her work including the Canada 125 Award, the Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Craft (2005) from the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Labrador (2002) from the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women.

Pre-registration is required. Register with Christine Hennebury <christine@mombie.com>

Tuesday Nov. 3
7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
$20 (includes materials)

Admiralty House Museum, Mount Pearl.
Admiralty House
23 Old Placentia Road
Arts Association of Mount Pearl

An Inuit Hero's Epic Quest with Kira Van Deusen, Storyteller/Cellist

2009-10-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Storyteller/musician Kira Van Deusen to return to West Coast, Nov 1 - 2

Professional storyteller and cellist, Kira Van Deusen, based in Vancouver, will give two performances of Kiviuq’s Journey—An Inuit Hero’s Epic Quest:

Sun, Nov 1, 7:00 pm - Grenfell College Forestry Building Atrium, Corner Brook

Mon, Nov 2, 7:30 pm - Gros Morne National Park Visitor Centre, Rocky Harbour.

The legend of Kiviuk is one of the most ancient and beloved legends of the Inuit people. The great shaman hero has inspired generations with his terrifying adventures at sea, his meetings with strange beings, kindness to orphans, service to community, and his marriages with animals and birds. In 2004, Kira travelled in all three regions of Nunavut with filmmaker, John Houston, recording the Inuit legend of the great shaman-hero. They listened to forty elders, each telling this great epic in an individual way. Every telling was full of depth and humour and illuminated this ancient story in new ways. With the blessing of the elders, Kira has created this performance from the richness of material they offered her, adding cello music inspired by this epic adventure and by the great landscapes of the Canadian north. Houston produced a film of the epic: Kiviuk.

In addition to her journey to the Canadian North, Kira Van Deusen travelled extensively in Siberia's forests, tundra, and steppe over the 15 years beginning shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, and connected with indigenous traditions, stories, and people—their lives, history, spirituality, and sense of humour, which resulted in the publication of 6 books. She delights listeners in Canada, the US, Europe, and Russia with adventures in worlds we do not see with the eye, accompanied by her evocative original cello and vocal music. She has performed at Storytelling Festivals and Concert Series in Vancouver, Whitehorse, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, and St. John’s, many times as featured teller, as well as in many other events since 1991.

Kira’s recently finished book Kiviuq—An Inuit Hero and his Siberian Cousins, is published by McGill-Queen’s University Press with excerpts and audio clips on her own website: www.kiravan.com.

For information/tickets, contact Elinor Benjamin 634-8890 tales@warp.nfld.net

Place, Narrative & New Media Symposium

2009-10-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, November 5th, 2009, the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Intangible Cultural Heritage program, as part of the annual St. John’s Storytelling Festival, is organizing a half-day symposium on how new technologies are being incorporated into storytelling. Several invited speakers will detail how they are using new media or technology to tell the stories of real places.

Chris Brookes will speak about the [Here]Say, a story map of Water street that allows people to listen to stories, via cell phone, about the location they are standing in at that moment. Marlene Brooks brings us news on 3D Virtual World Storytelling, and will explain how Conne River and Cupids 400 Projects are using Second Life to preserve cultural stories of local communities. New York is only a click away: Jedediah Baker will explain how through his discussion of City Lore's City of Memories. Parks Canada is Implementing GPS based interpretation at a number of their sites and Cupids 400 will be launching an iTouch based interpretation of the 1610 archaeological site.

After brief presentations by all invited speakers, an open panel discussion of the potential of such technology, as well as some of the possible problems, will ensue. What are we able to accomplish and what would we like to be able to accomplish with these resources? How can technology help link place and story? Come see, share, and participate!

See the full symposium site at:
http://www.mun.ca/ich/resources/conferences/conf2009.php

Place, Narrative and New Media Symposium
Celestial Gallery, Johnson GEO Centre
Thursday, November 5th, 2009 1pm-4pm

Free admission to pre-registered participants.
RSVP to Jed Baker at: 737-3582, or by e-mail: jedediah.edwin.baker@mun.ca

Mike Burns to attend the 2009 St. John's Storytelling Festival

2009-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Funny, magical, and mysterious, Michael Burns is an Irish storyteller and aikido master living in Montreal who tells stories in Gaelic, Irish and English. He has been telling stories he originally heard from his father for over 40 years. Mike has a repertoire of several hundred traditional stories from the lore of Iveragh (South Kerry, Ireland) and gives concerts regularly at festivals across Canada and abroad. He co-founded the Regroupement Du Conte au Québec (RCQ) in 2003, and has been twice awarded the Girouette Cuivrée, which is given to outstanding individuals who have made storytelling shine in Quebec and abroad.

Call For Proposals: July 2010 Storytelling Conference

2009-08-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

Call for Proposals
International Perspectives on the Art and Tradition of Storytelling
Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada National Conference and AGM
Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 1, 2010
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Join the Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada for a 5 day conference as part of the 400th anniversary of English settlement on the much-storied island of Newfoundland, with workshops, professional development, concerts, tours, story slam, and international symposium.
The 2010 Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit proposals for consideration in the following two categories:
1. Professional Development Workshop
2. Panel Discussion Participants

1. Professional Development Workshops (90 minutes)
Attendees at the 2009 SCCC conference listed workshops on Collecting Oral History, Newfoundland and Labrador Ballads, Stories behind the Storyteller (life stories and practical experiences of storytellers), Vocal Warmups, Storytelling and the Internet, and Storytelling in Education as their top choices for workshops for 2010. Other topics identified included Mask and/or Clown, Storytelling Techniques, Grant Writing, Press Release Writing, Stories with Music, Critiquing, Researching Stories, and Body/Movement workshops. The committee will be looking for innovative approaches, hands-on practical workshops for storytellers at different levels of their careers and workshops that will help tellers with the business of storytelling: addressing marketing, technology, and other tools for working storytellers.

Who May Apply:
We welcome proposal submissions from anyone. Presenter does not need to be a member of Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada(SC-CC). Non-members are strongly encouraged to join SC-CC if their proposal is accepted. Workshops will be funded to a total of $300 per workshop, and presenters are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and conference registration costs.

2. Panel participants - International Perspectives on the Art and Tradition of Storytelling
As part of the 2010 Conference, one day will be devoted to panel presentations on international perspectives on the art and tradition of storytelling. The morning will focus on the oral tradition of storytelling, while the afternoon will focus on contemporary performance, art and use. We are seeking representatives of national, regional, state, or provincial storytelling organizations and academic programs who would be willing to address issues of current focus or concern to their organizations or areas.

Who May Apply:
We welcome proposal submissions from anyone, though official representatives of established groups are preferred. Presenter does not need to be a member of Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada(SC-CC). Non-members are strongly encouraged to join SC-CC if their proposal is accepted. Panel participants will be given an honorarium of $50, and participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and conference registration costs.

Please include • a one-two paragraph description of your proposal
• a copy of your recent CV or artists profile
• complete mail, telephone and email contact information

Send to:
SCCC2010proposals@gmail.com
Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2009. Only successful applicants will be contacted, by mid November.

Toronto Festival of Storytelling Podcast

2009-05-15T08:33:00.001-07:00

Rachel James of radio station CIUT interviews three storytellers as part of the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, 2009: Howard Kaplan, Dale Jarvis, and Kathy Jessup. Howard Kaplan is a storyteller, musician and webmaster for 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling in Toronto. Dale Gilbert Jarvis is a storyteller, author and folklorist living and working in St. John's, Newfoundland. Kathy Jessup of Edmonton spent ten years as a broadcast journalist with CBC radio, before deciding to explore her "closet passion": writing and telling children's stories.

CIUT 89.5 FM is Toronto's preeminent, listener-supported presenter of leading-edge music and spoken-word programming since 1966. Firmly rooted in the University of Toronto community, CIUT's programming reaches and represents the community at large and encompasses a wide panorama of styles and expressions.

Download the podcast here.

Labrador Cultural Travel Fund promotes cultural exchange

2009-05-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC) has awarded 15 travel grants through the Labrador Cultural Travel Fund (LCTF) to support cultural exchange between Labrador and the island.

The LCTF provides travel assistance to residents of Labrador so they can participate in arts and heritage activities on the island. It also funds Labrador organizations so they can bring in resource people from the island to conduct seminars, workshops or similar events. Eligible activities may include: participating in arts festivals or competitions; attending arts or heritage fairs or workshops; receiving or being nominated for significant cultural awards; and participating in major arts performances or heritage presentations or conferences.

This past granting session (October 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009) the LCTF awarded $33,567.18 to 15 applicants. Recipients included Amos Lyall who traveled from North West River to attend the St. John’s Storytelling Festival.

Amos Lyall is a museum interpreter with an interest in the preservation of culture and heritage. He serves on the Board of Directors of Them Days magazine, a quarterly publication dedicated to preserving the history of Labrador, and as a board member of the OKalaKatiget Society, a non-profit organization with the mandate to preserve and promote the language and culture of the Inuit. He regularly tells stories at the Labrador Interpretation Centre in North West River, and 2008 was the first time he performed at the St. John’s Storytelling Festival.

St. John's Storytelling Circle schedule for 2009 and 2010

2009-04-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! I've got the dates set for storytelling circle events for the rest of 2009, and for 2010. Some organized, wha'?

Upcoming dates 2009:
May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12

And 2010:
January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14

I'll post information about event hosts and special guests closer to each event. All events are held at the Crow's Nest Officer's Club, and start at 7:30 pm. Cost is $3 at the door.

If you would like to volunteer to help out with postering or working the door, contact me (Dale Jarvis) at storytelling@nf.sympatico.ca

Early, early Sunday morning

2008-10-25T23:32:00.001-07:00

It is 4 in the morning and I'm home after picking up Fule and Adwoa Badoe from the airport. The past two days have been a whirl of storytelling, with two very succesful concerts at Gower Street United Church. I think the crowd favourite to date has been the Queen of Paradise Garden with Andy Jones and Darka Erdelji, which was very funny, and very well received by the capacity crowd at the church hall. Coming up today: the African Dance workshop with Adwoa Badoe, ghost stories with yours truly at The Rooms, a workshop with Kevin MacKenzie, and then our final night cabaret. Pictures to follow, but for now, I'm heading to bed!

Day 2: Stories, Recitations, and Ballads

2008-10-22T20:17:00.001-07:00

Another full day of storytelling, and a gathering of the clans! Today started off bright and early, seeing me heading to Holy Cross Elementary for some last minute rehearsals with the storytelling students there who will be performing Thursday night.

Kevin MacKenzie told to a crowd of appreciative grade sevens at Villa Nova school in Manuels, while Elinor Benjamin arrived in from Corner Brook to tell stories at the Janeway Children's Hospital. Then tonight at the ship, Gary Green hosted Kelly Russell with Allan and Matthew Byrne for a night of stories, recitations, ballads and tunes.

More storytellers arrived, with Christine Mayr arriving from Montreal and heading straight down to the Ship Pub. As I stood there taking pictures, a young woman introduced herself to me as the niece of Mariella Bertelli, a fabulous Italian-Canadian storyteller, and a former performer at the St. John's Storytelling Festival.

A delightful addition to tonight's evening was the presence of Mrs Alice Lannon, the grandmother of traditional Newfoundland storytelling, who turned 81 today. The standing-room only crowd at the Ship all sang Alice "Happy Birthday" as Alice remarked: "only the good die young!"

It was great to be at the Ship tonight and look out into the audience and see so many great storytellers in one place, not only the ones mentioned here, but others like Anita Best, Hubert Furey and Mary Fearon. It is shaping up to be an amazing week.

Next up: more school storytelling with Christine Mayr and Kevin M, and an event I'm very excited about, the young storytellers concert at The Lantern on Barnes Road!

Festival Kicks Off!

2008-10-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

The fifth annual St. John's Storytelling Festival started tonight in, of all places, Mount Pearl, in partnership with the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl hosting a workshop for beginning storytellers at the Admiralty House Museum. (Special thanks to AAMP's Christine Hennebury)

The rain poured down outside as we explored family stories, traditional Newfoundland folktales, and creating our own stories. Aside from a small, damp crowd, and Kevin MacKenzie's feet getting soaking wet (I told people to bring dry socks) the evening was a great success, with many a laugh shared.

Photographic evidence of the same on facebook.

Tomorrow: Stories and Ballads at The Ship

One day till the festival!

2008-10-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

I picked Kevin MacKenzie up at the airport yesterday, the first of our out-of-province guests to arrive for the 5th annual St. John's Storytelling Festival. Had a great chat with Kevin last night at the Guv'nor, and today we drove up to Signal Hill, ate our lunch and chatted about the world of storytelling.

The festival is looking to be a good one! Things kick off tomorrow with my intro storytelling workshop at Admiralty House in Mount Pearl. You can see the facebook event listing here. There is no cost, but you must register in advance by calling 765-9383.

Welcome

2008-09-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the St. John's Storytelling Festival blog, where we'll be posting breaking news and updates on the annual St. John's Storytelling Festival. The main festival site, with performers' bios, photos, and info from previous festivals can be found online at:

http://www.storytellingstjohns.ca

The festival for 2008 will run Tuesday, October 21 to Sunday, October 26, with lots of stories, workshops and concerts!