Join BobbyA Seigetsu Avstreih Thursday Afternoon in the Otter's Den for a good ol' fashioned Story Swap. Sit for a spell, learn how to share your own stories, or listen to those who can spin a yarn.
Sit in a circle and pass short stories around. Children's tales. Tall tales. Family stories. Special memories. Changing times. Imagination and Flights of Fancy. This is a time for telling. It is not a performance. It is a safe space to play. All styles and skill levels are welcome. Practice for performance or reminisce for pleasure. We are all of us "Once Upon a Time....."
A little bit about BobbyA:
Since 2007 BobbyA has been affiliated with the Japanese Culture Club of Arizona and the Japanese Friendship Garden. Performances include “The MIM“, Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix Art Museum, SMOCA,
Glendale Community College Dance Theater, ASU DanceFestival
In 2002 BobbyA led a Workshop on Violence Prevention Through Storytelling National Storytelling Convention, in Denver, CO 2001 & was a Featured Storyteller at Young Authors Conferences Denver Board of Education Denver, CO.
A MESSAGE FROM BOBBYA
On Saturday, 29th, I'm telling Japanese folktales as part of a festival in Berkeley Springs. This is very different from telling folktales in a formal Japanese garden.
In the beginning of our Circle I will share with you my process for telling folktales out of their traditional context. Until we meet, I invite you to ponder these 2 questions:
1. What is this story telling me? (This is a variation of the question: WHY am I telling this particular story, but the wording makes it more personal)
2. How do I create a context for this story? I define context as being a bridge between or a container for the interplay of story and listener.
Context is also important for the teller, as it takes you out of the naked spotlight. The Story is the meal. The context is where the meal is served: campfire, chicken shack, BBQ joint, austere meditation hall, kitchen table, poker table. You, the Storyteller, you're just serving the meal. You are essential, but you are also barely noticeable except for whether you are friendly or cold. Like the server, the Storyteller's job is to invite you into the story, and then get out of the way of you enjoying the meal.
What do I mean by "Get out of the way?" For me, I split my consciousness between being both Teller and Listener. I enjoy the unfolding of the Story along with the telling of it. My child self and adult self coexist when I'm telling. In fact, that last sentence is the reason I became a Storyteller in the first place: to make a home for my orphaned self. And you?