STORY TELLING
I started story telling in order to create dance over five years ago. It seemed to be a natural extension of teaching dance and making dance more accesible to children. Indeed, it is from myths, stories and proverbs that much of African dance is created. As a little girl in Malawi, one of my nostalgic memories is sitting round a fire in the evenings listening to all sorts of stories. The stories I liked best were the ones to do with animals such as, hare (kalulu) the lazy, show off, who thought he was clever or the great big elephant, who thought he was the strongest, but were usually, much to the everyone's surprise, outwitted by the the tortoise (kamba). Today, these stories are among those I enjoy telling. I use traditional African dances and music to express them, and encourage children to use their own wonderful imaginations to create thier own movements and dance. Whose child has never pretended to be a lion, monkey or frog? It is a natural way of drawing on their pure, untainted inspiration.
PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS STORYTELLING WITH MASK MAKING AND DANCE
I have run some very successful, family storytelling workshops followed by choosing a character from the story to make an African mask and then performing a masked dance at the end of the workshop. These workshops can vary in length from a couple of hours to a whole day. It all depends on what the organisation wants to achieve.
EXAMPLES OF FAMILY WORKSHOPS:
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North Devon respect Festival: Family story telling of Zambian story, mask making and performance. .....................................................................................9th Oct 2006;
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Exeter Playdays: Family 2 sessions of Story telling and mask making and parading with masks made...................................................... 12.00 - 4pm.. 24th June 2006, (This workshop will be repeated, by popular request this year on 24th June 2007);
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Racial Equality Group, Plymouth, South Devon - one day of dance and mask making for children of various ethnic groups i.e. Chinese, African, Asian, European.........................................3 Aug 2004
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EXAMPLES OF WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS:
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Budehaven Community School - 'Celebrating Africa' - mask making year 8s (ages 12 - 13) 2 hours, & dance with GCSE year 10s (ages 14 - 15) for an hour plus evening performance .....16th March 2007;
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Primary School, Halwin School, Cornwall - African storytelling, mask making and dance with masks - reception to year 6 (ages 4 - 10).................................................... 21 June 2006;
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Budehaven Community College 'Cultural Celebration' - African dance & mask making and evening performance with yr 7s (ages 11-12)................................................ 31 March 2006;
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West Down Primary School, Braunton - One day of Dance, creating costume, mask making and dance performance. Years 1,2 & 3 aged 5 - 7................................................ 5th Nov 2002
A SAMPLE STORYTELLING PACKAGE FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS
A ZAMBIAN STORY FOLLOWED BY MAKING A MASK
OR
AFRICAN MASK MAKING
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
I will talk of Africa, introduce Chinyanja, a language of the Chewa tribe of Zambia and Malawi, and relate a Zambian animal legend with songs and dance in 15 minutes. The storytelling is optional, and can be left out if conditions do not have the appropriate quiet atmosphere required for storytelling. I will then ask family members to choose from a variety of templates representing a character from the story, or if I do not tell a story, they will choose a template from a variety of African masks to cut out and decorate, using paint, glue and recycled materials such as cardboard, cereal packs, wool, rope, toilet paper holds, buttons, feathers, fabric remnants, old socks, cotton reels, tissue and newspapers. Participants can parade and dance wearing their mask at the end in festival procession.
OUTCOMES
This is a fun family workshop designed to suit parents or adults with children in a warm, friendly and stimulating environment. The outcome is Family and community bonding, contributing to an understanding of African culture. The story will take participants to the hot, Zambian valleys, inspiring them to create an African mask to capture the spirits, which roam in the African bush.
SPACE
A large hall, hut or marquee with access to tables and chairs and also a tarpaulin for the floor would be desirable if there were no tables and chairs, for a total of 25 - 30 family participants at a time. Access to a water tap or large buckets of water are essential.
MATERIALS
I will supply recycled materials, pencils, rubbers, paper, paints, paint pots, paint brushes, staples, glue
guns and sticks, glue pots and spatulas, scissors, masking tape, staples and buckets.
EQUIPMENT
Please supply a sink with running water or alternatively, water bins, a tarpaulin for floor work, tables, chairs, and space for hanging images and pre made masks.
PARTICIPANTS
All family members such as parents and children, or children with accompanied adults are welcome.
FEES
Dependent on the organization, number of participants and return travel from Hartland, North Devon.