Leeny Del Seamonds shares storytelling with MCC-Maple Woods Spanish I students

Not only did she entertain audiences young and old throughout the Storytelling Celebration, she also spiced up Spanish class!

MCC-Maple Woods Story Slam: Brother John Anderson

Brother John Anderson shares a childhood recollection:

MCC-Maple Woods Story Slam: Marilyn shares her first story

A small but dedicated crowd of guests and storytellers gathered at the Maple Woods Student Center Tuesday night to share stories of school days and family ties, and learn the tricks of the trade from other storytellers.

Please be advised that this video contains a couple instances of language that some might find offensive. The story itself is light and humorous, and the words are used in context, but please bear this in mind before showing to children or listening at work. :)

Afi̱gi̱tí̱s the Storyteller (and her squirrelly friend) has a message for you!

Afi̱gi̱tí̱s the Storyteller (and her squirrelly friend) has a message for you!

Pangea Day - Global Storytelling

For all of you educator/storytellers...

For those interested in youth storytelling and storytelling in a school environment, why not sign up for Becky Everly's media specialist workshop?

Regional Storyteller Spotlight: Mary Garrett

Mary believes in the world of story and the power of story to make this world a better place.  She tells personal stories, tall tales, folktales, traditional tales, and life lesson stories to audiences of all ages.

Check out Mary's website here!



Kathak: Indian Story Dance

Kathak is one of the 8 Classical Indian Dances, and originated from traveling bards who performed in village squares and plazas, singing and dancing to illustrate the holy scriptures for the townspeople. The word kathak is actually Hindu for "storyteller."

Kathak almost always features very precise, sharp movement and turns choreographed to music performed on traditional Indian instruments like sitars, tabla drums and reeded wind instruments and flutes.

Regional Storytelling Spotlight: Marilyn Kinsella

A native of Fairview Heights, IL, Marilyn Kinsella is a freelance, travelling storyteller, and has been at it since 1981. Her favorite stories to tell are folktales, many from different cultures but most from the stories circulated in her small, Midwestern hometown.

Check out her Web site: Marilyn "Taleypo" Kinsella

Olga Loya performing "Washing Machine"

Check out the video of storyteller Olga Loya!

Olga will be featured at several of our events this year, including Day of the Dead and Altar Stories; Ghosts in the Night Sky; and the Storytelling Spectacular.

Rakugo! Japanese Storytelling

Storytelling is an ancient and international art - this is rakugo, an example from the Far East. The origin of this type of performance - wherein a single storyteller relays a comedic story from a small stage, always in a seiza sitting position with few props and limited movement - dates back to 13th century feudal Japan.

The stories, which are complex and always involve dialogue between one or more characters, are kind of like a sitcom, where one actor plays all the parts.

Most rakugo are, obviously, performed in Japanese, but this is an English version for your enjoyment:

Ira Glass on storytelling, part 1

For those of you always looking for new and interesting ways to tell stories, listen to stories, create stories, dismantle stories - I offer this as a kind of professional development tool, especially for educators teaching others and those interested in helping others formulate and tell their stories.



Ira Glass is a radio personality - he's the host of This American Life, which airs on Public Radio International. He's talking here about broadcast storytelling, such as radio or television, but the points he makes are excellent.

Watch and enjoy :)

Take a look at storyteller Bobby Norfolk!

Check out Bobby Norfolk - actor, poet, comedian... storyteller!

Bobby will be giving a number of performances throughout this year's Kansas City Storytelling Celebration, including a special performance at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Stay tuned for schedule updates and more info

on this year's performers!