Past Storylabs

September 5, 2008, North Miami: Diane Ferlatte

From the Cultural to the Personal, Bringing Stories to Life

More than 30 people came on a stormy morning to see and hear the Diane Ferlatte, the international storyteller and leader in the multicultural renaissance of the oral tradition. Her blend of stage craft, acting skills, songs and games inspired everyone to explore memories, thoughts, and feelings from a cultural and personal perspective. We exchanged stories as a way to better understand our own culture and others. We learned how to get in touch with the whole story. We learned how to use verbal and nonverbal techniques. Diane gave new relevance to traditional folktales by relating them to individual experiences.

This StoryLab was co-sponsored by: Miami-Dade Public Library System, the South Florida Storytelling Project at, Florida Atlantic University with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners.

June 6, 2008—Miami Lakes: Antonio Sacre

Telling Our Stories Teaching Our Truth

Multicultural and multilingual solo artist and storyteller Antonio Sacre educated and entertained a culturally diverse audience of 25 participants from across the state on the how to tell and craft personal stories.

Special emphasis was given to:

a) parents, teachers, storytellers and librarians;
b) the telling of bilingual stories, even if you’re not fluent in another language;
c) sharing stories that are a little edgy or difficult;
d) teaching tolerance through storytelling and
e) choosing effective stories.

Antonio gave a concert the following day on Personal and Traditional Stories in Miami.

March 1, 2008—Deerfield Beach: Roslyn Bresnick-Perry
StoryLab Intensive ***

Maggidim (Storytellers), Menshin (Folk) & Memories: The World of Jewish Storytelling
with the legendary Roslyn Bresnic-Perry

Before the Book, there was the Word. So while Jews have long been known as the People of the Book, they are, first and foremost, the People of the Spoken Word. Jewish stories link us to 5,000 years of wisdom and values that form the foundation of Western civilization. These stories are not only valuable for their content, but also delight audiences with their wit and humor. They are appropriate for general audiences and for telling in churches, schools and other venues.

The topics of focus included:

• what is a Jewish story;
• how to find Jewish stories and make them your own;
• Yiddish and Hebrew vocabulary and pronunciation, Jewish cultural background, etc.
• how Jewish stories promote cultural understanding;
• how to tell a Jewish story with the most effective tone, gesutre and timing;
• diving more deeply into the soul of Jewish stories

This StoryLab was co-sponsored by Florida Storytelling Association and South Florida Storytelling Project at Florida Atlantic University

September 23-24, 2005—Gainesville, FL: Flora Joy

Coaching and Mentoring Young Storytellers

The first StoryLab was held in partnership with Santa Fe Community College and the Gainesville StoryGroup. The topic, “Coaching and Mentoring Young Tellers,” was selected because of the need to support librarians, media specialists, teachers, coaches and parents working with children. Seventy attendees from throughout the state attended.
Dr. Flora Joy, founder of the Storytelling Program at East Tennessee State University, trained the adults while the 2005 Florida Storytelling Association Youthful Voices young tellers produced a video. The workshop was an intensive nine-hour training designed to help all those interested in discovering or rediscovering the art and craft of storytelling from the coaches’ point of view. Each participant received a booklet, “Coaching Young People.” During the last session, the YV presented a new story, and the “new” coaches practice their skills.

Following the coaching session, six young people went to the SFCC stage and told their stories to about 250 people. Then Flora and her husband, Henry, delighted the audience by performing a tandem tale. The emcee, local talk show hostess Ilene Silverman, and Dr. Joy received framed pictures of sunflowers, the logo of YV. Members of Big Brothers/Big Sisters were guests, and for most of them, this was the first exposure to the art of storytelling. Over $400 was raised on behalf of the group.

Scott Smith, working with SFCC video studio manager Bob Lightner, completed the filming of “How to Make a Winning Video,” which became a fund raiser for YV. Copies of the DVD are available for purchase.
The StoryLab success story was best described by Dr. Kris Williams, SFCC vice president, who said, “This StoryLab is the most innovative and energetic program that we have attempted. This workshop encompassed people ages nine to 69.”

November 11, 2007: Tampa, FL: Mitch O’Rear and Nancy Case:

Nurturing Youthful Voices and StoryGroups

This StoryLab targeted the needs of teachers, librarians, youth group leaders, youth storytellers, home schoolers, and anyone who is training, or considering training young storytellers. A dozen presenters excited attendees with examples of successful youth storytelling programs in a variety of settings.

Attendees learned storytelling games to teach their young tellers, brought home the basics of establishing a youth storytelling club, found out how to have their own youth storytelling festival, networked with trainers from across Florida, and were amazed while listening to award-winning youth tellers.

September 15, 2006: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Doug Lipman: Personalizing the Traditional Tale / Universalizing the Personal Story

How many of us have told a traditional tale and thought, I know this is an important story, but it doesn’t touch my heart? Conversely, how often have we told a personal story and thought, how important is this to others? How do we make all our stories meaningful both for ourselves and for our audiences?

Doug Lipman, the nationally acclaimed storytelling coach, author and performer, addressed these important topics and much more in an invaluable intensive workshop/seminar. One hundred storytellers at all levels came to participate and enjoy at the Broward County Library Main Branch in Fort Lauderdale.

In written evaluations, participants overwhelmingly rated the workshop very useful. They found Doug engaging and knowledgeable about the issues and enjoyed the stories. They also felt that they would be able to use many aspects of the workshop in their own work and in their lives.

The evening before the Lab, Lipman performed at the Florida Atlantic University downtown Fort Lauderdale campus. And on Saturday, he provided a six-hour personal coaching session at the home of Sally Leyenberger, in Delray Beach.

The Lab was hosted by FSA, the Broward County Library Foundation and the South Florida Storytelling Project at Florida Atlantic University.