Storytelling Institute: Learn the Art of Storytelling!

Back by popular demand! Have you always enjoyed telling stories? Ever considered storytelling in front of an audience? The Storytelling Institute, a free six-week course presented by the Storytellers of San Diego, is open to everyone who would like to hone their skills in this ancient art form. The Institute culminates in an optional storytelling slot for each participant at the San Diego Storytelling Festival here at the Coronado Public Library on March 16, 2024.

Registration is not required.

SYLLABUS: 

Jan. 23 - "The Power of Personal Narrative: Finding Engaging Stories in Your Life" with Marilyn McPhie

Jan. 30 - "How to Learn a Story" with Patti Christensen

Feb 6. - "Shaping and Sharing your Story" with Aunt Li-Anne

Feb. 13 - “I Was There: History & Us” with O.J. Mozon

Feb. 20 - "Fun with Stories: Folk Tale Parodies" with Jim Dieckmann

Feb. 27 – "Integrating Gesture and Movement” with Mindy Donner

March 5 - Optional coaching session for those participants who want to tell a story at the Storytelling Festival - with Aunt Li-Anne

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS: 

Jan 23 - “The Power of Personal Narrative:  Finding Engaging Stories in Your Life” with Marilyn McPhie 

Our lives are filled with stories! In this workshop we’ll dive into our memories -- the people, the places, the triumphs, the disasters, the memorable moments -- and emerge with stories worth sharing in family gatherings, business settings, podcasts, memoirs, on social media, onstage, and more.

Jan. 30 - “How to Learn a Story” with Patti Christensen 

Once you have picked a story, how do you learn it? This interactive workshop will cover traditional and innovative tools that storytellers of all levels of experience and learning styles can use to learn a story and make it their own.

Feb 6. - "Shaping and Sharing your Story" with Aunt Li-Anne

You have a great story, and now we want it to sparkle! Engage! Flow! How do we do that? Structure! Aunt Li-Anne will be sharing techniques for shaping our stories so that our audiences will want to hear what the stories and storytellers want to say.

Feb. 13 - “I Was There: History & Us” with O.J. Mozon

Many of us were "there" when "it" happened. Let's discover how to story our historic moments so others can be there.

Feb. 20 - "Fun with Stories: Folk Tale Parodies" with Jim Dieckmann

Participants will be exposed to a wide array of folk tale parodies published in literature, as well as several originals told by the presenter. We will analyze how the parodies are constructed, and each student will undertake the process of creating a simple parody based on a well-known folk or fairy tale.

Feb. 27 – "Integrating Gesture and Movement” with Mindy Donner

This workshop will provide tools and practice to deepen your story with the thoughtful integration of nuanced gestures and movement. The class will experience warmups and theater exercises to sharpen our senses and reflexes. We will share our stories in small groups, and sign up to share in front of the whole group (optional).

March 5 - "Coaching Session for Festival Tellers" (optional) with Aunt Li-Anne

Participants in the Storytelling Institute are invited to tell their story onstage at the San Diego Storytelling Festival on Saturday, March 16 at the Coronado Public Library. Aunt Li-Anne will coach participating tellers on their performance for the festival.