What People Are Saying:
Storytelling and Workshop Repertoire:
National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough
1. Stories From Many Lands
Diane’s favorite stories and songs from her 40 years of storytelling and traveling, including a selection of European, Haitian, Chinese, and Hasidic stories, as well as a local story! 60 minutes for all ages
2. Haitian Stories and Songs
Traveling through the Haitian countryside in the 1970′s, Diane harvested a rich collection of over 400 tales. Generations of children and adults around the globe have experienced the spirit of Haiti through these remarkable folk tales. Diane’s ALA — Notable book, The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Stories, in print since 1978, has become a classic among storytellers, people who love good stories, and those eager to learn more about Haitian culture, story, and song. Many storytellers tell these stories… here’s your chance to hear these stories from the collector! More info… 20–60 minutes for all ages
3. Hans Christian Andersen
A program of well-known and lesser known Andersen stories, interwoven into Andersen’s own life story. More info… 45–60 minutes for adults and families 5+
4. Elsie Piddock Skips In her Sleep
Eleanor Farjeon’s classic English fairy tale of a young girl/woman/grandmother, who skips for the children with such intention and ferocity that she both starts the tradition of “New Moon Skipping” and creates a community that will protect children and their “right to skip!” Skip rope party and contest optional. More info… 35 — 45 minutes for all ages
Diane and Jeff Greene performing Monkey King
1. Monkey King: Journey to the West
Journey to the West, China’s most famous epic, is the tale of the impetuous Monkey King who sets out in search of immortality and learns such extraordinary skills that no one: not the Sun, not the Moon, not the 28 Constellations, can defeat him. After Buddha places a five hundred year “pause” on him, Monkey King agrees to accompany and protect the pure — hearted, determined Tang Priest on his 10,000 mile pilgrimage from China to India. Together they struggle not only with demons, ogres and lusty women, but also with one another, as they seek to bring back the sacred Buddhist scriptures to relieve the suffering of their people. Visit the Monkey King Epic website for more info… Option 1: 60 — 90 minutes for adults and children 12+ Option 2: 20 — 60 minutes for families and children 8+
2. Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth
The great Mesopotamian Goddess’ journey: Her adolescence, her meeting with the God of Wisdom, her courtship, her Descent into the Underworld and Rebirth. More info… 30 — 90 minutes for adults and children 12+
LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
1. Wisdom Tales from many Traditions
Stories from many traditions, trickster stories, divine stories which teach us about compassion and true power and their many manifestations. Stories from Native American, Biblical and Hasidic traditions. 45 — 60 minutes for adults and children 12+
2. Stories and Songs from the Jewish Tradition
Biblical stories such as Ruth, Hannah, Jonah, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, as well as Hasidic stories of ordinary and holy people who are in touch with the secrets and mysteries. Watch an excerpt of Diane telling the story of Ruth. 45–60 minutes for adults and children 12+
3. Hasidic stories
These stories give us hope, courage and heal our hearts. They connect us to just those places in our soul that need fixing. Better than money in the bank, they don’t lose their value but stay with us throughout our lives, providing comfort and inspiration to us, our friends, children, and grandchildren. 45 — 60 minutes for adults and children 12+
An intimate and supportive workshop in Birmingham, Alabama, August 2011.
1. The Art of Storytelling
Diane’s workshops are for everyone who loves stories, wants to hear more stories and wants to learn to tell more stories. In her workshops, she incorporates exercises dealing with voice, gesture, and character development. Depending on the focus of the workshop, she speaks about story content, understanding of story genres (folk tale, fairy tale, myth, epic), and understanding the persona of the storyteller. Everyone who attends has the opportunity to tell at least one story. Participants at Diane’s workshops leave with an increased appreciation of the skills and importance of storytelling as well as with a treasure: a new story — their story. More info… 60 minutes to all — day workshops for adults and teenagers
2. Inanna Workshop
30 years ago Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer published the definitive translation of Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth. Over 4,000 years old, the story of Inanna’s coming of age, her descent into the underworld, and her powerful rebirth is as relevant today as it was in ancient Iraq.
The first part of Inanna’s story is springtime. It is lusty, earthy, sensuous, compelling and courageous in its clarity of emotion. The second part of Inanna asks the questions we all ask: Who are we? When we give up everything that covers us, what remains? That is the story of The Descent. It is the unmasking of the persona, the letting go of the outer riches to see what it is that continues to live. In the workshop we will speak about the meaning of Inanna’s story and investigate similar stories, including our own.
For more info on Inanna… 60 minutes to all — day workshops for adults and teenagers
Biography (medium length):
Photo by Peter Schaaf
Diane Wolkstein is more than a storyteller. She is an interpreter of life. Since 1967, Diane Wolkstein has occupied a unique place in the world of storytelling and literature. Through her performances, teaching, books, and recordings, she has played a major role in the renewed interest in mythology and the modern storytelling movement. Whether recounting epics, trickster stories or fairy tales, Diane enters and speaks from the heart of each story she tells. The internationally renowned author of 23 award-winning books of folklore including the classics, The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folk Tales and Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Wolkstein is known for her meticulous research and her wide range as a performer. Joseph Campbell calls her “one of the greatest storytellers in the Western world.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg named June 22nd, 2007 “Diane Wolkstein Day” in honor of her 40 years of service to New York City: she initiated America’s first graduate storytelling program, pioneered a year–round storytelling program for parks and schools, hosted her own radio show on WNYC radio, and taught mythology at New York University, The New School, Sarah Lawrence, and the Pacific Graduate School. Diane has toured five continents, has performed at the United Nations, Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian Institute, and the American Museum of Natural History, and has been a frequent guest on PBS, NPR, and the BBC. She is a founding member of both America’s National Storytelling Conference and New York City’s Storytelling Center, and is the recipient of the National Storytelling Association’s Circle of Excellence Award. She is the epicycle editor of Parabola and a resident of Greenwich Village. More info: www.dianewolkstein.com.
To view Ms. Wolkstein’s full electronic press kit, click here.