The Storytelling Boot Camp

The Storytelling Boot Camp is an 8-hour intensive workshop conducted over 2 separate dates focusing on Performance Storytelling skills and techniques for experienced practitioners. 

A highly participative workshop that involves all participants in storytelling exercises, activities and practice opportunities in telling to a live audience. Individual feedback and listener's observation are core elements of this workshop. Participants will be exposed to a variety of ways of performing their story and encouraged to find their own individual style as a storyteller. Memorization of text is discouraged and internalization of the story is encouraged. Only stories from the oral tradition will be used during this workshop (legends, myths, epics, folktales, fables, fairy tales and traditional oral narrative stories).

PREREQUISITES:

Please have 3 stories that you can use to work with during the workshop.

The stories should not be in written form; printed sheets of paper and referring to devices/internet etc will not be permitted. They should be stories you are somewhat familiar with and want to use specifically for performance to an adult audience. This workshop is about learning performance techniques and honing your storytelling skills.

This workshop is not targeted at storytelling to children. All stories/content is aimed at an adult audience (aged 16 years and above) storytelling performance.

Please note that personal stories, anecdotes, recounting events, fictional works and contemporary writing will not be suitable for this workshop.*

Please bring your own writing materials for written activities.

Please come dressed in comfortable attire that will allow you to move freely, lay on the floor and stretch.

Please note that all footwear is to be removed outside the Dance Studio and you will be barefoot inside the studio.

Please bring a shawl or jacket to keep you warm in case the air-conditioning is too cold for you.

Please bring your own drinking water and any snacks you may need as this is a 4-hour per day session with only short breaks.

This workshop is for ADULTS aged 16 years and above.

* Only stories from the oral tradition will be used during this workshop (legends, myths, epics, folktales, fables, fairy tales and traditional oral narrative stories).

AREAS COVERED:

Voice: 

Pace

Pitch

Modulation

Volume

Projection

Dialogue and Character Speech

Narrator's Speech

Body:

Discovering your natural stance

Aligning your spine

Using the body as a performance tool

Breath:

Basic breathing rules

Focusing your energy through the breath

Controlling your spoken word through the breath

Overcoming performance and speech issues by understanding the power of your breathing

Movement:Incorporating movement in your storytelling performance.

Use of space and levels: Literal uses and variations of the space and levels, as well as non-literal applications.

Expression: Face and Eyes.

Gestures: Fingers and Hands.

Non-Verbal Communication: Exploring Pauses and Silences.

Story Mapping: Creating a visual map as part of your growing repertoire.

Key Word Analysis: Paring down to the essentials.

Reconstructing a deconstructed story: More than one way to tell the same story.

Props: Exposure to the selection and incorporation of appropriate items to enhance your storytelling performance.

Music and Instruments: Exposure to incorporating music and using potential instruments in your storytelling performance.

Tandem Telling: Exploring telling as a team

Ensemble Telling: Exploring telling as a group, as a series of storytellers and as a holistic performance featuring multiple stories and storytellers.

The Audience:

Involvement

Interaction

Participation

Feedback: The listeners’ observations and facilitator’s comments.

NOTE:

The Storytelling Boot Camp is conducted over a period of 2 separate dates (Sunday 12th and Sunday 19th January 2014) covering a total of 8-hours. Participants must complete the full 8-hours.

REFUNDS: Please note that there will be no refunds allowed once payment is processed.

CERTIFICATION:

Participants who complete the 8-hour workshop will be provided with a Certificate of Participation from MoonShadow Stories. 

Your registration name will be used for your Certificate of Participation.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:

Kamini Ramachandran has more than a decade's experience of performance storytelling in Singapore and overseas. She has collaborated with musicians, dancers, visual artists, restaurant chefs, literary and performance artists to create storytelling performances for all audiences. She teaches her storytelling module 'The Storytelling Intensive' to performing arts students at La Salle College of the Arts, Singapore. She represents the region in international storytelling festivals and conferences from Edinburgh, Sydney, Chennai, Shillong, Bangalore, Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Rome to Manila. Kamini is Artistic Director for the Singapore International Storytelling Festival; founding member, four-term President (2008 - 2012) and current Vice-President of the Storytelling Association (Singapore).

Watch videos of graduates of 'The Storytelling Intensive 2013' here

See photos of 'The Storytelling Intensive' course:

2013 edition

2012 edition:  

See international festivals here

PHOTOGRAPHY & RECORDING TERMS:

Please note that certain segments of this workshop will be photographed and video recorded for the organizer's archival records. Participants are not allowed to photograph, audio or video record during the workshop.