Festival Who's Who

Barbara Aliprantis

Greek-American Storyteller Barbara Aliprantis is the recipient of an NSN Oracle Service Award, and was honored at New York City Hall for “her distinguished body of work…for her commitment to sharing multi-cultural folklore and immigrants’ experiences for both hearing and non-hearing audiences around the country.”

She performs in and produces concerts and workshops for linguistically diverse, multi-ethnic populations of all ages including those with special needs.

Barbara also curates and hosts the longest running evening adult storytelling series (1997 to present) in NYC’s celebrated Cornelia Street Café in Greenwich Village.

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Eshu Bumpus

Storyteller, musician and teacher, Eshu Bumpus has worked in the arts all his life and has worked with children most of it.

He strives to encourage literacy, communication, and a strong sense of community with what he sees as our most human of activities, storytelling.

After appearing at the 10th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival (1991), Eshu was acclaimed as," … a fresh, responsible and knowledgeable voice... distinct and compelling... the hit of the Festival.
http://eshu.folktales.net

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Emily Chasse

“Folktales and family stories have been part of my life since I was born!”, and Emily has continued telling and teaching others how to tell for the past 30 years, sharing tales with all ages, focusing on traditional tales and peace tales.

An undergraduate Elementary Education major, Emily realized she worked with children best around language and literature, and earned her MLS from University of Rhode Island in 1979.

She started her library work as a Children’s Librarian at Plainville Public Library, in Connecticut, is a member of “Hither & ‘Yon” Storytelling group, and teaches a storytelling course at CCSU.

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Kate Danaher

If you have a single drop of Irish blood in you, you're going to love this lady.

Here are some of the accolades that Kate Danaher, Philadelphia actor and storyteller, has received: "We invited her in as a 'Local Talent,' only to discover that she is a national talent who just so happens to be available to us locally." "The lively tales of Kate Danaher had the crowd in hysterics." "Delightfully riveting, poignant and humorous tales of Irish country life and the Irish American experience."

Kate tells the tales of Eamon Kelly, Ireland's Master Storyteller. She assumes the persona of an Irish country woman, and adds her excellent voice and fiddling to the mix.

Kate has a PhD in English literature and has studied acting at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her theater credits include the Delaware Shakespeare Festival, the Delaware Theater Company, The Irish Repertory Theatre of Philadelphia, the Irish Arts Center of New York, and the Times Square Arts Center. She also performs with the duo, Danaher and Cloud, who opened for The Chieftans last year at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center.

Don't miss this unique and memorable performance. Recall the warmth of a turf fire, let your feet keep time to the music, and listen, spellbound to Kate's authentic and amusing stories of old Irish village life.

For more information, visit Kate's website - www.katedanaher.com

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Motoko Dworkin

A native of Osaka, Japan, Motoko has made Massachusetts her home since 1986.
Her partner Eshu Bumpus introduced her to the world of American storytelling.

She has trained with late master mime Tony Montanaro (1927-2002), Leland Faulkner, Robert Rivest, and Elizabeth Ellis.

Since 1993, Motoko has performed professionally across the U.S. sharing her Asian folktales, Zen tales, comical tales from rakugo (a Japanese traditional style of storytelling), funny mime vignettes, as well as personal stories from her childhood in Japan and her life as an immigrant mother.

Motoko has appeared on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” toured Miyazaki, Japan, as a part of CarnegieKids in Miyazaki Project, sponsored by Carnegie Hall, and has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Her CD, “The Promise of Chrysanthemums” won a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award, a Storytelling World Award, and a National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA.)

http:/motoko.folktales.net/

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Jim Hawkins

My storytelling journey began in the Midlands of Ireland. As a child I was fascinated by the storytelling skills of my Uncle Jack Fallon. Through him I saw the power of story to bring joy to people’s lives, to chronicle the important events of the day, and to teach and guide us through the challenges and obstacles of our daily lives.

My journey continued through my teaching of the great works of literature for thirty-nine years in the classroom. Experiencing the wonder, the delight, and the enthusiasm of young people as they discussed the themes and lessons as they applied to their own lives, again, emphasized for me the power of story.

Today, I wish to be a vehicle that carries the history, culture and traditions of the Irish people, and to share the stories, songs and poetry of this great culture with the world. It will be my contribution to keeping this wonderful artform alive and well.
http://www.jimhawkinsirishstory.com/

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Katie Hereld

Katie Hereld has been telling stories to audiences of all ages for more than 20 years.

She has been a featured teller in schools, at fairs and festivals, and in retirement communities all over New England.

A former CSC Board member, Katie chaired the SPEC committee which brought storytellers to Connecticut schools.

In recent years she became a registered nurse and now works for the company that administers insurance to our state's poorest citizens.

She is the proud mother of two mostly grown children and two mostly grown cats.

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Bob Reiser

Bob Reiser, teacher, author and storyteller, tickles audiences from New York to Vancouver; his books include "Everybody Says Freedom", written with Pete Seeger, and "David Gets his Drum", co-authored by jazz great, the late Panama Francis.

His newest CD, "Dangerous Stories", features Red Diaper Blues and other tales to “challenge, tickle and tantalize.”

Bob’s new show, Do What the Spirit Say, Do, brings to life a remarkable friend and a hero of the Civil Rights Movement.

Bob has appeared twice at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough Tennessee – In 2009 at the festival’s Exchange Place, and in 2010 as Teller in Residence.

Come and see him this Summer at Pittsburgh’s Tri-River festival.

http://www.bobtales.com/

For links to a couple of good videos, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6J2w-m79rk&feature=youtu.be
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgGpR4SWdJc&feature=youtu.be

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Sanju Sathish

Sanju Sathish, age 12, is a 7th grader at Central Middle School in Greenwich.
He was born in southern India and came to the U.S. when he was 5-years-old, speaking no English.

In his spare time, Sanju plays badminton and chess.
He enjoys reading - his favorite author is Rick Riodan.

Sanju was the student teller at the 2011 Connecticut Storytelling Festival's Once and Twice Upon a Time program.

He also has been a teller at Rowayton's 2010 Tellabration!, Cos Cob Library's 2011 Tellabration!, and at the Mamaroneck Public Library.

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Laconia O. Therrio

Laconia O. Therrio, known as "Lot" to most people, has been telling stories professionally since 1993.
One day he was speaking with JG "Paw Paw" Pinkerton who happened to pop the question: "Lot, have you ever considered telling stories?" And the journey began: a personal story, a number of children’s stories and folktales from Africa and the European continent.

Since then Lot has told stories for schools, libraries, colleges and universities; and has conducted storytelling retreats with corporations.

From 1994 - 2000 Lot told Alzheimer’s related stories in schools and libraries on behalf of the Fairfield County Alzheimer’s Association, a program that was featured in the New York Times and Boston Globe.

Today, Lot tells stories from around the world (Asia, North & South America, Europe and Africa), stories reminding us more of our commonalities than our differences.

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Suzi Whaples

Suzi Whaples offers a unique experience in storytelling. Her unaffected dialect, lightning quick wit and gentle demeanor perfectly blend stories of her life, her family’s lives, and some that are even larger than life.

The stories she tells are almost all her own experiences and creations. Each tale intertwines the poignant, the encouraging, and, often, the flat-out hilarious!

Enjoying her Appalachian heritage will make you treasure your own roots as her themes are universal and multicultural.

Coming from the library world, with 30 years of storytelling experience, she is a great advocate for literacy and her stories reflect a love of reading.

She aspires to present story in its purest form whether entertaining at a large festival or educating a small room full of learners. Totally at ease with children of all ages, Suzi soon has them eating out of her hand.

Suzi is a favorite wherever she tells, and was honored to perform at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN. She tours the country telling at festivals, schools, libraries, churches, theaters, or wherever a group of people share her love of story.

http://suziwhaples.com/

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Csenge Zalka

Hungarian storyteller Csenge Virág Zalka travels the world telling and collecting folktales wherever she goes.

She has been representing Hungary at various international festivals and conferences since 2006, and started her country’s first storytelling festival (Holnemvolt Festival) in 2011.

Csenge is currently enrolled as a graduate student in the Storytelling Master’s Program at East Tennesse State University.

During the 2011-2012, Csenge will be part of the university’s Tale Tellers group performances.

To follow her adventures and experiences in the USA, visit her English blog, The Multicolored Diary.

http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/

http://www.zalkacsenge.hu/
http://www.holnemvoltfesztival.com/en/index.htm

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