April 2024 Newsletter
We all know how important movement, gesture and voice are in storytelling.
Rudolph Laban was a mid-20th century artist and observer of movement. He devised a system of movement that has been so integrated in actor training and physical education and even physical rehabilitation that we have lost the foundations of his contributions.
This workshop requires no prior experience and ensures you with a toolkit to build your Storytelling skills and expressivity for years to come. The system, like any rich system, can be simple to learn and take a lifetime to master.
About Laura: As a trained and certified Laban Integrated Movement Analyst, Laura has had 30 years of applying his work in theatre and education.
To find out more about Laura, the workshop and to register click here.
ONLY 3 spaces available – Register today!!!
Events in Singapore & Around the World
The Sound of Stories
[Sharing session & live demo]
Discover the Future of Storytelling: An Integration of Art, Tradition and Technology. Combining the ingenuity of AI with the artistry of oral storytelling, our exploration aims to redefine the landscape of narrative experiences.
Led by storyteller Kamini Ramachandran, sound artist Syafiq Halid and AI engineer Ernie Chen, the project explores the convergence of technology and artistic expression, offering a glimpse into the future of storytelling practices. Through live demonstrations and interactive sessions, attendees will witness firsthand how AI and neural audio synthesis could revolutionise storytelling dynamics.
In this session, the team will showcase the AI storyteller interface, allowing audiences to actively shape the narrative in real-time. With a blend of human input and AI intelligence, audiences become an active part of the storytelling process, dispelling the passive listener role.
The demonstrations will illustrate how audience input directly influences the narrative evolution through neural audio synthesis. Experience the thrill of seeing your contributions come to life as part of the storytelling experience.
Join us at ‘The Sound of Stories’ and peek into our world where creativity is collaborative.
Date: Friday 5 April
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Venue: Esplanade Annexe Studio
To register and find out more click here
Conquer Stage Fright Once and For All
Embark on a transformative journey for professional storytellers, exclusively designed to free you from the clutches of stage fright.
This isn’t your typical breathing and meditation session. Brace yourself for a dynamic night of discovery and exploration led by a recognised expert in the field.
Immerse yourself in targeted kinetic exercises deeply rooted in the science of Meridian Energy Therapies (M.E.T.). These advanced techniques quickly provide accessible solutions to conquer stage fright and also amplify your focus, versatility, and charisma on stage. Talk about multiple bonuses!
Don’t miss this exclusive one-night chance to revolutionise your stage presence. Secure your spot now to enhance your storytelling with magnetic confidence and refine your performance skills like never before. Act quickly – take advantage of this fabulous opportunity!
About Sarah Chalmers
With over 25 years of professional training and experience, Sarah Chalmers is a distinguished voice and performance coach. Renowned for her troubleshooting expertise and non-invasive techniques to alleviate performance anxiety, Sarah supports actors, singers, musicians, and performing artists in the film/TV/acting industry.
Click here to find out more about Sarah and to register.
Since SAS is an institutional member of FEAST (Federation of Asian Story Tellers), there are special rates available for the first 5 sign -ups from SAS. Email feaststory@gmail.com to find out more.
FEAST has numerous events (some free and some for a small fee) every month. To find out more go to their website here.
Will the stories shared in this story swap invite us into the shadowy world of espionage and intrigue with tales of a diverse cast of characters – daring agents, cunning double-crossers and enigmatic figures lurking in the shadows? It could be that James Bond, Mata Hari, The White Mouse or other fictional or historical figures will feature in the adventures of those who spy on the world.
… or will the stories recapture times of a family road trip where the family played “I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter….” Perhaps there will be stories of how curiosity was evoked and discoveries made when spying through a spyglass or microscope.
Whether the tales be fact, fiction, folktale or fable join us as we journey into a world of secrets, suspense, unexpected twists or delightful discoveries.
This is a free online event organised by the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) Come as a listener or teller. All welcome.
Wednesday, 17th April 2024 – 5.20 pm SGT (check your timezone)
For more details go to australianstorytellers.org.au/events
If you would like to tell a prepared story of 5-6 minutes on this theme, email Christine Carlton at storyaus@gmail.com
Register on Humanitix for your free link.
FEAST (Federation of Asian Storytellers) and the Australian Storytelling Guild (NSW) present a special showcase that is a true taste of different cultures through the story lens.
Registration is required to get the zoom link.
Click here for details and to register.
The Grapevine is back
FSGW sponsors storytelling at The Grapevine Online, an electronic stage for professional storytellers. The Grapevine is home to the best in modern storytelling, which means all kinds of storytelling: truth, fiction, heroes, villains, myths, and legends, in solemn, humorous, and other styles. All the varieties of story that people have told each other for thousands of years; told really, really, well by people who are at the top of their craft. Hosted by: Tim Livengood, and Renée Brachfeld.
April 11, 7:00 am, Singapore time.
To find out more and to register click here
April 8 Monday, 7:00 am, Singapore time.
To find out more and to register click here
“Once upon a time . . . . ” . . . two storytellers realized they missed some of their old stories. Rachel Ann Harding and Cooper Braun have been telling stories together for 9 years(!). With this show we will be reaching back to stories that we love, but for whatever reason have not told in a long time. If you have been following us for a while you might recognize one or two of these stories, but if you are new to our shows prepare for stories you have never heard before. The last time we told some of these was before the pandemic, and we are so looking forward to polishing them up for you. This show is intended for adults. Please be aware that some of the stories can potential be dark.
April 13 Sunday, 9:00 am, Singapore time.
To register and find out more click here
Spring
Spring peeks through windows.
Spring peeps through trees.
Spring speaks through birds,
Spring sings through chatter!
Spring laughs through flowers,
Spring dances through colours!
It is spring!
Spring is hope.
Spring is new life.
Spring is colours.
Spring is Holi!
“A kind act is like a spring day.” Russian Proverb
When Spring Vanished
Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there lived a giant. He lived in a castle that had a giant-sized, beautiful garden.
He could walk on tender green grass as soft as silk.
There were mango, lychee, and guava trees. By the edge of the garden were creepers where humongous watermelons grew.
There were many Asoka Saraca trees too. The shade provided respite to travellers passing by.
In spring, ornate, and fragrant blossoms adorned the branches; their divine scent attracted birds, bees, and humans alike.
The giant was travelling, and he was stranded in a land far, far away. After several years, he returned home.
When he returned, he was greeted by the loud screams of children who were playing in his garden.
“What are you doing in my garden?” thundered the giant. The frightened children ran away.
“It is my garden. It belongs to me. I will allow no one, child or adult into my garden. It is mine and mine alone.” He built a high wall around it, a strong iron gate with an alarm, and a lock. His garden now looked like a fortress.
The chatter and laughter and play of children stopped. Weary travellers could not rest under the shade of trees. No homes had flowers to adorn their tables. Mothers stopped getting flowers from their children.
It all stopped.
As people passed by the garden, they reminisced of a time they played in the garden and remembered that they were happy in that garden.
Spring arrived! However, in the garden of the giant Spring was missing.
The trees forgot to blossom. Hence, neither bees nor birds came to the garden. Without birds and bees, no pollination took place. It was as though the trees had gone into hibernation. It was not the delightful garden it once was!
One day as the giant walked through his garden, he wondered why Spring was taking so long to arrive. He hoped there would be a change in the weather and Spring would soon come to tease and tantalise his senses. Was it due to climate change that Spring was taking longer than usual to arrive?
However, Spring did not come!
Then one morning the giant noticed something different. Some of the trees were covered with blossoms. The trees that had blossomed had birds and bees hovering around them. Birdsong soothed him.
Then he saw it! In the farthest corner of his garden, some bricks had come loose. That evening he noticed a bunch of children entering his garden through that opening. There was laughter and chatter. The trees they played around were full of blooms!
The giant’s heart melted as he looked on. “I have been very selfish.” he thought to himself. “Now I know why Spring would not come to my garden.” He decided to pull down the wall. He was sorry for his selfish behaviour.
Sledgehammer in hand, he went into his garden, and when the children saw him, they ran away. They feared his very sight!
He called out to them. They were wary but brave. They stopped. “It is our garden now, little children,” said the Giant, and with his sledgehammer he began knocking down the great wall. The older children helped him bring down the wall.
Soon after the children came, the adults did too. They gathered hibiscuses, roses, marigolds, chrysanthemums, blue pea flowers, jacarandas, flames of the Forest and neem leaves from his garden. The children told him they were going to make colourful dyes with the flowers. It was Spring, time for the Holi festival.
Then one evening as he sat by the window, he saw sparks of fire at a distance, and he heard some faint noise and chatter. It was the eve of the Holi festival. Holi lasts for a night and a day, starting on the eve of a full moon day in the month of March.
The second day of Holi is marked by playing with colours and it is accompanied by singing, dancing, and drumming.
There was jubilation and celebration! There was fun, frolic, and food!
Holi, the festival of colours, love and spring was celebrated with the beating of drums, an abundance of food and a riot of colours.
That Holi, the person who cheered and soaked himself in colours the most was none other than the Giant!
“Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower.” John Harrigan
References: Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s story, The Selfish Giant