Tasha Ramdehall, Contributor
Featured image courtesy of Aaron Fisher
What’s in a story? Stories have a way of connecting us, despite racial, cultural, or national differences. The art of storytelling is universal.
Apparently, Dan Yashinsky and Erin Rodgers think so too. For the past few years, Yashinsky, director, and Rodgers, producer, have worked to bring the Storytelling Festival to the city, which truly lives up to its name. The festival, which will be hosted at various locations across the city from April 1 to 10, gives storytellers centre stage to share their tales.
Storytelling styles vary from place to place, giving the festival a unique element as it brings the globe to one stage with diverse storytellers.
“In African and West Indian cultures, storytelling can be very animated and participatory. In First Nations traditions, the storyteller can be quiet and intimate. The one thing every storytelling style shares is that the teller has to make the listener want to know what happens next,” says Yashinsky.
This year’s festival will be bringing a lot more to the table than previous years. Alongside Harbourfront Centre and TD, the festival will be offering two days of family storytelling. There will also be collaborations with Aga Khan Museum and Ismaili Centre Toronto.
One thing that this festival does is bring the art of storytelling to life in a way that everyone can enjoy.
There is an opportunity for everyone to get involved. Before the festival kicks off, the Storytellers’ Camp from April 6 to 8 will host workshops, performances, and story talks for participants. Festival goers can get face-to-face with some of the storytellers and learn about their art in an intimate setting.
“I am especially excited for the life-changing afternoons with Ron Evans and the Telling Life Stories workshop with the brilliant and multi-award winning author and performer Ivan Coyote,” says Rodgers.
“I was also thrilled to watch attendees who had never told stories before discover their love of this art form. I’ve seen several of them onstage since and it’s been wonderful to see them captivate an audience.”
This year, stories will be closer to home. Storytellers Coyote and TUUP (Godfrey Duncan), will be coming to Seneca College on April 6 at 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., as part of a co-production with Seneca College’s School of of Arts and Science.
Coyote shares life stories, has won awards for their writing and performances, and has travelled across the globe on tour. Coyote’s most recent work was a collaboration with musician Rae Spoon titled Gender Failure.
TUUP (The Unorthodox, Unprecedented Preacher) brings stories from his Guyanese and African roots and has performed all over Europe, North America, and Africa. Along with his stories, he incorporates music and dance into his art.
Grab a plane ticket and hear stories from across the world, all in one city. For more details visit torontostorytellingfestival.ca
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