Articles related to "Jonesborough"
The Magic of Storytelling
Describes the renaissance of the oral tradition of storytelling and Storytelling Foundation International's influence on that resurgence.
• story • storytellers • storytelling • festivals • jonesborough
Describes the renaissance of the oral tradition of storytelling and Storytelling Foundation International's influence on that resurgence.
• story • storytellers • storytelling • festivals • jonesborough
The National Storytelling Festival Revisited
Everyone loves listening to a good story. If you want to hear the best of the best stories and storytellers, sign up for the National Storytelling Festival held annually the first weekend of October in Jonesborough, Tennessee. I just returned from the 29th Festival — my 11th in a row — and I don’t know of a more delightful and exhilarating trip and event. The National Storytelling Festival was created in 1973 by Jimmy Neil Smith, a former journalism teacher and mayor of Jonesborough. His inspiration, quite simply, was a well-told tale heard over a car radio — a story told by Grand Ole Opry star Jerry Clower about hunting in Mississippi. <I>Why not a storytelling festival?</I> Smith wondered. For the first event, about 60 people gathered behind a wagon that served as a stage to listen to stories. Today, more than 10,000 people gather in gigantic tents for three days of practically non-stop storytelling. Every year I attend the Festival, I return home as a listener refreshed and inspired, and as a storyteller filled with ideas — not to copy the featured tellers, but to consider what worked for them and why. In this article I am going to share this year’s impressions and some of the ideas that are rumbling around in my storyteller’s head.
• storytelling • stories • national storytelling festival • jonesborough • tennessee
Everyone loves listening to a good story. If you want to hear the best of the best stories and storytellers, sign up for the National Storytelling Festival held annually the first weekend of October in Jonesborough, Tennessee. I just returned from the 29th Festival — my 11th in a row — and I don’t know of a more delightful and exhilarating trip and event. The National Storytelling Festival was created in 1973 by Jimmy Neil Smith, a former journalism teacher and mayor of Jonesborough. His inspiration, quite simply, was a well-told tale heard over a car radio — a story told by Grand Ole Opry star Jerry Clower about hunting in Mississippi. <I>Why not a storytelling festival?</I> Smith wondered. For the first event, about 60 people gathered behind a wagon that served as a stage to listen to stories. Today, more than 10,000 people gather in gigantic tents for three days of practically non-stop storytelling. Every year I attend the Festival, I return home as a listener refreshed and inspired, and as a storyteller filled with ideas — not to copy the featured tellers, but to consider what worked for them and why. In this article I am going to share this year’s impressions and some of the ideas that are rumbling around in my storyteller’s head.
• storytelling • stories • national storytelling festival • jonesborough • tennessee
The Year 2002 Will Be a Special Year For Storytelling
<P>As we move into the New Year, I hear more people than I have ever heard before say “Happy New Year! Happy Holidays!” And yet there is that quiver of apprehension in the voices. Yes, daily we are reminded of the war, the poor economy, unemployment, and the threats of terrorism. And daily, on a brighter note, I am reminded of the power of storytelling. Storytelling has the power to heal, to build bridges of cultural understanding, to stir the imagination, to enrich our lives and work, inspire learning and enhance reading skills. Fortunately, I am not alone in my beliefs.
• storytelling • stories • national storytelling festival • ray hicks • jimmy neil smith
<P>As we move into the New Year, I hear more people than I have ever heard before say “Happy New Year! Happy Holidays!” And yet there is that quiver of apprehension in the voices. Yes, daily we are reminded of the war, the poor economy, unemployment, and the threats of terrorism. And daily, on a brighter note, I am reminded of the power of storytelling. Storytelling has the power to heal, to build bridges of cultural understanding, to stir the imagination, to enrich our lives and work, inspire learning and enhance reading skills. Fortunately, I am not alone in my beliefs.
• storytelling • stories • national storytelling festival • ray hicks • jimmy neil smith