Participants begin with their own oral stories and translate what they see and hear into exciting descriptions of characters, settings and actions. Time permitting, topics such as original ideas, plot and ending can be emphasized. Long before people learned how to read or write, they told stories. Today, storytelling is not a part of everyone's life, but the skills and tools of the storyteller still are highly useful, from presentations and public speaking to preserving family stories. This residency helps participants to tell stories as they rekindle an appreciation for the art of storytelling and the power of their own oral communication.
Emphasis is placed on sources for oral material and tools and techniques employed by storytellers.
Participants learn the art of storytelling and are able to construct and tell an interesting story, in oral or written form. Topics include constructing and telling an interesting story, folklore and storytelling, everyday life and storytelling and using storytelling as a learning tool for a variety of academic subjects. The program can be tailored to focus more on cowboy or Hispanic folklore, or these subjects can be integrated into the other topics. Traditional songs, enhanced by Norwegian medieval lyre and harp, set a mystical tone for this storytelling adventure. The residency explores Norway's ethnic heritage through song, storytelling and folk arts.