Workshops for students and teachers provide an introduction to the importance of storytelling, and demonstrates and encourages exploring and finding their individual, authentic ‘voice’.
Heather models diverse styles of presenting folktales, fairytales, legends, and personal tales. These are delivered in both casual and performance styles interspersed with music, props, songs, and poetry. She also provides songwriting inspiration and participation.
Her goal is to provoke listeners to hear their story within those she tells and inspire them to explore telling stories and using storytelling in the workplace, whether in the classroom, community programming, healthcare facilities, or business. Listening to stories is an exceptional teaching tool.
“Heather has not only sought to constantly improve her own performance as a storyteller and musician, she has also worked to provide workshops and events for her colleagues. Each performance has been carefully planned to suit the needs of an audience but as a consummate performer she also has the flexibility to deal with the unexpected and unknown.”
Micki Beck, Folklorist and Storyteller, Jury Chair Storytellers of Canada, Coordinator for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Tour
Interactive sessions are designed to provoke memories, imagination, creativity, and presentation skills. The main goal is to help students feel confident in hearing their unique voice and using integrated art forms with spoken word narrative, such as cultural and original music, poetry, songwriting, puppetry, and visual arts, and to inspire teachers and program leaders to use storytelling in their classrooms and work. Storytelling and songwriting can apply to media studies, history, and social justice issues, as well as many topics of study that relate to curriculum.
Heather facilitates songwriting inspiration, coaching, mentorship, and springboard writing activities.
Heather’s workshops for students encourage diversity and inspiration for retaining ethnicity and culture through their writing, storytelling and singing. She believes it is essential that individuals embrace their ethnicity by sharing their specific cultural language, musical expression, heritage, and instrumentation with their peers and community, for a better understanding among us.
Online programs are available upon request.
“In May, 2011, I was Heather’s interpreter at the International Storytelling Fest in Buenos Aires, where she conducted two workshops for over 50 people each. Her workshop was very organized, there was relevant information and lots of practice, music and props and the activities were varied, and dynamic. People were eager to participate, and enjoyed the workshop very much. Heather also conducted a workshop for teachers of English in Mercedes (Buenos Aires). In this workshop, she introduced teachers to the art of storytelling and provided them with lots of follow up activities and songs to be used in the classroom. Teachers were thrilled and more than satisfied wit this very useful workshop. Heather was very generous in giving teachers the tools to enhance their own school programs, and helping them gain confidence.
Heather is a thoughtful, responsible and well organized workshopist, she is open to participant’s comments and questions and very sensitive to their needs.”
Silvia De Cesare