Learn the Art of Jewish Storytelling

Thursdays: January 12 – March 16 (with no class on March 9), 2023, 6-8pm

You are invited on a journey with professional Jewish Storyteller Brian Rohr. This class is open to beginner and experienced performers! Come with an open mind, heart, and a spirit of play.

In this 10-class course, Brian will teach the art and skill of performative storytelling, exploring the ancient stories, personal narratives, and techniques on how to discover your own unique storytelling voice.

This class will include:

  • What are stories and why storytelling is important
  • Story-based improv games
  • Stories in our lives as forms of self-expression
  • Allowing vs. Memorization
  • Beginning, Middle, and Ends
  • How to pick a story to tell
  • How to tell a good story with tricks and techniques
  • Stage presence for storytellers (including what to do with no fourth wall)
  • The different kinds of stories that can be told (old stories, folktales, religious stories, personal stories, made-up stories, etc.)
  • Performance for family and friends

Tuition for the 10-sessions will be: $200 CNS members / $250 Non-members
(Limited financial aid is available, contact mberwin@nevehshalom.org)

Session 1: Improv, Storytelling & the Three Hearts of Wisdom

Thursdays: January 12, 19, & 26

The first session will be devoted to exploring and learning about the oral tradition of storytelling, including: what are different kinds of stories that can be told (old stories, folktales, fairy tales, personal stories, made-up stories, etc.), how to pick a story, allowing vs. memorization, and beginning middle and ends. We will pick an “old story” to work as part of this session.

Session 2: Deeping Your Connection to the Story

Thursdays: February 2, 9, & 16

The second session will be devoted to understanding your own personal connection to the story. We will discover how our own stories connect to the ancient stories of our past. This will be the time of really honing in the skills of storytelling.

Session 3: Performance Preparations and Dropping the Fourth Wall

Thursdays: February 23, March 2, & 16 (no class March 9, unless as a make-up day)

The third session will be devoted to learning all about preparing for a performance, how to put a quality show together, picking your story and how you want to perform your story, stage presence and awareness, how to deal with nerves, and anything else related to the performance.

Jewish Storytelling Class Performance

Thursday, March 23

We will end our series together with a public performance for family, friends, and the wider kehillah/community showcasing your new storytelling skill.

About Storyteller Brian Rohr

“The oral tradition of storytelling offers insight, inspiration and meaning in our own journey as we travel our unique Jewish Path.”  -Brian Rohr

Brian Rohr is a Storyteller who resides here in the Pacific Northwest. Rohr has toured as a featured teller for national audiences, taught and performed at major conferences, festivals, high schools, universities, synagogues and libraries.

The list includes: the 14th International Jewish Renewal Aleph Kallah; Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle; Illinois State University; Trickster Tales Storytelling Festival in Washington State; Tapestry of Jewish Learning in Austin, TX, Artist-in-Residence at Camp Solomon Schechter, Temple Chai in Chicagoland Area, Portland Jewish Storytelling Festival, the Native American/Jewish Storytelling Conference and more.

Rohr was previously named by JT News (Jewish publication in Seattle, WA) as a “10 Under 40″ recipient – Honored as one of ten notable Jewish people in Washington State under 40 years old who are doing important and inspirational works within the community, specifically honored as a storyteller.

As a storyteller, Brian focuses on the old stories – the myths, folktales and sacred tales –knowing that these old stories are alive, vital and can inform us on how to live our lives as authentic human beings, helping to make sense and meaning of the living world we are a part of.

Rohr is a member of the National Storytelling Network, the Portland Storytellers Guild, and the Jewish Storytelling Coalition. He is a former board member of the Mythsinger Foundation.

More at: brianrohr.com

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