Reveillon Dansant
Benefit for the International School in Haiti
"Projet Connection" of École Internationale des Sciences Appliquées
(Leogane, Haiti)
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn, New York
Saturday, December 16th, 2006, from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
A Joyous Benefit
for the Families of New Orleans
Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue at 37th Street, New York City
Saturday, November 11th, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.
In November of 2005, in response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Diane Wolkstein organized a benefit featuring the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers to raise money for storytelling programs in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The money which was raised supported six wonderful programs of family storytelling in the Jefferson Parish Libraries this past summer, providing work for storytellers and bringing joy to the children and adults of this very hard hit area.
On November 11th 2006, the Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers — including Bill Gordh, Therese Folkes–Plair, Regina Ress, Laura Simms, and Diane Wolkstein — joined forces with musicians and story lovers to tell delightful, poignant and compassionate stories for the whole family.
An Evening of Jewish Story, History and Music
North York Central Library (Toronto Public Library)
5120 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Thursday evening, October 5th, 2006
Each fall, there is a flurry of Jewish holidays. Those who attend synagogue once a year, those who never go, and those who wonder what does happen on the "high holidays," have little concept that these holidays are part of a larger holiday cycle story.
For this engaging presentation, Diane drew on a lifetime of study of world myths and tribal cultures, to give the audience a synopsis of the stories that are a part of the holiday cycle. She then told, in celebration of Sukkot, the story of Solomon and the Demon King from her book Treasures of the Heart. Classical and jazz violinists Rebekah Wolkstein & Drew Jurecka accompanied Solomon's story and responded to the subsequent Hasidic stories with joyous, poignant klezmer music.
Copies of Treasures of the Heart were available for signing after the program. This was an evening of story, magic and music to nourish the soul.
2006 Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival
Waterloo Village, Stanhope, New Jersey
Thursday through Sunday, September 28th – October 1st, 2006
Diane Wolkstein was the resident storyteller for this event.
"To mark its 20th year, the Dodge Poetry Festival, the largest poetry event in North America, will return in 2006 to its birthplace — beautiful Waterloo Village, a National Historic Site in Stanhope, New Jersey.
"Nearly 20,000 people are expected to welcome the 11th biennial Dodge Poetry Festival back to Waterloo Village. The Festival will return to a completely new Concert Tent, more spacious satellite performance tents, and expanded free parking facilities in the restored 19th–century canal–lock and riverside village. Join more than 60 poets — including Ekiwah Adler–Belendez, Taha Muhammad Ali, Lucille Clifton, Billy Collins, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Jorie Graham, Linda Gregg, Tony Hoagland, Linda Hogan, Kurtis Lamkin, Andrew Motion, Taslima Nasreen, Grace Paley, Linda Pastan, Gerald Stern, Sekou Sundiata, Brian Turner, and Ko Un — and dozens of accomplished musicians and storytellers for four days of poetry and music beside the Musconetcong River and among the Village's lawns, trees, and historic buildings.
"Waterloo Village is located one mile from Exit 25 of I–80, easily reached from New York City and points east and Pennsylvania and points west. I–287, the Garden State Parkway, Pennsylvania Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike, and other major highways connect with I–80, offering easy access from points north and south. Special round trip bus transportation from New York City will be available during the Festival." (From the official website).
Contact: (973) 540–8442, extension 5, or festival@grdodge.org
Beyond the Orange Tree
A Storytelling Workshop
New Jersey Storytelling Guild
Upper Montclair, New Jersey
Sunday evening, September 10th, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.
Diane presented the first workshop of the 2006– New Jersey Storytelling Guild season. The workshop was open to all who enjoy stories. Diane told a few stories, answered questions, offered exercises, asked people to work in twos on techniques, entertained discussion, and invited short stories from experienced storytellers.
This workshop was taped as part of the 2007 film Diane Wolkstein: A Storyteller's Story, now available on DVD from our Webshop.
Stories at the Statue of Hans Christian Andersen
Central Park (72nd Street entrance)
Fifth Avenue & 72nd Street, New York City
Every Saturday from June to September, 2006
Diane told stories on July 8th ("The Hunter and the Gazelle") and 15 ("Bouki Dances the Kokioko" with musicians Michael Braudy & Emiliano Valerio), and September 16 (The Duckling's Party. featuring "Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep" by Eleanor Farjeon, with musician Shirley Keller).
Stories of Courage, Compassion and Celebration
Diane Wolkstein, Michael Braudy & Emiliano Valerio
New York Public Library (system–wide)
Select dates in April & May 2006
Wonder–full stories for all the family — from India, Europe, Haiti, and Mainland China — with exquisite musical accompaniment by Michael Braudy on violin and Emiliano Valerio on drums and guitar.
1,001 Friday Nights of Storytelling
Presented by the Storytellers School of Toronto
Innis College Café, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Friday evening, April 28th, 2006, from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Every Friday night since 1978, storytellers and listeners have been gathering in downtown Toronto. Diane was a featured teller on April 28th.
The Passover Story
Lehigh University — Sinclair Lab Auditorium
7 Asa Drive, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Monday, April 17th, 2006 from 4:15 to 6:30 p.m.
In Treasures of the Heart, Diane gives us a unique rendition of stories in the Hebrew Bible that are part of the foundation of Judaism and western literature. She seemlessly weaves oral legends into the fabric of ancient texts, creating new stories that remain true to the spirit of their original sources. Drawing on a lifetime of study of world myths and tribal cultures, Diane chooses the legends that best illuminate the text and reveal its hidden wisdom. Biblical characters such as Moses, Ruth and Solomon are rendered with astonishing immediacy, achieved through careful research and a storyteller's grace. At her Lehigh presentation, Diane shared some of these stories, including a retelling of the stories that are traditionally read on Passover, while offering a modern perspective by highlighting the role of female characters.
In addition, Diane told a few hasidic stories that she heard from her rabbi, Shlomo Carlebach.
Storytelling Workshop
for Religious Leaders and Those with a Tale to Tell
George Washington Carver Library & Cultural Center
1161 Angelina, Austin, Texas
Monday, January 29th, 2006 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Inanna Salon
with Diane Wolkstein & Jenni Roditi
The Loft
55 Exchange House, 71 Crouch End Hill London N8 8DF England
Saturday evening, January 21st, 2006, at 7:30 p.m.
The Loft in London recently preseted Inanna: The Descent of the Goddess — a telling, a re-singing, a discussion, with Diane Wolkstein (co-author [with S. N. Kramer] of Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer) and Jenni Roditi (composer/performer), presenting extracts from her opera Inanna (with a libretto by Lyn Gambles).
This myth touches the lives of many of us and is relevant to today's world and the need to connect with a healing feminine energy and to offer a revolutionary balance of male and female energy.
Diane notes:
"In winter, we curl up, we burrow inward, we return 'home.' We return to the place from which we fled, so we might know it and ourselves once again. Five thousand years ago, in 1900 BCE, Inanna, the great goddess (of ancient Iraq), made such a journey, a journey to the underworld, a journey of transformation in which she confronted what she most feared and offered compassion to the one who terrorized her, returning to her people with a new vision."
The opera Inanna by Jenni Roditi and Lyn Gambles was first performed in 1992 at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London. It has had subsequent performances in 1994 and 1997 in the UK and abroad. The piece was originally commissioned by Lontano. The score is currently being redeveloped for a possible new ballet–opera production with conductor Alexandar Ingram.
Diane and Jennie were to be joined for this event by Nawroz Oramar, a traditional singer from Kurdistan who expands boundaries on all levels with his singing.
Diane's DVD The Descent of Inanna (now officially out–of–print) was sold at the salon.
Inanna Tea
with Diane Wolkstein & Jenni Roditi
The Loft, Crouch Hill, London, England (see address above)
Sunday, January 22, 2006 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A more intimate gathering, over tea and biscuits (cookies, that is); and a chance to talk and share with Diane in more depth.
The Loft is the home of composer and vocalist Jenni Roditi. It is also a place where artists can gather, eat and drink and share their work in front of an invited audience — combining the concepts of the Paris Salon and the New York Loft. Its space benefits from natural lighting which streams in through floor to ceiling windows on two sides of the room and has stunning panoramic views of Alexandra Palace and central London.
Please visit Ms. Roditi's website for additional details about her music and how to rent the Loft or purchase her recordings.
