Notes from the Field: My Heros!!

To really understand how ironic what I’m about to write is, you have to understand this about me – when I was a kid, I HATED school. Not disliked, not “I’d rather be watching TV” – we are talking full on LOATHING!!! It wasn’t that I was incapable of doing well, it wasn’t that I was bullied, and didn’t have friends, it wasn’t even that I didn’t want to learn – no, it was just that I was the proverbial square peg being cramped into that round hole. I am, and have always been, a person that NEEDS to dance to their own drummer – schedules, too much structure, make me buck like a horse in the wild west. School, with all it’s rules, and requirements felt like a prison to me, so much so that as a child on Sunday nights, I would stay up as long as I could, hoping to extend my weekend that much longer. But always sleep would take me, and Monday, dreaded back to school Monday, always arrived.
So, in my mind, if school was a prison, than the teachers, were the guards. Like an inmate who knows who holds the power, and the keys to their cells, I eyed them with wariness. I was obedient, and dependable – always afraid of their power of me, over what my parents thought of me, over my life. It was only when I got to high school, and had a teacher, who really SAW me, encouraged me, and in a way adopted me, that I began to see that teachers were actual humans. Mr. Andros, my teacher/mentor/second dad showed me that teachers are heroes who day after day sometimes literally go into battle in their classrooms. They work for little money, and even less respect, it seems, but they have the most important jobs in the world. And now, years after many a school day spend eyeing educators with fear and suspicion, I find myself totally OVERJOYED to offer them whatever I can in my role as a storyteller.
In folktales there are often magical helpers that appear along the way as the hero or heroine makes their way on their journey. Often times they’ll give the hero something that, on the surface at least, looks to be simple, of little relevance to the task at hand. But time and time again in these stories, it is that little object that enables the hero to succeed. I like to think of the tales I tell like little presents, like Jack’s magical beans, that once planted in the minds of a teacher, might just help them in their heroic work of educating our future. I try with each visit to a classroom, not just to introduce the wonderful world of stories to the students, but also to their teachers, knowing I don’t even know a quarter of what they know, but hoping, beyond hope that I have served the story well enough so that it’s wisdom, and timelessness, can be seen by the classroom teacher, and, if they want to, use it in a lesson plan, or a discussion.
Oddly enough, given my history with teachers, it is that aspect that often gives me the most joy in my work with Storytelling Arts. I get to repay all those people, those heroes, who watched me looking at them like they were monsters, but taught me anyway. Who saw my gaze of distrust and fear, and kept offering all they had –day after day. Sr. Ann Robin, Mrs. Franklin, Mr. Manchester – I don’t know where you are today, but believe me - I GET IT NOW!!! I understand what incredible work you do, and while I still live outside, around, and on top of “the box” rather than in it, and too much scheduling still makes my stomach clench – I am trying to repay the debt I owe you, and every teacher whose classroom, my reluctant younger self ever entered! It’s the most I can do, as all you teachers – you hero and heroines go on your daily quests to open the minds of the world.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

I’m involved in three different school residencies right now, so most of my work is for them at the moment. Below are some places the general public can come and see me!!


March 2011:
3/23: Fairfield Library, NJ 6:30PM
3/27: Franklin Township Library, NJ 1:45PM, 3PM

April 2011:
4/9: Elevate Yoga (stories for adults, then yoga class), Hazlet, NJ 2PM
4/13: Keansburg Library, NJ 3:30PM

May 2011:
5/1 Ridgewood Public Library, NJ 2PM

June 2011
6/7:Fair Haven Library, NJ 3:15PM

August 2011:
8/23: Oceanic Library, Rumson, NJ 3:30PM




So,,, where is Julie when she’s not storytelling?
She might be….Performing as Dr. Ima Confused, her character for the Big Apple Circus Clown Care hospital program at Harlem Hospital for the pediatric patients and their families.(More info on the circus below) Or, you could catch her stilt walking at any number of special events. She also might be…performing as any number of characters for the Big Apple Circus Vaudeville Caravan program at the Montrose and Castle Point Veterans Hospitals. And, of course, you might find her…teaching yoga at Devotion Yoga Studio in Hoboken, NJ (mostly Monday and Friday nights, but some other times as well). And, never forget that sometimes she’s cleaning chimneys – okay, not for real – but I just looking for an ending!!!

Big Apple Circus Clown Care hospital program: is a community outreach program of the Big Apple Circus, anaward winning presenter of live family entertainment and a leadingnot-for-profit performing arts institution.Using juggling, mime, magic, music, puppetry, storytelling and lots ofimprovisation, we are specially trained “doctors of delight” who bring thejoy and excitement of the one ring circus to the bedsides of hospitalizedchildren one to five days each week, year round, nationwide. As MeredithVieira, our national spokesperson and honorary clown doctor, phrased it:From ringside to bedside! Clown Care makes “clown rounds,” a parody ofmedical rounds where humor is the prescribed treatment. As “clown doctors”,we are professional performers who work one-on-one with the children, theirparents, and hospital staff to ease the stress of serious illness byreintroducing laughter and fun as natural parts of life.A national network of host hospitals, generous contributions and grants fromindividuals, foundations and corporations support Clown Care.
Website: bigapplecircus.org

Storytelling Arts: Here’s the organization I do a lot of storytelling residencies in schools with: They are dedicated to bringing the art of storytelling to underserved populations. Storytelling Arts works with schools and community organizations to bring the benefits of storytelling to a varied audience. Storytelling Arts programs serve to boost literacy and build community through:
Classroom residencies in schools
Professional development opportunities for teachers
Programs in community organizations
Educational services in juvenile detention centers
Website: storytellingarts.net
Devotion Yoga: Devotion Yoga is a community dedicated to creating a safe, peaceful, and non-competitive environment which offers individuals the opportunity to learn the practice of yoga through classes, workshops and related events. We are committed to providing high quality, inspiring, unique, and balanced programming that support our members in living a healthy and fulfilling life.
Website: devotionyoga.com

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

NOT ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE
I was supposed to have done two storytelling workshops at the Boys and Girls Club by this time. I was supposed to have done three performances at the Grounds for Sculpture by this date. But apparently, I, like everyone else living in the Northeast, has been informed that Mother Nature has other plans for us.
To be perfectly honest, all the snow, and even the ice, makes me smile. I love the way it coats the trees, buildings and cars, making everything look sparkly and magical. Last week, as I sunk knee deep into the freshly fallen snow, I looked up at the archway of “fairy dusted” trees, tugged down my new favorite winter hat, and giggled. When I was a kid, I remember saying that snow was the main difference between children and adults – kids LOVE it, adults HATE it!! I even – and I know how incredibly odd this is going to sound – like to shovel. I do! Maybe it’s my macho “I may be short, but I can kick anybody’s bootie” side – but I dig (pun totally intended!!) pushing aside all that white stuff, like Moses parting the Red Sea. And, of course, the cold weather completely feeds into my OBESSION with winter hats – some people are into the shoe thing, others purses –for me, it’s hats!! With hair that is never more than a quarter of an inch long if that, hats are essential in the cold months, and I embrace that. In fact, if you suspect I keep my hat so short that it makes hat wearing easier, you’d be almost right (the fact that I’m a LMG – low maintenance girl - from the way back, and sweat at the gym , dance class and/or yoga every day are the other reasons) Every year when the Christmas markets go up at Union Square, my husband and I spend one cold afternoon finding me a new funky, outrageous, WARM chapeau (this year’s model is one of those Mohawk ones – LOVE IT!!) So, this year’s weather’s MOSTLY hasn’t made me blue – except that it has disrupted my all important SCHEDULE!!!
You see, I got up at 5:15AM the day after the first snowstorm – okay, blizzard, watched garbage cans flying through the air, and was completely certain I was going to get to where I was supposed to go that day AS I HAD PLANNED, before my husband, practically restrained me from leaving our apartment. And while others were watching the ice form on anything that stood still more than a heart beat from their toasty homes the other day, I was making my way to a gig THAT WAS ON MY CALENDAR, never dreaming it was cancelled – which it was, and they never called me because they assumed I was sane (news flash – not so much!! ) and wouldn’t even venture out. The snow, the ice, the sleet, the hail, the total lack of street parking wasn’t going to stop me, because I HAVE A SCHEDULE!!!! But we all know that quote about what God/Universe does when people make plans…
It’s a lesson that I have a heck of a time coming to grips with – that things DO NOT always go as planned!! I can write it in as many of my little calendars as I like. I can prepare for my performances, get my directions, confirm details with my contacts, but that does not mean things are going to happen the way I have conjured them up in my very creative little mind. In fact they seldom do!! But, a lot of the time, how they turn out, is even better. In one of my favorite stories to tell, Lazy Jack, sets out looking for a job, any job, and he ends of marrying into a very rich family – it wasn’t on his day planner – but it happened. In another story, the Knee High Man doesn’t expect to find self acceptance, but he does. And, in one of my most cherished tales, a woman doesn’t give things to others for a reward, but the gifts of friendship, kindness, and compassion she ends up receiving are as beautiful, as they are unexpected.
So, even though I take ENORMOUS pride in being able to juggle my complex storyteller/clown/yoga teacher schedule – I’ve got to remember that there will be bumps in the road – sometimes figuratively, but sometimes, like this winter – real ones, made of ice and snow.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

I’m involved in three different school residencies right, so most of my work is for them at the moment. Below are some places the general public can come and see me!!


February 2011:
2/2: Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ 10:15, 11:15, 12:15
2/8: Hillside Library, NJ 4PM
2/21: State Theatre of NJ, New Brunswick 3 shows time:TBA
2/23: Westfield Library, NJ 7PM

March 2011:
3/23: Fairfield Library, Fairfield, NJ 6:30PM
3/27: Franklin Township Library Storytelling Festival, Franklin, NJ Time TBA

April 2011:
4/9: Elevate Yoga, Hazelet, NJ - storytelling and yoga class for adults Time TBA
4/13: Keansburg Library, Keansburg, NJ 3:30PM

June 2011
6/7:Fair Haven Library, NJ 3:15PM

August 2011:
8/23: Oceanic Library, Rumson, NJ 3:30PM




So,,, where is Julie when she’s not storytelling?
She might be….Performing as Dr. Ima Confused, her character for the Big Apple Circus Clown Care hospital program at Harlem Hospital for the pediatric patients and their families. Or, you could catch her stilt walking at any number of special events. She also might be…performing as any number of characters for the Big Apple Circus Vaudeville Caravan program at the Montrose and Castle Point Veterans Hospitals. And, of course, you might find her…teaching yoga at Devotion Yoga Studio in Hoboken, NJ (mostly Monday and Friday nights, but some other times as well). And, never forget that sometimes she’s cleaning chimneys – okay, not for real – but I just looking for an ending!!!

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

The following list includes my public performances only. No school, private performances, or any of my artist in residence work is listed here. Things change from time to time, so do be sure to check the schedule.




January 2011:
1/17: Unitarian Society, Ridgewood, NJ 1PM
1/23: South Mountain YMCA, Maplewood, NJ 4PM

February 2011:
2/2: Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ 4PM
2/8: Hillside Library, NJ 4PM
2/21: State Theatre of NJ, New Brunswick 3 shows time:TBA
2/23: Westfield Library, NJ 7PM




So,,, where is Julie when she’s not storytelling?
She might be….Performing as Dr. Ima Confused, her character for the Big Apple Circus Clown Care hospital program at Harlem Hospital for the pediatric patients and their families. Or, you could catch her stilt walking at any number of special events. She also might be…performing as any number of characters for the Big Apple Circus Vaudeville Caravan program at the Montrose and Castle Point Veterans Hospitals. And, of course, you might find her…teaching yoga at Devotion Yoga Studio in Hoboken, NJ (mostly Monday and Friday nights, but some other times as well). And, never forget that sometimes she’s cleaning chimneys – okay, not for real – but I just looking for an ending!!!

A Language Lover is Born

I saw a young man fall in love with language this month. While that sight would always be a gratifying thing, always make me do my happy dance just a little bit, this was even more remarkable, because this event took place in a small classroom, not in a school, but in a prison.
Over the last year and a half, my work with Storytelling Arts Inc. (an organization dedicated to bringing the power of storytelling to underserved populations) has led me into three Youth Detention Centers. And, each time I speak to people about this work, they are dumbfounded. “Are you nuts??? Aren’t you scared?? Do they listen??” – are some of the questions I hear from concerned and confused friends and family. I smile, because, frankly, I have asked myself the exact same things. So, as much for myself, as for anyone who might be reading this, I’ll answer those very sensible queries.
1) Are you nuts?? - Of course, I am, but that doesn’t have anything to do with this!
2) Aren’t you scared?? – Yes, but not in the way one might think. I’m not scared because I think I will be in any danger. I don’t envision burly men charging across the table trying to “shiv” me. No, I’m scared – well, nervous, actually, that I will not have the goods to reach through to these young people – these kids. Because that is what they are – kids. They are children – even if they would never call themselves that – who have made a bad choice. And who amongst us, has not? They are human, and the one thing I know “for sure” – as Oprah likes to say - is that humans are more alike than different. We all feel emotions, we all, in one way or another seek connection. The art of storytelling is all about connecting with the audience. A tale simply isn’t a tale until it has been told, shared with other human beings. And that, is my worry, that I will not be committed enough, articulate enough, interesting enough to touch these youths. Because folktales have the goods to inspire, teach, and move EVERYONE. With their archetypical characters, intriguing plots, they leave behind them a wake of interesting points to mull over, and to learn from. And, when I see audiences – be they five year olds, or the inmates in the Detention Centers, respond to storytelling, I know it’s not me, it’s the story. All I did was put it out there in a way they could hear. So, that’s my fear, that I won’t find the “way in” with my telling. Because if I can…well, let’s move onto the next question, shall we?
3) Do they listen?? – YES, THEY DO!! I have seen a young man, that I was told was a double murder, follow my every word like his life depended on it. I have seen another young man, whom I thought was asleep; lift his head, and his voice, to defend a character in a story. And, this past month, I saw that young man fall in love with language right before my eyes. He, and his “pod” had been told a wonderful story, by a wonderful storyteller – Paula Davidoff, the day before, and he and two other fellows, stood, in front of their peers to retell it. (AND LET’S JUST STOP AND ACKNOWLEDGE HOW VERY AWESOME THAT ALONE WAS!!!!) While the other two young men were more confident, and outgoing, this fellow – I’ll call J, was shy, stiff, and self conscious. With his hands tightly clasped behind his back, and his eyes lowered, he only spoke when his two companions “threw” him the story. But, then, half way through the story or so – he began to describe a horse as “strong and bold”. As he said those words, he too, became strong and bold. His body came alive, his eyes afire, and anyone could see his relish in saying that combination of words “strong and bold”. The little group then told another tale – this one they invented, and this time J was animated right from the start, interjecting wonderfully fluid language and body gestures throughout the piece. It was like seeing a flower blossom – the entire energy of the room had shifted and changed. One could say it was a moment of victory, because that story, those words “strong and bold”, had reached into J, and touched on something that had lay dormant within him. He had forged a true connection with that tale. And, connection is not only what storytelling is about, but what life is about as well. For to quote a book I just finished reading, “When you practice mindful connection, your life feels meaningful, and so it is.”

My Life as a M.O.

My life as a M.O.

The words “motivational speaker” jumped off the page at me. I have been called A LOT of things in my life – everything from creative to hyper to short – but never in my whole entire life had I ever been called a “motivational speaker”, and yet, that’s what I was being asked to be in a project I began this month for Storytelling Arts.
In my brain, a “motivational speaker” is someone like Tony Robbins – particularly in that Jack Black movie from a few years ago “Shallow Hal”. Kind of tall, in a dark business suit, sprouting phrases like “Think outside the box!” or “Follow your bliss!” while running power point presentations in large ballrooms. And, while I have trouble even finding the proverbial “box”, and, if becoming a storytelling dancer clown who teaches yoga isn’t following ones bliss, I don’t know what the heck is – I just couldn’t cozy up to the label “motivational speaker” (hereto referred to as M.O.) But, like we outside the box bliss followers sometimes have to do – I had to make it work. Lucky for me, folktales saved my un-Tony Robbins-like rear end!
I don’t know where real M.O.’s get material that will at once teach life lessons, while keeping a crowd interested and hanging on their every word. But, all I had to do was go to my friends and teachers - my folktale anthologies. Within the world of folktales are a great many stories that teach us things we all need to learn. Like the Jewish story “Feathers”, that tells of a woman who, after spreading rumors about everyone is sent before the judge. To teach her a lesson about the dangers of gossiping, he instructs her to take a feather pillow outdoors, shake out all the feathers, and then try to get them back in again. When she finds that the feathers blow away, and that she can’t get them back inside the pillow, the judge informs her that it is the same things for words. Once they leave our lips, we can never get them back again.
It was “Feathers” that I told a group of 5th and 6th graders in my role of M.O., and the “Ooooh, I get it!” that came at the end of the story made me smile. The discussion we had after that story, told me that there was no better entry into this topic than the wisdom of the ancients who had created this gem of a tale. Back then, they didn’t have power points – they had stories. Stories that spoke, and continue to speak in a language we all can understand. Stories that don’t hit us over the head with a point, but rather, offer themselves up so that everyone can discover the lessons wrapped in them on their own.
Whenever I’m asked what I do for a living, I always joke and say, “I’m a storyteller/dancer/clown/yoga instructor/chimney sweep – just kidding about the last one!” But, maybe I’ve got a better, and perhaps truer, punch line, maybe, thanks to my pals, the folktales, I can say I’m a storyteller/dancer/clown/yoga instructor/motivational speaker/chimney sweep – hey, the chimney sweep part is too funny to lose!!