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Arts & Entertainment

Art of Storytelling on Display This Weekend

Northampton Community College to host workshops, performances starting today

Tell me a story: a request most of us have heard or said before. But what is a story? The definition varies, even in scholarly circles.

This weekend, the Lehigh Valley Storyteller’s Guild, in cooperation with Northampton Community College, will offer a variety of answers to this question, as they present Story Fusion, a series of workshops, discussions, and performances, at N.C.C.

In past years, the Lehigh Valley Storyteller’s Festival has been presented in several locations — such as libraries, colleges and coffee houses — but this year it will all happen under one roof, at Northampton's Lipkin Theater. Story Fusion will begin today at 1 p.m., with a children’s show by Larry Sceurman, and conclude Sunday afternoon with a 4 p.m. presentation by Dr. Kevin Cordi called Permission2Play.

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“This year’s festival will expand the definition of story, recognizing stories not only in all of the arts but also in people’s lives,” said Charles Kiernan, a long-time performer and guild member.

On Saturday evening, Mr. Kiernan will tell stories from his “Lost Dollar” collection, a series of Appalachian themed tales in the tradition of Lake Woebegone, Garrison Keillor’s imaginary town of Minnesota Lutherans.

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Following Kiernan’s performance, Dr. Hannah Harvey, who has a background in ethnography (a branch of cultural anthropology that focuses on the stories of a particular culture) will present “Out of the Dark — Appalachian Coal Mining Stories,” by which she promises to take us, through the power of imagination, into the depths of the earth and the lives of West Virginia miners.

Although we usually seek stories to entertain and inspire us, they can also teach. Dr. Kevin Cordi, will conduct a workshop on Saturday morning called “Teaching the Tale,” which will discuss how educators can use story in their curriculum to engage their students and strengthen learning.

On Sunday morning anyone willing can offer their “Sacred Story,” during an open microphone session from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Registration and Ticket information for Story Fusion is available on the Lehigh Valley Storytellers website www.lvstorytellers.org or call 610-799-2742

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