Stories throughout the ages have inspired and enriched humanity in many different forms. Like weaving of tapestry it evolves and travels throughout time. At the theater, by the fireplace at campgrounds, at school, friends, family and work gatherings, before falling asleep, stories connect people, places, countries and cultures. New worlds have been created through the magic of stories. History passed on to generations.
Storytelling is fascinating and storytellers unique. They can draw on all art forms - music, dance, photography, drama, and more - to assist them engage an audience and share a story.
Arianna Ross, a gifted and multi-talented performer, inspired me to write about her as a storyteller and her work with Story Tapestries. I had the opportunity to talk to her and also learn more through the web site and information provided by Lorienne Beals, the Development Director at Story Tapestries.
As a trained visual artist, storyteller, creative writer, drama teacher, theatre director, actor, photographer, dancer and musician, for over the last 12 years, Ross has performed and inspired audiences across the US, and other countries such as Indonesia, India, Canada, and Brazil to name a few. She has a degree in theatre from Northwestern University and spent three years working as a dancer, actor, teacher, musician and performer in India with the world renowned Bansi Kaul's troupe "Rang Vidushak".
Her performances mesmerize audiences. She strives to tell multi-lingual stories that can both bridge the gap between communities and to remind us that "It is through the laughter and tears of our tales that the lessons of life are imparted". Ross uses the power of acrobatics, dance, photography and spoken word to create programs that are a mix of personal experiences through her life and her travels, international folk tales and historically true stories.
What is Story Tapestries? Through her work as an artist and teaching artist, Arianna has seen a great need for schools, libraries, museums and other types of community organizations to have access to arts programming. In 2010, Story Tapestries started to operate as a 501c3 not-for-profit to help meet this need, with a team of world-class artists that are committed to creating programs to meet an organization or classroom's specific needs.
Moreover, bringing performance into a learning environment takes the rewards to a higher level. When a student who has been uninterested in school and learning discovers the joy and power of knowledge and is inspired to succeed, or when a shy person discovers their voice and the confidence to share with others, or countless other stories of personal successes and overcoming challenges - these are the fuel that keep a teacher going and an artist performing.
Story Tapestries as a non-profit is able to increase exponentially the number of people reached with arts integration programs, and thus that have the skills to integrate arts into their daily lives. Story Tapestries' purpose is to use the vehicle of the arts to establish a sustainable, national organization that connects and trains a world-class network of artists, educators, and community members. The organization seeks to empower, educate and encourage children and adults to integrate the arts into all aspects of their lives. Furthermore, Story Tapestries works with all of these groups to think about, question, reflect on, converse with and develop themselves and their local/global communities.
The current campaign by Story Tapestries to raise funds for a project in the DC metro region entitled "Teaching Literacy through the Arts", got my attention even further about Arianna Ross' work. Global Giving the charity fundraising web site is hosting the online fundraise aiming to raise $6,000 by December 31st. Currently, 44% of elementary and 43% of secondary students in DC Public Schools are below grade level in reading per 2010 tests. According to a United Way study, illiteracy costs the US $20 billion each year. Arts integration techniques are one of the most effective, meaningful and efficient methods for teaching literacy to a wide range of learning styles and levels. Story Tapestries programs not only establish the building blocks for reading and writing, but also more importantly instill a passion for learning, powerful enough to change the course of a life. With the funds from this initiative, we will be able to reach more than 425 students, 17 teachers and 638 parents certainly inspiring others in similar work and action.
What inspire Arianna Ross as a performer and with Story Tapestries' work? I got this quote: "Ms. Arianna, do you remember me? I was 5 years old when you helped me write my first true poem. You taught me the power of writing. I perform all of the time. I'm a poet now! Thank you!" - Former Story Tapestries Student, 10 years after the Artist-in-Residency program
To participate in the Global Giving "Teaching Literacy through the Arts" project, visit:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/story-tapestries-arts-literacy-programs-dc/ and http://youtu.be/Pq55LUBqH9g
To know more about Story Tapestries and Arianna Ross' visit www.storytapestries.com
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