Highlights from our trip journal - Corbin, KY

As mentioned in last weeks' post, Corbin, KY was the ideal lift-off for our storytelling journey. Empty with the exception of a barebones staff and those directing the summer school program; spruced up for the beginning of school, floors shiny with new wax, walls freshly painted, and with sage slogans decorating the walls, the small school welcomed us with arms opened wide. Those clean walls and floors echoed when we first entered, as summer's students were still on a field trip when our energy expanded into their library.

In my experience, school libraries are almost always special places. Not only are their shelves filled with ideas and information; the surroundings nurture the mind, allowing imagination to take flight. At Corbin Elementary, the library fulfilled its promise to the letter with delightful and cooperative staff as eager to hear our stories as their students.

An interior gazebo proved to be our performance arena as we played and warmed up while awaiting our audience. By the time they arrived, we were stoked and ready, already nurtured by our environs. Our listeners immediately engaged, they sat as close as they dared to the gazebo, something most storytellers welcome. While distance isn't necessarily the enemy for those using voice as their primary communication tool, being up close and personal is highly valued by most of us.

At first, the teachers were nervous as their students grew actively engaged and interactive with what we were doing, but as things progressed, they,  too, merged into the experience with the children, which is always magical for us.

One of our guild troop members, Delanna Reed, PhD from East Tennessee State's storytelling program ascended the platform and before she could speak, the children begged her to sit down. It's a bit unusual for the audience to be demanding like that, but in this case the reason became obvious the moment she entered their space - they wanted to be close to her, see her eyes, and become a part of what she was doing. I can assure you she has never told that story to a more engaged and attentive audience!(Delanna is seated in the middle of the front row.)

And so it was throughout the entire performance as the stories wove their magic, and the storytellers allowed it to happen. Storytellers serve as conduits for what our stories wish to share with listeners, and it takes a certain amount of finesse and skill to be willing to allow this mystical experience to occur. When it does, both listeners and tellers enter into what is called a "liminal" space during the telling. It's almost a spiritual thing, and one reason really good storytellers select their stories with the greatest care.

Taking to the road from Corbin, we were all aware of the honor they had paid us. Yes, we knew our reputation as a premier performance guild preceded us, and yes, we knew the work we had just done was as good as we could make it, but what they gave us was their complete attention and a sweet portion of our hearts. Such a treasure.