Local Youth Storyteller to Tell in Tennessee
by Theresa Carpine2/1/2008 12:24:29 PM
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The after-school hobbies of Maya Norton, a 12-year-old homeschooler and Bellingham resident, are similar to many kids. She enjoys athletic events, like gymnastics and swimming, and she is also interested in creative pursuits, like art and singing. But Maya participates in one activity that’s not so common for most pre-teens: she has been practicing the art of storytelling for over a year. Her skills have qualified her to compete in the National Youth Storytelling Showcase in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee this month.
Twelve-year-old storyteller Maya Norton.
Maya became interested in storytelling when two of her friends were telling stories at a slumber party. “The way they told the stories was really funny and interesting to listen to, and when they told me about Rosemary's class, I thought I’d try it myself.” Rosemary Vohs, an instructor at WWU, specializes in teaching the art of storytelling, children’s literature, and speech; she also occasionally teaches storytelling workshops for youths in Bellingham.
Throughout the workshop, Rosemary saw that Maya had a lot of potential as a storyteller, so the Bellingham Storytellers Guild invited her to be a Featured Teller at the 2006 Bellingham Tellebration, an annual celebration of storytelling events. “I was very surprised and honored to be chosen to tell with such wonderful storytellers,” Maya said. “And, of course, excited.”
Maya’s parents, Bob and Laura, were also excited to see Maya take an interest in this hobby. “She was able to use her natural expressiveness in a more formal, disciplined way,” said Laura. As a parent, Laura feels that it is her role to help “fan the flames of [Maya’s] interests, to root for her, and to help her stay accountable when a performance is coming up.”
They also like to see Maya using her skills to benefit others. “This past year, Maya headed up a campaign to raise $5000 for Heifer International at our church by telling stories to the congregation and Sunday school kids about the difference they could make in the lives of poor families around the world,” Laura said. “People responded with overwhelming generosity and that was very gratifying for Maya.”
While her parents continue to encourage and challenge Maya in her interests, Laura remembers to “step back” every so often to evaluate Maya's involvement in storytelling. “We make sure that she’s doing what she feels she should be doing, not what her parents or teachers feel she should be doing,” Laura said.
At the moment, Maya finds stories to tell from books or by listening to other storytellers. “I especially like stories that involved girls with wit, or folktales from stories around the world.” At January’s Family Story Night, a monthly BSG event at the Fairhaven Library, Maya shared the story Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman, which is about a savvy girl in Ireland who matches wits with the Leprechaun king.
Maya has also picked up stories from her grandmother and great-aunt, who told her folktales from Japan and their own stories about growing up during the difficult days during World War II. “I'm glad Maya is able to learn about telling stories and folktales from them, and I think that maybe someday she'll begin telling her own original stories,” Laura said.
In February, Maya will attend the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for their National Youth Storytelling Showcase. Dr. Flora Joy of East Tennessee State University founded the event, originally called the National Youth Storytelling Olympics, approximately twenty years ago. The event has changed names and locations over the years; this is the third year that the NYSS has been organized as part of the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival.
A video recording of Maya’s 2006 Tellebration performance was sent as her audition for the NYSS, and she was selected among hundreds of entries nationwide to be one of only four middle school age finalists. At the Festival, Maya will participate in workshops led by seasoned storytellers and share a story at the Showcase. A teller from each age category will be selected as Storytelling Torch Bearer, and one talented teller will be named 2008’s Grand Torch Bearer. Torch Bearers are chosen based on a variety of factors, including performance spirit, story choice, body language, vocal tone and ambassadorship throughout the festival.
Maya's storytelling also incorporates her love of drama and acting.
“I’m excited to be able to hear the professional storytellers share their stories at the Festival, and I’m excited to make new friends. Some of the kids have been coming to festival for four years and most of them are from southern and southeastern states,” Maya said.
“I hope she has fun meeting kindred spirits, laughing, and enjoying the other kids from all over the country. I hope her imagination is sparked,” Laura said, echoing Maya’s enthusiasm. “I think she’ll start to see new ways to use her storytelling skills once she returns to Bellingham.”
A donation was taken at January’s Family Story Night as a fundraiser for Maya to help with her travel expenses to Tennessee. If you’re interested in finding out more about supporting Maya on her journey or other local storytelling events and opportunities, please visit Bellingham Storytellers Guild.
Want to hear more? Now you can read about Maya's experience at the showcase in "My Trip to Tennesee."