Meet SUE KOBZA STORYTELLER
Story Favorites Folktales from around the world. Humorous tales. Scary tales. Personal history stories.
History Sue grew up as an Army Brat. She taught Kindergarten for six weeks in 1974, but ran out of the classroom, and got a job as a legal secretary trainee instead. She has been a legal secretary since. She has a BA Italian, French Minor, at Indiana University; M. Ed Early Childhood Education, at University of Florida. She loves to read, cook, tell and listen to stories. Sue loves humorous tales but some of the stories in her bag are "dead serious". Young listeners are her favorite but all ages are drawn into her rich graphic presentations, which are filled with foreign language accents and sound effects.
Events Sue has told at Nelson School, Muskegon Irish Festival, Marquette School Arts Night, Widows Together, Whitehall Library, Hackley Children's Library, Lakeside Lighthouse Chapel, Reeths Puffer Elementary, West Michigan Academy of Arts and Academics (Festival of Arts), Women's Club, Girl Scout Day Camp.
It was said: "Sue Kobza always comes into my kindergarten class with a smile on her face. She loves being here, sharing her stories with me and my students, and that comes through in her story-telling. She engages the children with her voices, facial expressions, gestures, humor, AND with welcoming them to participate in some of the stories. My students and I always look forward to story time with Mrs. Kobza" KW, Kindergarten Teacher
Training NSN Conference in Indianapolis IN; Carri Wilson Workshop "Personal Touch" for the Yarnspinners 6/20/08; Mark Lewis Workshop "Make It Real" 11/11/07 and a Workshop by Karen Libman of GVSU 11/09/08.
Contact jjkobza@comcast.net
Meet JOHN MAREK CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER
Story Favorites John has been a member of the Yarnspinners for only 2 years and is adapting storytelling to his other talents of magic, balloon sculpture, music, juggling, and caricature. His signature story is of Johnny Appleseed.
Age group John's focus is mainly on telling to children at parties and etc. but has performed for adults.
Events John takes on the character of Johnny Appleseed, in costume, at the White Pine Village, sharing with the visitors Johnny's story. He has performed for several of the Yarnspinner events at libraries and schools.
Contact Johnmarek@Chartermi.net
Meet ARDIS SCHAAF STORYTELLER
Story Favorites
Speech and language development stories with puppets, especially Ms. Ladybug and Granny Bug, geared to kindergarten, early childhood level, with audience participation
Folk tales and fables
Fairy tales with a twist
How and Why stories
"String" stories
Surprise ending stories
Audience Ardis tells stories for all ages, but relates best with children.
Talents and Education Ardis is a retired Speech and Language Pathologist in Public schools and in clinical practice. She has authored children's stories, was an actor and director in community theatre, a ventriloquist, and a puppeteer. She has her BA from the University of WI at Madison; MA from Wayne State University and post Grad at Eastern Michigan University.
Ardis says "I like quirky endings, and to transport listeners into a different time and place of long ago and far, far away. My father was a "teller of tales" who told Army stories and Animal/River tales." Ardis begins most of her stories with this Nordic saying, "IF IT NEVER HAPPENED IT COULDN'T BE TOLD, AND IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, IT DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T"
It was said "Ardis tells stories to educate and enlighten as well as to entertain, doing so with the charm and grace of believability." Jen Chance, Speaker, Story teller, Presentation Coach, 3-09, Tampa, FL
Member Yarnspinners of Muskegon, MI, Tampa Storytellers Guild, Florida Story tellers Association, American Speech and Hearing Assoc., Oakland County Speech Asso., Zeta Phi Eta, Prof Speech Fraternity.
Contact Ardisfox@aol.com
Meet ANITA HARMS STORYTELLER
Favorite Stories Anita's presentations cover educational, inspirational, and entertaining topics. Her stories include folk and fairy tales, cross cultural, (Irish and Scandinavian, Native American), comical, spooky, magical and animal tales.
Audience Children, mostly, but adults and Seniors enjoy Anita's animated performances; many include graceful hand signing, puppetry and audience participation.
Interests Reading, writing (articles, stories, blogs, books, play reviews) collecting puppets, hiking, yoga, zumba, Garrison Keillor, keep Anita busy.
Background Anita has a BA in literature, writing and theatre. She acted in several States and taught theatre for 20 years. She has used storytelling as a vehicle for creative dramatics for 15 years and has been a story teller for 9 years. She is proficient in sign language from MCC and has done workshops with Karen Libman from GVSU and Mark Lewis.
Performances She has performed in libraries, schools, theatres, churches, community , health, Senior organizations, Irish and Norwegian Festivals.
They said: "I heard you creaking through invisible doors and looking for 'something'. There were many children following behind you. I can only assume you were looking for invisible Scandinavian folks." Barbara DuxMullally
Organizations Yarnspinners of Muskegon, Northlands and National Storytelling Networks, Barnes and Noble Writers' Exchange and Tanglewood Fitness.
Contact veslealfh@frontier.com
Blog site: http://talesofperformingandpen.blogspot.com/
http://talesofperformingandpenii.blogspot.com/
