Welcome to my website!

Storytelling allows the Listener and Teller alike to enter into a world together and yet allows each to experience the journey on his or her own.

I hope you enjoy your journey through my site, and that we have a chance to sit and swap tales soon!

Walk in Peace,

Rona

Summer Storytelling Institute Retreat for Adults!

Calendar | Performances | Workshops and Residencies | Keynote Addresses | Funding


PERFORMANCE CALENDAR 2011

Please check back often as there are many shows, residencies and workshops pending!!

To see descriptions of shows, please scroll down to the "Performances" section"!

2011

January 5-7
    Rona will be at an Artist’s Retreat!

January 22
    Women’s Wilderness Weekend, RI
    (private event – please contact Rona if you wish to preview the show)
    Rona will be performing Saturday night!

January 28
    Fun, Frolic and Fancy: Family Stories of Light and Laughter for a Winters Night!
    Wallingford Public Library, Wallingford, CT, 7:00 PM
    Contact Susan Stewart at 203-284-6438
    Free – all Welcome!  This is Rona’s second appearance at the Wallingford Library this year!

March 18-20
    Sharing the Fire Storytelling Conference
    Go to lanes.org and click on “Sharing the Fire” for registration information

    Saturday: Performing in the Saturday evening Olio!
    Sunday: Coaching workshop/session

April 22
    Earth Celebrations!
    Thayer Memorial Library, Lancaster, MA, Time TBA
    Contact Nancy Hayes Clune at 978-368-8928
    Free – all Welcome!

April 21
    Corner House Inn, Center Sandwich, NH
    Contact: Don at 603-284-6219 or info@cornerhouseinn.com
    Storytelling Dinner for adults: Dinner starts at 6:30, storytelling to follow
    $19.95 includes dinner and show.

May 4
Academy Hill School, Springfield, MA
(private event – please contact Rona if you wish to preview the show)

May 6
Melrose Ave School, Jamestown, RI
(private event – please contact Rona if you wish to preview the shows)

May 25
Taconic Showcase, Poughkeepsie, NY
Contact: Sue Lesser, 845-486-4495, slesser@acsdny.org
Please come by my booth and visit!  Take a look at my material and have a look at my video!

May 27
    Melrose Ave Elementary School, Jamestown, RI, Two shows
    These shows are not open to the public.  Please contact Rona is you would like
    to see Rona in action in a school setting!

May 27 and 28
    Our Town – Ashfield Community Theatre, MA
    Contact: David Knowles, 413-628-4574, info@acth.org

 Rona plays the Stage Manager in this iconic play about small town, New England in the early 1900’s.  Please come support this wonderful, high quality community theatre in the hills of western Mass!

June 3 and 4
    Our Town – Ashfield Community Theatre, MA – see above

June 5
    Mak’hela, the Jewish Chorus of Western Mass
    at the National Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, MA
    Contact: Kayla Werlin, Music Director, kaylawerlin@yahoo.com
    Or the National Yiddish Book Center, 413-256-4900
    $10 admission, $8 Yiddish Book Center Members, $5 Students

Rona will perform a classic story from the Jewish Folkloric tradition as part of Mak’Hela’s performance

July 6
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Holyoke Public Library, MA, 10:00 AM
    Contact Jason Lefebvre at 413-534-2211 or jml138@yahoo.com

Sit back, put your feet up and join Storyteller Rona Leventhal for a journey around the world and back!  Rona is one person, but many voices. Rona will have you dancing, swaying in your seats, making funny noises, singing, and laughing, as she shares stories from the silly to the serious, from the mysterious to the monsterous!
Free - All Welcome!

July 6
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Bridgeport Public Library, CT 4:00 PM
    Contact: Sharon Breslow, sbreslow@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org

July 7
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Agawam Public Library, MA 10:00 AM
    Free - All Welcome!  Thanks to the Agawam Cultural Council for funding this event!

July 7
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Storrs Library, Longmeadow, MA, 1:00 PM
    Contact Heather Marchetta at 413-565-4182
    Free – all Welcome! Thanks to the Longmeadow Cultural Council for partial funding for this event!

July 10-13
    Rona will be off in the woods backpacking with kids!

July 14
    HOT Schools Conference for CT Teachers working in HOT (Higher Order Thinking) Schools
    Contact: Bonnie Koba, 860-256-2800, Ext. 2730, bonnie.koba@ct.gov    
    Story Bag: Tales that Teach
    We will look at short teaching tales, how we can use them and how to tell them!

July 19
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    West Bridgewater Public Library,MA, 11:00 AM
    Contact: Nanette Ryan, 508-894-1255, nryan@sailsinc.org
    Free - All Welcome!  Thanks to the West Bridgewater Cultural Council for funding this event!

July 19
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Milfird Town  Library, Milford, MA, 2:30 PM
    Contact Sue-Ellen Szymanski at 508-473-0651, Ext. 3
    Free – all Welcome! Thanks to the Milford Cultural Council for funding for this event!

July 20-22
    University of Southern Maine, Portland Campus
    Contact: http://usm.maine.edu/pdc/summer.htm (under “CEU Courses”)

    The Power of Story: How to Tell, Create and Encourage Stories in the Classroom
    8:30-1:30 Daily (15 hours); CEU’s available!

July 25
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Newton Free Library, 7:00 PM
    Contact: Jane Malmberg, 617-796-1370 or jmalmberg@minlib.net
    Free – all Welcome!

July 26
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Cambridge Arts Council’s Neighborhood Summer Performing Arts Series! 10 AM
    Sacramento Field, North Cambridge (near Porter Square)
    Contact: Julie Madden, Cambridge Arts Council, 617-349-4381 or jmadden@cambridgema.gov
    Free!  Contact Julie for the neighborhood location!

July 27
    Tales from Russia!
    Leach Library, Londonderry, NH, 11:00 AM
    Contact Jennifer Delvillar at 603-432-1132
    Free – all Welcome!

July 28
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Williamstown Public Library, MA 3:30 PM
    Contact: Mindy Hackner, 413- 458-5369 or mhackner@cwmars.org
    Free – all Welcome!

July 31- August 2
    Rona will be off in the woods backpacking with kids!

August 5
    Fun, Frolic and Fancy: A Family Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Enfield Public Library, Enfield, CT - Family Campout and Campfire!
    Contact: Ellen Phillips, 860-763-7517, ephillips@enfield.org
    Free - All Welcome!

August 8
    Collaborative for Educational Services, Northampton, MA
    Contact:  Kim Leahey, 413-586-4900, Ext. 183 or kleahey@collaborative.org
    $120 (6 hour workshop)

    The Power of Story: How to Tell, Create and Encourage Stories in the Classroom
    PDP’s available!

August 9
    Travelin’ Shoes: A Multi-Cultural Storytelling Extravaganza!
    Monson Free Libray , Monson, MA, 3:00 PM
    Contact Betsy Rajotte at 413-267-3866
    Free – all Welcome! Thanks to the Monson Cultural Council for partial funding for this event!

August 11
    Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) Conference, Williamstown, MA
    Contact: MTA, www.massteacher.org 9:00-12:15
    Story Bag: Tales that Teach
    We will look at short teaching tales, how we can use them and how to tell them!

August 12-14
    Rona’s Fourth Annual Summer Storytelling Institute Retreat!
    The Angel’s Rest Retreat and Conference Center, Leyden,MA
    Contact: Rona, 413-586-0624 or rona@ronatales.com
    www.ronatales.com/events/html for detailed information

    A three-day immersion into the art of storytelling!  Learn a lot, Laugh a lot!
    20 PDP’s for Massachusetts teachers! 
    Certificate of Completion available for teachers from other states.
    Only three spaces left!

August 17
    Dance New England Summer Camp, Freedom, NH
    Contact: www.dne.org for information about registration for this wonderful family camp!  
   
    9:30-11:30: Personal Storytelling: Tales from Inside
    After hearing Rona tell one or two personal stories, participants will delve into exploring their own     stories, sowing the seeds from their lives!

August 18
    Dance New England Summer Camp, Freedom, NH
    Contact: www.dne.org for information about registration for this wonderful family camp!  
   
   1:00-3:00: Playing with Communication: Improv Theatre With a Purpose!
    This is an invitation to play with the subtleties of verbal and non-verbal communication through
    the lens of improv theatre and storytelling!

September 7
    Oy Vey!: Stories from the Jewish Tradition!
    Towers Country Club and Residence, NY
    (private event – please contact Rona if you wish to preview the show)

    Adult show for seniors living at this facility

September 18
    Personal Storytelling: Stories from Inside
    Jewish Community Center, Newton, MA
    Contact: JCC Adult Programming for information and cost, 617-558-6522

    After hearing Rona tell one or two personal stories, participants will delve into exploring their
    own stories, sowing the seeds from their lives!

October 13
    Haunts, Haints and Hollers: Stories for a Halloween Eve! (FOR AGES 8-12)
    Blackstone Public Library, Blackstone, MA, 6:30 PM
    Contact: Tressy Collier, 508-883-1931, tcollier@cwmars.org
    Free – all Welcome! 

October 21
    Goblins and Giggles: Stories for a Halloween Eve! (FOR AGES 5-8)
    Westport Free Library, Westport, MA, 7:00 PM
    Contact Linda Cunha at 508-636-1100
    Free – all Welcome!  Show is for ages 5-8. Thanks to the westport Cultural Council for partial             funding for this event!

October 22
    Haunts, Haints and Hollers: Stories for a Halloween Eve! (FOR AGES 5-8)
    Keene Public Library, NH, 3:00 PM
    Contact: Gail Zachariah, 603-352-0157
    Free! Show for Ages 8-12

December 17
    Annual Solstice Celebration in Story, Song and Music!
    A benefit concert for the Food Bank of Western Mass and other non-profits working to help others.

PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTIONS

Rona is available for performances at Schools, Libraries, Conferences, Festivals and Special Events, Camps, Religious Organizations, Nature Centers and Organizational Events

To listen to Rona's famous Mitten Rap click here! The Mitten Rap! ©

Fun Frolic and Fancy: Stories for Families!
Kaleidoscope Stories
Travelin' Shoes: Stories form Near and Far!

A selection of fun, educational stories from around the world!

Sit back, put your feet up and join Storyteller Rona Leventhal for a journey around the world and back!  Rona is one person, but many voices. Through her, skies talk, turtles sing, and magic happens! "Part mime, part singer, part actress, she walks her tales, talks them, sketches them with her hands, and stretches them from the ceiling to the floor"*. Rona will have you dancing, swaying in your seats, making funny noises, singing, and laughing, as she shares stories from the silly to the serious, from the mysterious to the monsterous!

* Quote by Bruce Watson from the Amherst Bulletin

Haunts, Haints, and Hollers: Stories for a Halloween Eve (ages 8-12 & 13-adult)

Will Jack survive the haunted house? No one else has!  What does the dead man want from Mary Culhane?  Join the search for the last panther in eastern Kentucky....or the woman and the milk bottles!   What would you do with a skeleton that won’t die?  With screams you hear in the night?  Who’s the real ghost and who’s not?  You will find all manner of haints, dead folk, shape shifters and mysterious players.......from the spooky and eerie to the silly & transformative!

Goblins and Giggles: Stories for a Halloween Eve (ages 5-8)

Who’s in the cave?  It says it’s going to eat you!  Is there anything scary out there in the dark? Ever heard of a ghoul that just wants to show you how silly she can be?  Why is the boy afraid of the red, red lips?  Or the green pants?  Do you know the magical spell to get rid of a monster that comes to town?  How do you get rid of a Belly Button monster?  Listen and you’ll find out!
Come on board and hear a tale or two that will put shivers up your spine and send you home with a smile!

Mysteries, Puzzles, and Mind Twisters: Stories to Ponder and Play With

How can you twist words meant to be your demise into saving your life? What are the clues that the wise judge uses to solve the crime? What mysterious things happen when your journey takes you to unexpected places? Join Rona as she spins tales of mysterious shape shifters, mind plays, and creative solutions to problems that will leave you pondering the stories for days!

Earth Celebrations!

Earth tales and songs about environmental awareness, personal action and responsibility, conservation,interdependence, and our animal friends.

Woven As One: Stories and Songs About Community

Working together towards a common goal; Making sacrifices to benefit the community; Celebrating similarities and differences; and the Natural community.

The Silkie's Song: Stories and Songs of the Sea

How the tides were made, whales, seal people and journeys through the sea.

I Like Myself Just The Way I Am! A Program on Self-Esteem

Feeling good enough about ourselves to succeed against the odds; Knowing and using your strengths; and Outwitting others.

Go Girls! Stories of Strong Women and Girls

What happens when girls and woman use their wit, wisdom and courage to get what they deserve, instruct others and get out of odd situations? Find out!

Turning the Wheel: Seasonal Tales

Tales to warm your toes in Winter, slip into Spring, feel the breeze on a hot Summer day and rejoice in the splendor of the Fall!

Kaleidoscope Stories

A selection of fun, educational stories and songs combining the above topics.

Oy Vey! Stories from the Jewish Tradition

Pulling from the Jewish folkloric tradition, Rona tells stories that touch on the Jewish concepts of tzedakah (giving), kavannah (intention) and living more clearly with the sacred in ourselves, others and the Earth. Holiday-specific programs are also available, such as: Hanukkah; Tu B'shvat; Passover; and Shabbat.

Degas and the Little Dancer: A Story / Theater Piece

A commissioned work involving story and drama that gives insight into Degas, the man, and the creation of his famous statue, The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years.

Tales from Russia

Enter a world that is at the same time familiar and uniquely Russian! Take a journey with a Russian Cinderella, enter into a mitten stuffed with animals, and find out what a wonderous wonder is! And what advice does grandfather have? Find out!

Asian Sampler

Hear stories from Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, China, India and beyond!

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WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES

For innovative, participatory and exciting learning experiences for students, teachers and staff

Storytelling

Using games, movement and drama exercises, creative visualizations and other participatory techniques, Rona works with students, teachers and staff in story telling and story creating in the oral tradition. Additional workshop possibilities include exploring the many themes within a story, creating follow-up activities and curriculum integration.

What Color is the Wind? Integrating the Arts into the Curriculum

Discover...a new world of peanut butter air and free sounds. Explore...gibberish, poetry and storytelling. Become...a glacier or recycled paper.

 

Kid Connections focuses on a specific curriculum area. Working closely with the teacher, Rona creates a program that meets student and curriculum needs. Arts forms may include storytelling, creative movement and drama, visual arts, puppetry or mask-making.

Teacher Tools are workshops that provide an overview of various art forms and how they can be woven into the curriculum.

Family and Oral History

This program teaches interviewing skills and looks at the human touch in history and stories. Storytelling techniques are applied. For grades 4 and up. Older students may work on an historical figure piece.

Creative Writing

Movement, drama, drawing, trust exercises, the environment, green slime, our senses and more are used to creates stories and poems.

Improvisational Movement and Drama

Expands the creative mind and body, and improves public speaking, listening and spontaneous thinking skills.

Environmental Education

Programs incorporates hands-on learning through activities, games, storytelling, movement and drama, poetry and exploration.

Hold On! Building Cooperative Classrooms

Uses games and activities that promote an understanding of group dynamics, positive communication and cooperation.


Notes to Workshops and Residencies

In each program, Rona tries to use various art forms (movement, drama, oral/linguistic exercises, singing and drawing) that incorporate several modalities of learning to appeal to a wide variety of students' needs and learning styles. This allows for a student to expand his or her comfort level from one modality/area, such as movement, to another, such as writing. This transference of skills is the importance of multi-modality learning and using arts in education. In all, this philosophy provides a strong motivational element for students and is one of the vital connections between oral and written language in Rona's work.

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KEYNOTE ADDRESSES

Rona is available for making featured presentations at conferences that will engage the audience, challenge them in a non-threatening way to think critically and creatively about their work,inspire them to take their skills and knowledge back to the classroom to be more effective educators, and reinforce for them the incredible impact that they can have in the lives of children. Presentations can be used to "jump-start" a conference, invigorating the participants to fully engage in the workshops or to bring closure to a gathering.

Some suggested Keynote titles are:

  • Multi-Disciplinary Education
  • Storytelling in Education
  • Literacy: A Wide Angle View
  • The Power of Imagination: Teaching to Creative Minds (tentative title of Rona's book on education)
  • Arts in Education: The Many Faces of Creative Teaching
FUNDING

Rona is an approved artist with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Alaskan Arts Council, the Utah Arts Council and BOCES (New York) and is eligible for full or partial funding through these organizations.

Upcoming Events | Performances | Workshops and Residencies | Keynote Addresses | Funding

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