Newton, NC
W/H: 828-465-1564
sylpayne@bellsouth.net
Travel Regions: Statewide
Sylvia Payne grew up in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains listening to family stories told by her mother. A 1964 graduate of High Point College and former childrenŐs librarian, Mrs. Payne has shared many stories in 25 years of experience conducting programs and workshops. She is a board member of the North Carolina Storytelling Guild and serves as editor of the Guild's quarterly publication, Journal of Tar Heel Tellers. Mrs. Payne has studied with such storytelling masters as David Holt, Heather Forest, Connie Regan-Blake, and Jay O'Callahan.
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Storytelling: Passing It On Through Oral Tradition
First there was TV, next home computers, then VCRs, and now DVDs that serve as family entertainment. What happened to sitting around the fire on a chilly evening or sitting on the porch under the stars listening to the elders tell stories? A critical link to our past is seriously at risk and may disappear if we fail to educate the younger generation with one of the oldest art forms: storytelling. In this presentation, Mrs. Payne stresses the importance of passing on the oral tradition, especially to the younger generation of adults and children. She will share examples of this oral tradition through her own storytelling.
(Note: For teachers, this presentation can be adapted to emphasize the importance of applying the art of storytelling to the classroom.)
"We Have Stories to Tell"--Family and Personal Stories
Author and storyteller Jane Yolen states: "All humans are stories waiting to be told. My story, your story, our story--history." In this presentation, Mrs. Payne emphasizes that each of us can learn to recognize and become aware of those stories. She encourages her audiences to realize that sometimes they may have shared some of those stories without even realizing that they have done so or that those stories may provide important links to historical events within their own families. Mrs. Payne stresses the urgency of asking questions of our parents and other elders, drawing important topics to the surface, as a pertinent way of capturing family histories. During this presentation, Mrs. Payne will share ways for participants to determine what some of their stories may be, and she will share some of her stories and how she established them.
Requirements for Program: If the room for the presentation is very large, a microphone will be required
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