The Art of Storytelling Celebrated at Festival in Miami

RENOWNED STORYTELLERS, STORYBOOK CHARACTERS, MUSIC AND TRADITIONAL DANCES TO BE FEATURED AT MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM'S EIGHTH ANNUAL ART OF STORYTELLING INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

 

(MIAMI, April 23, 2008) – The Miami-Dade Public Library System presents the eighth annual Art of Storytelling (AOS) International Festival on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Main Library, 101 W. Flagler Street, downtown Miami.

   

This free family event highlights the culture of Colombia and features a diverse line-up of world class storytellers including Jorge Ambrosio Villa Zapata and Jaime Riascos of Colombia, Connie Regan-Blake, Diane Williams, Dylan Pritchett, and Maude Heurtelou of the U.S., and Daniel Azulay of Brazil. Mother Goose, Pippi Longstocking, and a cast of storybook characters will delight the hearts of little ones while the nine feet tall puppets of the Bit's 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre will captivate the entire family with the tale of Cinderella and the Chinese Slipper, an adaptation of a ninth century T'ang Dynasty folk tale.

   

Musicians, dancers, magicians, stilt-walkers, face-painting, arts and crafts, ethnic foods, and a traditional West Indian carnival parade are all part of this signature event that is designed to promote literacy by presenting stories in a fun and stimulating way.

   

AOS was developed by the Library System in 2001 to provide free, high quality, educational and cultural information to county residents.  This innovative program includes an international library-to-library exchange program; storytelling seminars for educators, librarians and parents, and a storytelling showcase series. Through AOS, the Library System seeks to expand its role as an important community resource by presenting programs that reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of Miami-Dade County residents.

   

The international exchange partner for this year's event is the Park Libraries of Medellin, Colombia. Former exchange countries include Jamaica, Ghana, Ireland, the Caribbean, Brazil, and France.  

   

Free parking for the event  is available (while spaces last), at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center Garage, 50 NW 2^nd Avenue and the Hickman Garage, 270 NW 2^nd Street. For a full schedule of performances please log on to www.mdpls.org. or call 305-375-BOOK (2665).

   

The Art of Storytelling 2008 is made possible in part by Bank of America, City of Coral Gables, Consulado General Central de Colombia en Miami, El Nuevo Herald, Emerald Bouquet, Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade Public Library Foundation, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami-Dade Office of the Child Advocate, The Miami Herald, State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

   

Schedule of Events – Saturday, May 3

Main Library – Auditorium

 11 a.m. - noon - Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre

 Noon - 12:30 p.m. - Magic Show with Robert Hermens

 12:30 - 1 p.m. - Storyteller Connie Regan-Blake

 1 - 2 p.m. - Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre

 2 - 2:30 p.m.- Storytelling with The Healing Force

 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre

   

Sculpture Garden

 11 - 11:30 a.m. - Brazilian cartoonist Daniel Azulay

 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Youth Tellers

 1 - 1:30 p.m. Ribbon ceremony for Youth Tellers

 1:30 - 2 p.m. Grandma's Magic Scissors

 2 - 2:30 p.m. Storyteller Maude Heurtelou

 2:30 - 3 p.m. Storyteller Dylan Pritchett

 3 - 3:30 p.m. Storyteller Jaime Riascos

   

Performance Tent

 11 - 11:30 a.m. Mother Goose on the Loose

 11:30 - noon Flute Sweets & Tickletoons

 12 - 12:30 p.m. Colorin Colorado Puppet Theatre

 12:30 - 1 p.m. Mother Goose on the Loose

 1 - 1:30 p.m. Flute Sweets & Tickletoons

 1:30 - 2 p.m. Storyteller Dylan Pritchett

 2 - 2:30 p.m. Flute Sweets & Tickletoons

 2:30 - 3 p.m. Storyteller Jennifer Bryant

 3 - 3:30 p.m. Storyteller Connie Regan-Blake

   

Main Library – Fiction Area

 11 - 11:30 a.m. Storyteller Dylan Pritchett

 11:30 - noon Music from the Andes with Paco Moreno

 Noon - 12:30 p.m. Storyteller Jaime Riascos

 12:30 - 1 p.m. Storyteller Maude Heurtelou

 1 - 1:30 p.m. Brazilian cartoonist Daniel Azulay

 1:30 - 2 p.m. Storyteller Connie Regan-Blake

 2 - 2:30 p.m. Storyteller Jorge Ambrosio Villa Zapata

 2:30 - 3 p.m. Storyteller Laura Packer

 3 - 3:30 p.m. Storyteller Diane Williams

   

Historical Museum of Southern Florida

 11 - 11:30 a.m. Storyteller Jorge Ambrosio Villa Zapata

 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. Teen tellers

 12:30 - 1 p.m. Music from the Andes with Paco Moreno

 1 - 1:30 p.m. Storytelling with The Healing Force

 1:30 - 2 p.m. Storyteller Laura Packer

 2 - 2:30 p.m. Storyteller Diane Williams

 2:30 - 3 p.m. Brazilian cartoonist Daniel Azulay

 3 - 3:30 p.m. Grandma's Magic Scissors

   

Cultural Plaza

 11 - 11:20 a.m. Taiko drummers

 11:20 - 11:40 a.m. Kehewin Dance Troupe

 11:40 a.m. - noon African drumming and dance with The Healing Force

 Noon - 12:20 p.m. Capoeira demonstration

 12:20-12:40 p.m. Taiko drummers

 12:40 - 1 p.m. Cumbia dance with Estampas de Colombia

 1 - 1:20 p.m. Hip Hop Kidz

 1:20 - 1:40 p.m. Kehewin Dance Troupe

 1:40 - 2 p.m. Cumbia Dance with Estampas de Colombia

 2 - 2:30 p.m. Capoeira demonstration

 2:30 - 3 p.m. African drumming and dance with The Healing Force

 3:30 - 4 p.m. Junkanoos – West Indian Carnival

   

Ongoing:

 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Arts & crafts, face painting, character meet & greet, stilt walkers and jugglers.

* Kindly note that schedule is subject to change