Weaving Worlds of Wonder – Learn the Art of Oral Storytelling

LEARN THE ART AND CRAFT OF STORYTELLING to audiences of all ages with fun, imaginative, practical activities, and tangible tools and techniques that will help you to: select, remember, craft, refine, and present your stories to others in ways that deeply engage and compel your listeners.

Most of us have grown up not realising that being a storyteller is our birthright and as natural as breathing. It is not an entirely lost art but one that is deservedly poised for revival and might even play a role in our collective survival. Yet until we are actually shown and taught – HOW – for many the concept of oral storytelling remains a wistful mystery consigned to artists and performers. At the same time, we instinctively know that in telling a story something ancient awakens both in and from beyond us that can act as powerful medicine to strip away digital blare and allow our listeners to collectively enter into a space of shared wonder, enchantment, and belonging.

AN ADDED BONUS IS THAT YOU WILL BECOME A MORE CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKER, ALONG WITH LEARNING TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO ENGAGE WITH ANY TYPE OF AUDIENCE.

Many of the tools you will learn in this workshop to become a captivating and effective storyteller are a distillation of a storytelling lineage from Emerson College in the UK where Melaina undertook the three-month residential storytelling course: Storytelling Beyond Words, (amongst numerous other storytelling workshops, experiences, performances, trainings, and events with various master storytellers).

It doesn’t matter how shy you feel, or whether you’re a natural performer – this workshop runs deeper than that and an alchemy can happen that delights both tellers and listeners. In the company of other curious story explorers (from those who have never-told-a-story to those further along), you will have the opportunity and experience of learning how to gift others with stories you tell well and in ways that can deepen, enrich, nourish, inspire, amuse, entertain, move, encourage, outrage, and offer wonder to daily existence!

For any teachers, this workshop additionally constitutes 13 hours of non-accredited professional development for NESA.

PLEASE NOTE: The workshop runs 9-5.30pm Saturday and 12-6pm Sunday for the 5th & 6th of December

ABOUT YOUR FACILITATOR: Melaina Faranda has delivered storytelling performances across Australia and overseas. The author of seventy books published nationally and internationally, Melaina attended England’s premier storytelling course, the Emerson College residential – Storytelling Beyond Words, along with additional in-person training with Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Dr Martin Shaw, Dr Sharon Blackie, Roi Gal-Or, Karmit Evenzur, Ashley Ramsden, Shonaleigh Cumbers, Hugh Lupton, Angharad Wynne, Colin Campbell, and many storytelling luminaries in the UK and USA. A lover of the mythopoetic, she feels that to speak and listen to certain stories is to be breathed through with silver and gold. Deeply passionate about sharing skills and knowledge – she continues to teach and facilitate numerous workshops and retreats across Australia for decades to rave acclaim.

IF YOU’RE WONDERING IF THIS IS FOR YOU, THIS IS WHAT PARTICIPANTS’ SAY…

‘This was the most unexpected and magical workshop. I’ve always thought I could never tell a story and yet after a few short hours I got up and story fell out of me. I was shocked to see a dry story written on paper come to life in me and others around me. The stories that were delivered were magic and each one moved me so unexpectedly. I never knew that story could move through me and change me. I never knew a story is an entity, a being that acts upon one and acted upon by the teller. The structure of the workshop was fantastic allowing us to safely build skills, to get up and move others. What awe what wonder what delight. The primal feeling of embodying that story being and stepping into the ancestral power and wisdom was truly amazing.” Brad

‘Exquisite! What a weekend! Melaina’s knowledge of the art of oral storytelling is mind blowing. And that, coupled with her generosity of spirit to share and share and share – to support all of us to take our first steps or to deepen our practice – is so inspiring. I feel like I have been handed a magic wand. This isn’t the first of Melaina’s workshops that I’ve done and it sure won’t be the last!’ Leanne

‘Wunderbar! This was a generative workshop. Though I have trained at drama school and told professionally for many years, I found this weekend extremely magical, inspirational, and nourishing, Melaina brings her skills as a teacher, decades of experience facilitating sacred circles with her extensive training at Emerson College and storytelling luminaries, her sparkling wit and silver tongue (AND sumptuous brownies and soothing chai to create a deeply enriching weekend. YOU ARE AMAZING MELAINA – WELL DONE!’ Jenni 

‘Being a ‘non-creative’ and never having told a story, I was amazed by the fantastic collaborative experience that resulted in me being part of presenting a story on stage, and feeling good about it. From never telling a story, to storyteller on the 2nd day – was transformative. Would recommend this workshop in a heartbeat to anyone, if you feel even the slightest interest. It’s for everyone.’ Rodney

‘Amazing!! Liberated from my blockages again in stepping forward to surrender to my capacity to tell stories, including my own. Loved the structuring of it in easy stages – all leading to the freedom of letting go, surrendering to, and embracing and embodying the story, More than thankyou!!’ John

‘Thank you for a wonderful weekend. I learnt so much and enjoyed the whole experience very very much! One of the key takeaways that has stayed with me is the opportunity we have to serve people through this amazing medium – to share story is indeed a wonderful gift. Thank you so much again for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and wisdom.’ Sarah

‘Melaina created a safe and warm container to hold us in our expression and enable us to take space and show ourselves to the world. It was empowering to get the attention, encouragement and guidance to flow through story with gusto and grace.’ Constanze

‘I feel a newfound confidence and voice. The story and storytelling are such a rich and important part of our history and our knowledge base, we need to remember the importance of the story. What better way than to learn it in such a supportive environment! The tools that melaina gives us is like a life hack, it enables even first timers the confidence to tell a story. Thank you, Melaina and to the beautiful humans in the group. We need to claw back our social narrative and reclaim our birthright from Disney, AI and screens. Empower yourself with sharing this beautiful skill.’ Sara

‘I didn’t know I could learn a story in such a short time, nor did I know how to. Such helpful tools which not only highlight what matters but also strip away the need to remember everything, known everything, be perfect. It allowed me to find myself in story and feel myself as a storyteller.’ Joanne 

‘I loved being given permission to make a story mine. With practical tools, tips and tricks, it was easy to build a relationship with story. Thank you for showing me a way to learn, embody and share stories.’ Rene

‘So much generosity and a sense of belonging role modelled reduced the pressure of getting it just right. I was given the space to feel the story on my terms in my way with tools gifted to make the process and journey possible. A gift of genuine collaboration anti-competitive. A panacea for these times we find ourselves in. Much love and thank you.’ Nicole

‘Thank you so much! I really loved how you created sacredness, beauty, safety, reassurance, inspiration and care. You are truly amazing and I deeply appreciate you. I loved how you structured this course, giving us tangible techniques and experiences while holding, scaffolding and believing in us all. I so appreciate the effort, time, preparation and care. I love your generosity and how you encouraged us to connect to story. My world is more beautiful because of you. I love how you connected us allt o the wisdom, joy, love in our bones by giving us bones! I want more please! Can we possibly experience a week long immersion into your world? I feel the weaving of purpose is now in story, by story, through story, as story. Thank you.’ Kelda

‘Entering the workshop, I didn’t quite know exactly what to expect. I let the weekend unfold and even after some moments of thoughts coming over me that suggested, possibly, ‘Larna what are you doing here?’ I let go of these thoughts and realised it was perfect that I was. I met so many beautiful souls, who I’m sure I will cross paths with again, but also you Melaina, you guided the workshop in such a safe manner. I have no experience in storytelling professionally, but my intention is to write and deliver stories to children some day, which I often create with my regular sitting with my young nieces and nephews. Thank you, Melaina, I discovered parts of my soul self that I haven’t yet discovered after many years of ‘healing’ and realise I feel more able to storytell. So wonderful and I adore your words and approach to everything in story and life.’ Larna