| Instructors
Stories for Life currently offers five certified instructors:
Linda Stout, Hawk Hurst,
Yostie Ashley, Janice Davin and Claire Willett.
All are listed on the South Carolina Approved Artist Roster.
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| Linda Stout |
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| Hawk Hurst |
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| Janice Davin |
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Linda Stout
Linda's enthusiastic storytelling of the traditional folktales is the ideal approach for students to model and learn. She is able to guide students to their own natural storytelling abilities, and then help students and teachers discover how story telling moves into story writing. Linda has been working with Stories for Life since its inception and first piloted the curriculum in a 5th grade classroom. From that experience she has revised and rewritten the curriculum to better serve the students and teachers. Storytelling is the oral and kinesthetic approach to writing.
An enthusiastic keeper of traditional folktales, Linda is loved by audiences of all ages as she entertains with stories from around the world. Story performances emphasize audience participation from young and old. For very young children, she occasionally shares the stage with a cast of fanciful puppets that always bring smiles and laughter as they move through the stories.
“I envy the way you incorporate song and interaction in your performance.” - Media Specialist
An educator, Linda has been telling stories for over 15 years, and continues to lead workshops on storytelling and puppetry throughout the state. She is on the South Carolina Approved Artist Roster and does school performances and residencies helping students use oral communication to develop reading and writing skills. She frequently presents programs for children, college students, and even Elderhostel!
“Thank you for sharing your gift of storytelling with us. You have shown us an exciting way to present stories and inspire children's writing and telling of stories.” - teacher
Linda is a founder of the South Carolina Storytelling Network and currently serves as editor of the quarterly newsletter Storytelling in South Carolina. Linda has a Master’s Degree in Teaching and over 15 years of experience as an Early Childhood (pre K, K, 1st & 2nd grades) teacher. She is frequently requested for her workshops for teachers of young children.
“You kept the workshop interesting & entertaining. I learned so much that I will use in my class! Thank you.” - teacher
“I want to thank you for being a part of our Birthday Book Club celebration. All children, young and old, love to hear stories and your choice of stories was perfect. The Anansi story was especially enjoyed by everyone.” - Librarian
You may contact Linda at:
703 Serotina Point
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 884-0116
E-mail: tellstories@yahoo.com
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Hawk Hurst
Hawk has offered his lively performances and artist-in-residency programs to school children and summer campers going on twenty years now! He is an eight time recording artist and an author of a children’s book entitled, ‘The Story of the First Flute’, (2003, Parkway Publishers). Whether sharing from a vast storehouse of myths, tales, or dynamic, firsthand experiences, Hawk’s stories and songs always bring the wonders and wisdom of ancient cultures to life. Many of his tales incorporate unique musical instruments, such as Native American flutes and African drums, many of which Hawk personally handcrafts. All of Hawk’s performances and residencies emphasize positive character development and the importance of finding our unique place of power and creativity within our family and in our community. Inspiring, fun, and highly educational, audience participation is a spontaneous and integral part of each show.
"The excitement and animation that Hawk brings to the classroom stimulates the imagination of children and adults alike. Most importantly, Hawk's stories go a step beyond entertaining - they have encouraged the children I teach to become storytellers, to create their own stories, and to explore the cultures from which his stories originated. As an educator, I could ask for no more!" - Jon, Durham, School Director and Teacher
Hawk’s educational background includes undergraduate (BS) degrees in both Psychology and Political Science from the University of Oklahoma, and a Masters degree in Environmental Education from AEI and Lesley College. Hawk is a long-standing member of the following professional arts organizations: South Carolina Artist Roster; South Carolina Storytelling Network; North Carolina Storytelling Guild; Southern Artistry; Lowcountry Flute Circle; and Stories for Life. He has been a featured teller at many festivals including: both the South Carolina and North Carolina State Storytelling Festivals; North Carolina Storyfest; Mountain Echoes; North Charleston Arts Festival; LEAF; Breath of Spring; and Piccolo Spoleto. He served in 2008 as the President of the SC Storytelling Network, and in 2007 and 2008 he served, along with Linda Stout, as the co-director of the Stories for Life Festival, held annually in Charleston, South Carolina.
"Our students where not only entertained by you, but they also have come out with a richer, fuller appreciation for the art of storytelling. Your dedication to the arts is a testimony represented in the quality of your work and your dedication to the field of fine arts.” Judy Winkle, Teacher and Arts Coordinator, Primary School
Hawk’s love and passion for storytelling began in his early childhood as he sat spellbound listening to his Grandpa Hurst’s exciting tales of 'dust-bowl' era, Oklahoma, which was always accompanied by a little harmonica playing. During his graduate studies with the Audubon Expedition Institute (AEI), a traveling, two-year Masters degree program in Environmental Education, he learned the inherent educational value of storytelling. Early on he joined the Boone, North Carolina based, Yarnspinners storytelling organization, where he began perfecting his repertoire while performing at numerous schools, libraries, and festivals. He has been creating and playing traditional Native American-style flutes and drums for nearly two decades. He considers himself very fortunate to have studied with some of the finest Native American artists and Wisdom Keepers across North America. His fanciful storytelling and music CD’s and his beautifully decorated Flutes are available for purchase on his website.
"You are remarkably intuitive and kind in such a way that the students respond enthusiastically to your stories and instruction. You are a gifted model for teachers and parents in encouraging positive relationships and rapport with young people." - Joy Hughes Harrell, Teacher, Middle School
"What a wonderful energy and calm you brought to our school - those stories and songs were powerful! You have a marvelous way of connecting with all of the students." - Tom Manke, Teacher, Hammond Middle School
* Fees are dependent upon the length and type of program presented and the number of days booked.
* Discounts are available, upon request, for back-to-back and block bookings.
* To book Hawk Hurst for a Storytelling Performance and/or Stories for Life Residency you may contact him at:
16 Halsey Street / Charleston, SC 29401
Home: (843) 577-2821 / Cell: (843) 819-3789
E-mail: hawkhurst@bellsouth.net
Website: www.hawkhurstflutes.com
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Yostie Ashley
Yostie thinks, "Play is My Work!" She is an active educational entertainer from Florida. Her undergraduate and graduate degrees are from Florida State University and the University of South Carolina. Puppet props and storytelling are presented in Around the World International style through hand, hand-rod, marionette, shadow shows, and body puppets! Chants and songs along with puppetry motivate each session. Puppet making rounds out the presentations; students and teachers create a simple story puppet to use at home, school and church.
Yostie can be reached at:
B2G 21 Lagoon Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
tel: 843-341-2338
e-mail: yostie_a@yahoo.com
www.yostiesfunstuff.com
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Janice Davin
Janice Davin is an educator and storyteller. She brings to each performance her extensive experience as a classroom teacher and re respect for the enduring value of a story. Janice captures the attention and interest of her audiences by performances that come to life through words, original artwork, and music. The performance arena explodes with audience participation as listeners chant sing, rhyme, rap, and echo. Janice's stories connect fact, fiction, truth and wisdom to personal experience and character development. Janice also has created "Might-Have-Been" Bible stories that recreate the experience of an eyewitness through historically correct and Biblically accurate retellings Janice received a M.ED from UNC-G and a M.A. in Oral Traditions from the Graduate Institute, CT.
You may contact Janice at:
5225 Cane Creek Road
Waxshaw, NC 28173
Tel: 704-843-4559
email: janice@janicedavin.com
website: www.janicedavin.com
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Claire Willett
A vintage storyteller, Claire's love of stories came from her NC grandmother, but she treasure stories with humor, a twist or message. A featured teller in "Haunted History of Charleston, " she is on the SC Artist Roster. She is a charter member of the SC Storytelling Network and also NCSG. She performs in schools, festival, libraries and teachers storytelling at the College of Charleston.
You may reach Claire at:
3 Avon Court
Charleston, SC 29407-3411
Tel: 843-571-2178 FAX: 843-763-9354
email: janustales@bellsouth.net
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