Student new teller of old tales

By Kendra Nachtrieb
The Metropolitan

Storytellers have been retelling mankindâs history and giving explanations for the unexplainable since the first human walked on the surface of the earth.  Ancient peopleâs only textbooks were the elders that surrounded them.

This ancient art of storytelling is coming to Metro on Nov. 23 with Tellabration Î97,  ãCarriers of the Dream Wheel.ä

Tellabration is a storytelling event that began in 1988 when storytellers came together for a weekend of sharing and listening.  Since then, it has grown into a worldwide event involving people from all walks of life.

Metroâs Tellabration was organized by Sky Walker, a senior who will be the first student in Metroâs history to graduate with a degree in storytelling.


Walker has achieved this through Metroâs Independent Degree Plan, which offers students the choice of creating their own degree in areas that Metro does not offer degrees.

She combined elements from communication, anthropology and English; along with storytelling internships with professors.

She became interested in storytelling while doing work study at the Denver City Theater. She saw a brochure for a black woman who was traveling around the country as a storyteller.

A friend gave her Storytelling:  Process and Practice, a textbook by University of Colorado at Denver professor Norma Leivo. It inspired Walker to continue into the area of storytelling.

ãI just love storytelling,ä Walker said. ãIt covers different areas, and I have lerned a lot of interesting things.ä

Walker got involved with Tellabration last year but wasnât satisfied with the events.

She approached Metro theater Professor Marilyn Hetzel, who found budget money for Walker to hold an event this year.

Her goal is to attract many diverse Metro students.

ãIâd really like to see a lot of students there to experience storytelling,ä Walker said. ãI also am hoping to get some Spanish speaking peoples to come because we have two tellers from Mexico who will be speaking in Spanish and bilingually.ä

 ãIt will be a unique experience, especially for those who havenât been to a storytelling event.ä
Tellabration will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Tivoli 261. The event is free.