Moonlight Storytelling... Folklore and more from Guyana...

Guyana Cultural Association launches it's 2011 Season with Moonlight Storytelling. Full Moon Storytelling Night: Folk Tales and Tellers from Guyana

This special event outside St. Stephen’s Church will feature Guyanese folk tales told by the light of the full moon. Featuring the stories of George Davidson, Winston "Jeggae" Hoppe and others from the Guyanese community with special guest tale teller Tammy Hall. Meet outside the church; in case of rain, inside the church. Click here for directions

Presented by Brooklyn Arts Council in cooperation with the Guyana Cultural Association

WHEN: Wednesday, June 1, 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: St. Stephen’s Church
E.28th St and Newkirk Avenue (East Flatbush

Artist Bios

Robin Bady is a storyteller who draws upon world folklore, fairy tales, oral traditions, ghost stories and literature for fun interactive storytelling performances that educate as well as entertain. With guitar and songs, movement and madcap characterizations, she brings her stories to joyful life, creating an electric and engaging rapport with her audience. Her storytelling connects us to each other across cultures, traditions and time, powerfully reminding us that we are all members of one world family.

Grace Chapman is an educator, folklorist and performance artist. Over the past twenty years, Ms. Chapman has developed curricula to enhance learning through use of the creative arts, with a focus on underserved student populations. Recognized as one of Guyana’s leading performance artists and folklorists, she has written, directed, and appeared in several critically acclaimed productions which explore diverse themes of Guyanese/Caribbean history, culture and folklore. These presentations include The Green Bottle, Ghost at El Dorado, and Ol’ Higue.

George Davidson was born in Guyana in 1938. He has lived in Brooklyn for many years, but he retains traditional folktales learned from his mother and father when he was a boy and others learned later from his wife. Some of these tales have an African lineage, such as the Nansi spider trickster tales. Others are part of a broader lineage of malevolent female shape-shifter and witch stories, such as Ole Higue (Old Hag), told in different traditions throughout the world. George exemplifies the kind of traditional storytelling that is culturally specific, learned informally and performed in intimate settings on moonlight story nights.

Tammy Hall, a former New York City teacher and advocate for literacy, has been called “Storyteller Supreme” and conducts storytelling and writing workshops throughout the greater metropolitan area. As an African-American and native of Clarksville, Tennessee, she draws from her black southern rural heritage to deliver an unforgettable tale. Listening to wonderful stories at the foot of her first and most memorable storyteller, her father, had a profound effect on her life. Ms. Hall believes storytelling to be an artistic, expressive way of bringing people together and guiding them on a journey of the world’s cultures, peoples, and landscapes through imagination.

Winston "Jeggae" Hoppie is well-known in his Brooklyn community as a percussionist and poet. As a drummer for the Spiritual Baptist Church, he plays for church services, weddings, and funeral wakes. He has expert knowledge of Guyanese folk traditions in music and story. He performs traditional story genres from Guyana such as the ballad “Uncle Joe,” the story song “Jane Engaged,” as well as legends associated with the bottle genie called bakou.

Event Flyer

Source

NJ Senator to be honored at CABA's 2011 Gala Dinner

The Caribbean American Business Association of New Jersey to honor State Senator

MAPLEWOOD, NJ, - May 23, 2011: -- The Caribbean American Business Association (CABA) of New Jersey will be hosting its annual Gala Dinner on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the Newark Liberty Airport Marriott Hotel. Tickets are $100.

Presided over by founder Vincent Huggins, the six year-old not for profit organization has garnered support in its short history form New Jersey’s elected official like Congressman Donald Payne, Senator Ronald Rice and former Governor Jon Corzine and several Counsel Generals from many Caribbean countries.  Mr. Huggins is also the founder of National Staffing Associates which has been doing business for more than 20 years in Essex County, NJ providing staff for medical and other health care facilities.

Annually the group honors those who’ve helped foster an economic and cultural growth and improvement by visionary business leaders who contribute and support many in New Jersey and its Caribbean American community and the greater Diaspora. The Gala Dinner will honor Senator Rice this year among the stalwarts who in public service in Essex County; along with East Orange General Hospital and others.

L:- R:-- Congressman Payne accepts award from CABA President, Vincent Huggins

Past honorees include Judge Julien Neals, Corporation Counsel for the City of Newark; as Corporation Counsel, Judge Neals manages attorneys who practice in areas, including Contracts & Legislation, Labor, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Tax Appeals & Tax Abatements, Workers’ Compensation and Municipal Prosecutions and Trevor Layne MD, a leading oncologist in New Jersey. They were recognized for their strength, courage, vision and commitment in upholding a positive image in the community.

For tickets and to the gala and for more information about the organization;  to join the mailing list and/or becoming a member of CABA, visit the website at http://www.cabanj.org/.