Derek Burrows Storyteller/Tradition bearer

This page is a quick overview of my work and tips for would-be storytellers and people who like telling stories and want to learn more about it.

Derek is a Bahamian born performer who grew up in a storytelling tradition. Also a professional musician he has been singing, playing musical instruments and telling folktales, myths and legends for many years.

He performs in schools, libraries, museums a well as corporate settings. He has appeared as a keynote speaker and workshop leader in these venues and in the Medical field using stories to look at diversity, healing, cross-cultural understanding and conflict resolution.

Programs available

•Folktales from around the world -
•Stories of the environment -
•Stories of Immigration
•Stories and songs of slavery and freedom -
•Stories to empower young people dealing with issues of peer pressure -
•A medieval program, Arabian nights and more.

Performances available for family events, community settings, adult venues, each program specially designed for each occasion.

Instruments include: conch shell, mbira, guitar, flutes, drum, medieval bagpipe, shakers, and more.
(for more information go here)

Workshops available

•Telling folktales - tips and techniques -
•Writing and telling the personal story
•Telling stories form other cultures
(for more information go here)

Residency programs

Students participate in storytelling performances of folk traditions, songs, stories, games and riddles from a variety of cultures including Africa, America and the Caribbean. Through language, movement, voice awareness, writing and creative imagery, children are engaged in bringing folktales and personal stories to life.

Residency goals

*To identify and celebrate children's cultures
*To introduce children to storytelling as a mode of communication
*To introduce children to the value of personal stories through performance *To teach children techniques of Oral History research using various games *To guide children in effective ways of writing their personal stories and the stories of other people using simple forms of story writing.
*To emphasize the use of voice, body and creative imagery to effectively communicate thoughts, ideas and stories to others
*To show similarities and differences between people of different backgrounds and cultures and foster an appreciation of others through storytelling.
(for more information go here)

Story tips.

1.Read the story and be sure you like it. Its easier to work on a story that you enjoy.
2.Do not memorize the story. Learn the sequence of the story. The images in the story will help you learn it.
3.Find the conflicts in the story. These will give the story energy and focus.
4.Examine the emotions in the story. All humans relate to emotion and no matter what culture we all laugh and cry and feel similar things.
5.Try re-telling the story using the information you have gained about it. I often tell it to friends in a casual way to try out my new stories.
6.Find other versions of the story to examine how the story has been changed. This is interesting to see how other tellers and writers have made their own changes to stories and can help you learn the story.
7.Explore the meaning of the story. What is this story about? What does it mean to you?
8.Look for the story beneath the story or how the story affects you own life. Every story has more that one meaning and finding various meanings makes your telling richer.
9 Practice, practice, practice. Tell it to your friends and to children and to yourself while driving in the car. Use a tape recorder and don't be afriad to talk to yourself.
(for more information go here)

Update:
Derek will be performing in Boston February 2nd to February 6th 2009
Derek will be performing in Los Angeles February 9th to 13th 2009
New: Program for Diversity Awareness Now Available