Emerging Storyteller Award

Part 18 - Final Post

🌟 Family and Other Support 🌟

Today, as I embark on the journey to pursue the Emerging Storyteller Award, I feel blessed and overwhelmed with gratitude for my incredible support system! 🙏

First and foremost, I thank God for making this dream possible and guiding me every step of the way. 

My pillar of strength, my husband Balaji, deserves the utmost appreciation. He's been my unwavering support throughout this entire process. He takes care of our lovely kids and manages our home with so much love and dedication, allowing me to pursue my passion for storytelling. Without him, none of this would be possible! 

To my precious kids, Vishwajit and Vishwadhika, you two are my first listeners, my little muses. Your boundless enthusiasm and love for my stories inspire me every day. No matter the genre, you both are always there to cheer me on. Your innocent joy fuels my passion for storytelling, and I couldn't be more grateful! 

Even though my parents and in-laws are miles away in India, their unwavering support and encouragement never waver. They are always checking on my progress and cheering me on from afar. Their love and belief in me push me to achieve greater heights! 

To all my friends and well-wishers, your words of encouragement and motivation have been a driving force in this journey. Thank you for being my cheerleaders! 

As I navigate through various responsibilities – taking care of kids, maintaining our home, studying for exams, engaging in volunteer work, managing health issues, and looking forward to a job – I am humbled by the love and support surrounding me.

Grateful for this incredible family and their unwavering faith in me! With your love and support, I feel ready to take on any challenge and reach for the stars! 

Part 17 - 🌟 A Heartfelt Thank You 🌟

I am filled with immense gratitude as I look back on my journey and the people who have been instrumental in shaping it. Today, I want to express my deepest appreciation to some incredible individuals who have played pivotal roles in my storytelling path and the honor of receiving the 2023 Emerging Storyteller Award.

🌟 Sarah Abusarar 🌟

You have been a constant source of encouragement and guidance. Thank you for introducing me to this prestigious award and pushing me to apply. Your belief in my progress means the world to me.

🌟 Mariella Bertelli 🌟

You are more than just a mentor to me; you are my guru, my inspiration, and the guiding light in my storytelling journey. Your wisdom and support have touched my heart profoundly, and I can never thank you enough.

🌟 Erin Beaubien 🌟

Your kindness and willingness to help have been invaluable throughout the process of the Emerging Storyteller Award. Thank you for patiently addressing all my doubts, no matter how trivial, and guiding me step by step. Your support made all the difference.

🌟 Susan Warner 🌟

Your presence at the Sudbury conference was a true blessing. Your patience and clarity in explaining the procedures of the award were exceptional. Thank you for being friendly and approachable, and for making the whole experience a delightful one.

🌟 Stephanie Holt 🌟

Sharing this incredible journey with you, another recipient of the 2023 Emerging Storyteller Award, has been a joy beyond words. Our connection, even through virtual meetings, has been special, and I cherish the moments we discussed storytelling and shared our thoughts.

To all of you mentioned above, and to countless others who have supported me along the way, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your belief in me has fueled my passion for storytelling, and I am excited to see where this journey takes me next.

Part 16 - The Special Basket 

As part of this incredible honor, the emerging storyteller award recipients (me and Stephine) were presented with a truly extraordinary gift—a special basket with its very own captivating tale.

This remarkable basket was not only woven with love and care, but it also carries the rich heritage of the Indigenous people of Canada. It is a true symbol of cultural wisdom and storytelling traditions. What an honor it is to hold this basket in our hands!

But here's the best part: Stephanie and I have been entrusted with the responsibility of sharing this basket throughout the entire year. Together, we will cherish its significance and pass it on to the deserving recipients of next year's Emerging Storyteller Award. 🌱

This unique opportunity allows us to connect with the essence of storytelling and embrace the power of narratives. We are humbled by the trust placed in us and excited to embark on this journey of passing on the legacy of storytelling. 📚

We extend our deepest gratitude to the great storytellers who have left their signatures on this remarkable basket. Their passion and dedication inspire us to weave stories that captivate hearts and ignite imaginations. We will honor the legacy and heritage it represents with the utmost respect and admiration. 🙏 

Part 15 - Other Performances

For the conference, I performed the story 'Babban Hajjam' written by Ira Saxena and published by @karaditales As part of the Emerging Storyteller Award, I had the incredible opportunity to perform the same story in three different public places.  From the Birds of Feather organization to the Parent-Child Mother Goose program and Stephen Lewis Public School, each performance brought a unique set of listeners and gave me an unforgettable experience.

It was truly fascinating to witness how the same story transformed based on the audience.  The energy, reactions, and connections varied, making each rendition of the tale a remarkable adventure on its own. 

The Birds of Feather organization embraced the story with open hearts, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that added a special touch to the performance. The Parent-Child Mother Goose program brought together families, and the joy and laughter of them truly made the story come alive. And at Stephen Lewis Public School, the young minds were eager and engaged, inspiring me to deliver my best performance yet. 

This journey as an Emerging Storyteller has been an extraordinary one, allowing me to witness the power of storytelling and its ability to connect people from different walks of life.

Part 14 - Incredible bond 

🌟 What an incredible experience! ✨ I had the honor of meeting some extraordinary storytellers at the event, and it was truly inspiring. A special shout-out to Stephanie Holt, my fellow recipient of the Emerging Storyteller Award, and her amazing mentor Judy Caulfield, as well as my own mentor Mariella Bertelli. 🙌 They were absolutely fantastic!

Stephanie and I hit it off right away, bonding over our shared experiences. We quickly became friends and formed a strong support system for one another. Throughout the entire process, we motivated and relaxed each other, always there to lend a helping hand. 🤝💪

I am immensely grateful for the connections I made and the friendships that blossomed during this journey. The power of collaboration and mutual encouragement is truly remarkable. 🌼❤️ 

Part 13 - Emerging Storyteller Award Recipient!

It was an incredible experience, and I'm overjoyed with how well my performance went! The stage was filled with enchantment as I shared my stories, and the feedback I received from the audience was absolutely heartwarming. 🙌💖 I couldn't be happier with the support and encouragement I received from everyone who attended.

I'm immensely grateful for the opportunity to showcase my storytelling skills and to be a part of such a wonderful event. 🙏✨ The stage holds a magical allure, and I can't wait to perform more and continue captivating audiences with my tales.

To commemorate this special moment, I'm excited to share some pictures from my performance with all of you. 

Photo credits: Julie Turconi and Lorraine Jeansonne 

Part 12 - Behind the scenes 😜 Sound check 😀

📢 Before the grand stage, there was a sound check! I had the opportunity to use a wireless small mic, delicately attached to my ears and clothes. It was my first time using this kind of microphone, and to my surprise, it was incredibly comfortable once fixed. Excitement surged through me as I imagined stepping onto the stage.

But, before that magical moment, I had the invaluable support of Judy Caulfield - another Emerging storyteller award winner, Stephanie Holt's mentor. Judy guided me through the essential steps, teaching me how to relax before taking the stage, where to stand, how to engage with the audience, and so much more. I couldn't have been more fortunate to have her by my side. 

Part 11 - A Journey of Inspiration and Connection 

I'm incredibly excited to announce that tomorrow is the big day! I'll be taking the stage to share my story with an amazing audience, and I couldn't be more grateful for this opportunity. 🎙️📚

Today has been such an enriching experience! I had the privilege of attending some incredible workshops on storytelling. I was surrounded by a community of beautiful souls who share the same passion for storytelling as I do. 🌈💫

What made today truly extraordinary was connecting with these experienced storytellers. Their wisdom and expertise were awe-inspiring, and I'm grateful for all the valuable lessons I learned from their incredible journeys. 🙏💡

As I prepare for tomorrow's performance, I feel a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. The power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and uplift is truly remarkable. I can't wait to take the stage and share my story with all of you! 🌟🎭

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey so far. Your encouragement and belief in me have meant the world. Stay tuned for updates as I embark on this exciting adventure! 🌟✨ 

Part 10 - 🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟

Only one more day to go! Suitcases are out, dresses are packed, car is fueled and most importantly, my story is ready. 🎒👗🚗 This Saturday, June 3, after supper, at 7.30 pm, I am thrilled to share that I will be performing my story at the SC-CC conference in Sudbury for the prestigious Emerging Storyteller Award. 🏆

I can't express how excited I am for this incredible opportunity to showcase my storytelling skills. 🎭 It's a dream come true! ✨ I'm eagerly looking forward to meeting all the talented storytellers gathered at the conference and sharing my story with them. 🗣️💫

Stay tuned, my friends, as I'll be updating this space to share how it all unfolds! 🎉✨ Your support means the world to me, and I can't wait to embark on this unforgettable journey.

Wish me luck, and let the storytelling adventure begin! 🌟📚 

Part 9 - Forgetting and Learning the Story Again

As I prepare for the highly anticipated SCCC Conference, I find myself delving into the captivating theme of "Forgetting and Learning the Story Again." I never thought how effective it would be when my mentor Mariella introduced this concept to me. This intriguing concept reminds us that in the realm of storytelling, we sometimes stumble or lose track of our narrative.

By embracing the journey of rediscovery, we can unlock hidden depths within our stories. We can explore untrodden paths, infuse our narratives with fresh insights, and offer our audience an immersive experience like never before.

The SCCC Conference serves as the perfect platform to share and explore these ideas, allowing me to connect with fellow storytellers and enthusiasts who understand the power of storytelling and its potential for transformation. So, as the conference draws near, I am excited to dive deeper into the story to polish my skills, and to take my audience on an unforgettable journey. 

Part 8 - Dive Deeper(elements and transformations in a story)

Stories have an enchanting power to captivate us, and behind their magic lies a myriad of elements and transformations that make them truly unforgettable.  From the intriguing characters that come to life on the pages to the richly woven plotlines that keep us on the edge of our seats, every element plays a vital role in shaping a story's essence.

Characters are the beating heart of any narrative, as they embark on transformative journeys that leave a lasting impact. They evolve from mere ink on paper to multidimensional beings, brimming with hopes, fears, and aspirations. The twists and turns they encounter along the way push them to face their deepest fears, undergo personal growth, and ultimately emerge as changed individuals. In parallel, the plot dances in perfect harmony, taking unexpected twists and turns, unraveling secrets, and leaving us in awe of the creative skills.

As storytellers or story listeners, we become witnesses to these extraordinary transformations, immersing ourselves in a world that reflects our own human experiences. Through the intricate interplay of elements like setting, dialogue, and symbolism, stories offer us a mirror to our own lives and a lens to explore universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. So, let's dive deeper into the realm of storytelling, where elements and transformations intertwine to create narratives that touch our souls and ignite our imaginations.  

Part 7 - Online and In person

There is always a difference between meeting online and in person. When communicating online, there is a certain barrier that prevents us from discussing many things. Recently, I had the great opportunity to meet my mentor Mariella in person for the discussion, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, our time together was not nearly enough. Meeting Mariella in person allowed me to experience her wise and in-depth knowledge of storytelling firsthand. I was able to feel just how much there is to learn in storytelling.

Storytelling is more than simply recounting stories we've heard or read. To effectively convey a narrative, we must scrutinize each scene, situation, and character, allowing ourselves to fully immerse in each moment with our imagination. By doing so, we can bring the story to life and captivate our audience with vivid and engaging storytelling.

By doing this, we can awaken our third eye - the imagination - and connect with the third eye of the audience. I learned from my mentor, while telling a story,  how to establish a connection with the audience's third eye so that they too can journey through my imagination. 

Little by little like baby steps, I am learning the art of Storytelling. Watch this space for more of my progress.

Part 6 - Listening to other storytellers

The first step to learn an art is to follow other master artists practicing the art. To learn the art of storytelling, my mentor Mariella advised me to listen to other storytellers, particularly the master storytellers. I started listening to the stories that master storytellers told for the StorySave program by SC-CC (https://www.storytellers-conteurs.ca/en/about-StorySave.html). After listening to some of their stories, I realized why Mariella suggested it. 

"I have started listening to stories repeatedly in order to enhance my knowledge of storytelling. Initially, I carefully listen to the story and then closely observe its flow, paying attention to aspects such as voice modulations, pitch variations, speed fluctuations, and how to handle different situations while narrating the story. The learning process is continuous and there are countless nuances to be grasped by listening to other skilled storytellers. Overall, it is a deeply enriching experience that helps me refine my own storytelling abilities."

Mariella, my mentor, is ensuring that I am aware of the necessary steps to take and what aspects to focus on during my storytelling journey. Had I not received the award, I would have had to practice on my own. However, I am now delighted to commence my storytelling practice with the expert guidance of Mariella." 

Part 5 - Storytelling and the language

Telling a story in a language other than your mother tongue requires effort. The emotions, voice modulations, reactions, feelings, etc will not be the same when you tell it in another language. The connection between the story and you does not come easily with other languages.

In the current world, it is impossible to stick only with your mother tongue. As English is my third language, I always felt that storytelling in English is not equivalent to expressing my thoughts as I do it in my mother tongue. The SCCC and the award gave me the opportunity to face this situation. Instead of avoiding the situation, Mariella first agreed with my view and told me how to overcome the hesitation. She suggested that I start with the stories which I love the most, which I heard for a long time and stories on which I have been thinking in my thoughts from my childhood.

Language plays a very important role in the art of storytelling. I started writing and rewriting the story in English which I am going to present in the conference. I also started reading the written story at least once a day. This makes my vocabulary strong in that particular story. Practice makes everything perfect. So does mastery over a language.

Part 4 - Conference performance Schedule and My responsibilities

Days are rolling so fast with the preparation for the SCCC conference. This year’s theme is “A penny for your thought, a nickel for a story’. There are so many classes, workshops, concerts and performances scheduled as part of this conference. On June 3rd, right after Saturday dinner myself and @Stephine Holt(fellow 2023 Emerging Storyteller Award Recipient) will be performing our stories before a huge live audience. The conference information and registration details can be accessed at the link below. https://www.storytellers-conteurs.ca/en/conference/Conference-2023-Sudbury.html

As an Emerging Storyteller Award recipient, I have some responsibilities. Those responsibilities are to perform at the conference, perform my story at three more additional venues, promote the award and submit a report at the end of all the performances to the SC-CC.

Preparation of my story is in progress and I started practicing some tricks and techniques that will help my storytelling journey. I already started spreading the news about the SCCC storytelling organization and the upcoming conference. To my surprise, many people were not familiar with the oral tradition of storytelling. This gives me a wonderful opportunity to share more about this tradition with people.  I started spreading my words in my native (Tamil language) community as well.

During my recent catch-up with Stephine Holt, she mentioned that she has some ideas to promote the award and I am so looking forward to working with her. Watch this space for more of my progress.

Part 3 - Enunciation and Different types of stories

Me and my mentor Mariella are meeting bi-weekly to prepare for the SCCC conference. We discussed the various types of stories that can be presented at the conference. After reviewing multiple stories, Mariella helped me to shortlist stories and finally select one story for the conference. After preparation, I presented the selected story to Mariella. She shared feedback and a few pointers for improvement. Along with the story presentation, I also started daily practice of tongue twisters and mouth exercises to improve my enunciation. 

Telling a story means not just telling the sentences, it also includes emotions, actions, riddles, rhymes, songs, expressions etc. There are so many types of stories and for each story, the storytelling method will differ. Through this mentorship program, I got a chance to try some different stories and storytelling methods. Every story is unique and there are so many things to learn in the art of storytelling. And the learning never ends.  

Part 2 - My Storytelling Journey

I have been reading books, listening to other storytellers and telling stories for a long time. Now, the way I tell stories is totally different - it is the storyteller’s way! Imagining and reimagining the same story again and again from different perspectives makes all the difference. I can very well say receiving ‘Emerging Storyteller award’ from SC-CC is a defining moment of my storytelling journey. 

First step to becoming a storyteller is to read and know about lots of stories. Then, to find what type of stories and style will suit well. My mentor Mariella helped me to discover the type of story that fits me well. Thus began my journey into the world of folktales. So, I found out there are abundant folktales - timeless classics from around the world. I started reading certain folktale collections recommended by my mentor. This mentorship program and the preparation for the conference will not end once my presentation is over. As I said, it is just a starting point and I am going to follow each and every tips, tricks, and practice for my lifetime. 

Part 1 - The Announcement of the Award

It gives me immense pleasure to share this exciting announcement with you. I am honored to receive the "Emerging Storyteller Award" from Storytellers of Canada(SC-CC).

My heart felt thanks and gratitude to the following people who made it possible.

@sarahabusarar - For the positive influence and encouragement.

@mariellastoryteller Mariella Bertelli- Mentor and guiding light of my storytelling journey.

Storytellers of Canada - Conteurs du Canada - Emerging Storyteller Award selection committee for bestowing with this honor.