2021 Summer Institutes

 Storytelling Master Classes

The ETSU Storytelling Institutes are short intensive master classes on particular topics within the field of contemporary storytelling. Established in 1992, ETSU Institute guest instructors have included many of the best-loved performers and teachers in the storytelling world. ETSU Summer Institutes are a great way for interested students to get a taste of the spirit and energy of the ETSU Storytelling Program.

These popular 3 to 5 day workshops may be attended by anyone--either for university credit or on a non-credit basis. Generally, one graduate credit hour is available per institute. In-state tuition is available to those who enroll--no matter the residence of the enrollee; however you must go through the National Storytelling Network Instructional Credit Agreement to receive this special rate.

Special Online Summer Storytelling Institutes for 2021!

Because of COVID-19, this year's Institutes will be offered online and we have adapted the schedule to be more conducive for those sheltering at home while still including the same number of contact hours as a standard face-to-face Institute. While it’s fun to come in person and take these like mini-retreats, at least by using Zoom there are no travel expenses and we are offering discounted non-credit rates for a Most Unusual Summer. You also have the choice of registering for 1 graduate credit per course and paying the normal tuition and fees.

Each Institute is capped at 15 participants so register or reserve your space soon!
 
The 2021 master classes are:

Storytelling Institute I

Wild Words and Passionate Metaphors: Reimaging the Traditional Folk and Fairy Tale with Guest Instructor Janice Del Negro

M-F July 12-16; 1:00 – 4:00 EDT – Class Sessions
Mon July 12; 7:30 – 9:00 – Janice Del Negro Concert of Stories
Thurs July 15; 7:00 – 9:00 – Student Showcase of work developed in the class.
(STOR 5830-951, CRN 52363)

Storytelling Institute II

Chicken Soup for the Chicken: Writing and Telling Healing Stories with Guest Instructor Kevin Kling

M-F August 9-13; 1:00 – 4:00 EDT – Class Sessions
Mon August 9; 7:30 – 9:00 – Kevin Kling Concert of Stories
Thurs August 12; 7:00 – 9:00 – Student Showcase of work developed in the class.
(STOR 5830-952, CRN 52364)

For Full Description of Each Institute See Drop-down Menu Below

DISCOUNTED COVID-19 PRICING FOR NON-CREDIT REGISTRATION!

  • Non-credit registration just $200 for one session and $350 for both!
  • Current students and graduates of the program pay only $125 per Institute.
  • Those taking one or both courses for graduate credit will pay the normal tuition and fees.

Low pricing info on enrollment for credit or audit for Tennessee residents who are disabled or 60 & over.

Each Institute is limited to 15 participants.
Register or reserve your space now! 

 

  • Storytelling Institute I: Janice Del Negro:  July 12-16

    Storytelling Institute I
    STOR 5830-951 (1 graduate credit) CRN: 52363
    M-F July 12-16; 1:00 – 4:00 EDT – Class Sessions
    Mon July 12; 7:30 – 9:00 – Janice Del Negro Concert of Stories
    Thurs July 15; 7:00 – 9:00 – Student Showcase of work developed in the class.

    Location: Zoom

    Wild Words and Passionate Metaphors:  Reimaging the Traditional Folk and Fairy Tale
    With Janice Del Negro

    Janice Del NegroDrawing on her experiences as an award-winning storyteller and author, Del Negro will mentor effective narrative word-craft while she uncovers the bones of the traditional folk and fairy tale through discussion, demonstration, and activities. A brief history of folk and fairy tales leads students toward mastering story structure while they investigate the narrative arc, creative characterizations, and compelling language. Group and individual exercises, including word and language games, focus on the creation of potent visual language for openings, closings, and characterizations. Students workshop developing stories in class, working with in-the-moment feedback, and will leave having successfully completed concrete tasks related to their own emerging stories as well as having acquired tools for future storywork. 

    Janice M. Del Negro, PhD, is a storyteller who excavates and decorates the bones of traditional folk and fairy tales as an invitation to others to do the same; her focus is reimagining traditional folktales to make them emotionally resonant for contemporary listeners. A professor at the School of Information Studies at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, Del Negro has been a featured storyteller and presenter at the National Storytelling Conference, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Northlands Storytelling Conference, the Mariposa Storytelling Festival, the National Storytelling Festival, the Moonshell Storytelling Festival, the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference, the Tejas Storytelling Festival, and many other celebratory events.  

    Her book, Folktales Aloud: Practical Tips for Playful Storytelling was awarded a Storytelling World Resource Award in 2015. Her most recent title, Engaging Teens with Story: How to Inspire and Educate Youth with Storytelling (2017) with Dr. Melanie Kimball, received a Storytelling World Resource Award and was named SLC/ARBA’s “Best Professional Resource for School or Youth Librarians”.  

    In 2016 Del Negro received the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award, “presented to artists who are recognized by their peers to be master storytellers who set the standards for excellence and have demonstrated, over a significant period of time, a commitment and dedication to the art of storytelling.” She currently produces Traditions and Truth: A Virtual Open Mic for Folktales, Fairy Tales, and Personal Stories, a cooperative program between Dominican University and Illinois Storytelling, Inc. Along with Megan Wells, Del Negro produces MoonShine Stories, a curated concert series held on the full moon of every month. 


     

  • Storytelling Institute II: Kevin Kling:  August 9-13

    Storytelling Institute II
    STOR 5830-952 (1 graduate credit) CRN: 52364
    M-F August 9-13; 1:00 – 4:00 EDT – Class Sessions
    Mon August 9; 7:30 – 9:00 – Kevin Kling Concert of Stories
    Thurs August 12; 7:00 – 9:00 – Student Showcase of work developed in the class.

    Location: Zoom

    Chicken Soup for the Chicken:  Writing and Telling Healing Stories
    with Kevin Kling

    Kevin KlingPeople have always used stories to cope with an unpredictable world. Challenging experiences can lead to unexpected and meaningful outcomes if we are willing to remain open to infinite possibilities.  “My near-fatal motorcycle accident left me partially paralyzed but expanded my heart in ways I could never have imagined.”  
    Recognizing our own story and how we fit in a larger picture is a means of navigating the challenges of life. Who are the families with whom we share our blood and who are the families to which we would give our blood?  How do we tell stories of our shifting identities, those we acquire through loss, discovery or altered trajectories?  
    In this course we work on turning our experiences into stories.  We will look at thresholds you have encountered and the lessons they have provided.  We will cover basic story structure and telling techniques as well as some of Kevin’s favorites including crafting the invitation, using humor, and our understanding of myth and folk tales to bring depth and accessibility to your stories. Through this course you will find how your stories contribute to the pantheon of similar journeys and where your experiences find connection with the stories of others.  And finally, we explore ways to use stories to help others navigate this ever-changing world. 

    Kevin Kling:  A renowned playwright and storyteller, Minnesota's own Kevin Kling is known for entertaining audiences with his off-kilter stories that express humor, heart, and thoughtful philosophizing.  Kevin has been awarded arts grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the McKnight Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board, among others.  In 2014, Mayor RT Rybak named Kevin the "Minneapolis Story Laureate".  

    Kevin’s message is one of resiliency. He was born with a congenital birth disorder in his left arm and a 2001 motorcycle accident led to permanent paralysis of his right arm.  Reflecting on his accident Kevin says, “As terrible as this was, I still feel blessed. And when I get discouraged, I just look at our two wiener dogs because they are the best example of a ‘can do’ attitude in a can’t do’ body." 

    He appears often at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, has been a frequent commentator for National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”.   He has authored five books, The Dog Says How, Holiday Inn, Big Little Brother, Big Little Mother and On Stage with Kevin Kling.  Kevin has produced six storytelling CDs.  His website is:  www.kevinkling.com

     


     

     

  • Registration Information

    Each Institute is limited to 15 participants. Register or reserve your space now!

    You have the choice of registering as a non-credit participant or for graduate credit. The pricing and registration processes are different for each. Please read the instructions below carefully and make sure you are registering the appropriate way for your choice.

    Questions? Problems? 
    Contact Nancy Donoval at 612-889-4043 or Donoval@etsu.edu 

    TO REGISTER AS A NON-CREDIT PARTICIPANT:

    Non-credit costs:

    • $200 for one Institute
    • $350 for both (Covid-19 Discount)
    • $125 per Institute for incoming and current students in the Storytelling Program as well as graduates of the program (includes graduate students or undergraduate storytelling minors), and members of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild.

    Register for non-credit participation in Summer Institute(s). 


    TO REGISTER FOR CREDIT:

    For credit costs:

    • $601 In-State Tuition for 1 Graduate Credit plus $10 course fee
    • $1442 Out-of-State Tuition for 1 Graduate Credit plus $10 course fee

    You can pay In-State Tuition even if you are Out-of-State if you are a member of (or join) the 
    National Storytelling Network. It’s one of the great perks of membership. Details below.

    Tuition payment must be received by ETSU by June 5, 2021.

    If you are a current graduate student in the program, register as you normally would. Then email Nancy Donoval at Donoval@etsu.edu to let her know which Institute(s) you are taking. 

    If you are not an ETSU graduate student and you wish to take an Institute for credit, you must apply for admission as a non-degree (undeclared graduate) student. Apply through the Graduate School https://www.etsu.edu/gradschool/application-instructions.php and be sure to choose the non-degree or undeclared graduate application.

    All non-degree applicants must provide official transcripts which verify that they have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Graduate non-degree students must receive approval to register for a graduate level course from the chair (or graduate coordinator) of the department offering the course. 

    After you enroll, you must also register for credit through the university registration system called Goldlink.  If you are a resident of Tennessee, pay tuition at the time of registration. If you are planning to pay In-State Tuition through the  National Storytelling Network, do not pay at the time you register. As soon as you are registered, contact the  National Storytelling Network to arrange to make payment through them.  

    Tuition payment must be received by ETSU by June 5, 2021.

    If you are enrolling for graduate credit as a non-degree student, email Nancy Donoval, at Donoval@etsu.edu. Include your name, address, email address, phone number and for which Institute(s) you are registering.

 Questions? Problems? Reserve your space?
Contact Nancy Donoval at Donoval@etsu.edu