The Story House - Retreat for Women Storytellers

In our fourteenth annual storytelling retreat we wish to create a magical space for several days where we can be with other women who also care about the powerful and elusive issues that are part of our work as storytellers. We will experiment with song, movement, writing, meditation, ritual, nature, and improvisation, to deepen our story work. Our evenings will be devoted to informal sharing of stories and song. Participants must have previous experience with storytelling but need not be professional storytellers.

The Story House is a workshop and retreat center, owned and operated by Susan Danoff. Built in 1820, the house was originally owned by Dolly Everett, the first schoolteacher in New Ipswich. The one room schoolhouse still stands across Main Street, a street of 18th and 19th century homes. A charming federal-style colonial, The Story House has two front parlors, dining room, kitchen, sitting room, four large bedrooms (each with twin beds), and a large side porch. Pine floors and fireplaces throughout lend warmth and charm. A stream runs through the back yard. To see some photos of The Story House, go to www.susandanoff.com.

The Story House is located at 121 Main Street in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, just north of the Massachusetts border, and in the heart of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. This mountainous part of southern New Hampshire remains heavily forested and is dotted with many small towns that retain their 19th century character.

Fee includes room, meals, and tuition. The first seven participants who send in their deposits will have the option to stay at The Story House. All rooms are doubles with shared bathrooms.

Fee for those not staying at The Story House (includes meals and tuition): $390.

Overflow participants and those who prefer a private room can opt to stay at a nearby Bed and Breakfast. Ihave visited all three of these inns, which are 18th and 19th century homes full of charm and gracioushospitality. Be sure to reserve your room well in advance, since the summer is very busy up here. The Birchwood Inn has three rooms that have two beds, if you want to pair up with a friend. The Apple Gate has one room with twin beds. All three have rooms with queen size beds. Most rooms have private baths.Prices range from $85 to $125 per night.

Check-in will begin at 3:00 PM on Thursday, and the workshop will end after brunch on Sunday. If you would like to come earlier or fly into the Manchester Airport, please contact Susan Danoff to make special arrangements. The airport is 45 minutes from The Story House. Susan will be happy to hire a driver on your behalf to bring you to and from the airport. Estimated cost would be $25 each way.

To reserve your space in the class please send a nonrefundable deposit of $100 made payable to Susan Danoff. The balance will be due by June 1st and is nonrefundable after that time unless someone else can fill your space.

In July we will send the list of participants and their contact information. Past participants have often enjoyed driving together.

Susan Danoff began exploring the art of storytelling in 1979 and has an extensive repertoire of international folktales and literary stories. She is author of The Golden Thread: Storytelling in Teaching and Leaning, and her most recent CD Women of Vision is a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner. Since 1986 Susan has taught intensive summer workshops at Princeton University, and she has also taught storytelling for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Friends Council on Education, the Princeton University Art Museum, and at many teacher workshops. For many years Susan worked as a teaching artist in New Jersey schools. Her latest story venture is The Story House, a gathering place in New Hampshire where storytelling can inspire creativity and community building, teaching and learning. www.susandanoff.com susandanoff@aol.com

Teresa Whitaker is a storyteller, singer and songwriter and arts educator who tells myths, folktales and personal stories. She weaves music into her work using voice, guitar, celtic harp and percussion instruments. Teresa has done extensive work with lullabies, composing her own and researching lullaby traditions, using them in a variety of settings. She works currently with parents at Yale/New Haven children’s oncology unit. She leads workshops and residencies in storytelling. Teresa is a member of the CT Performing Arts Roster, the CT Master Teaching Roster and the New England Performing Arts Roster. She was also a founding artist of the MA Cultural Council's Elder Arts Initiative. She has participated in numerous oral history projects collecting life stories and creating songs and monologues. She performs with her husband Frank Schwartz. They have two CDs; “Finding Home” and “Earth and Sky Lullaby” available through www.cdbaby.com . Born and raised in Cynthiana, KY she has a deep love for the natural world. www.teresawhitaker.com ftzj@cox.net

Registration New Hampshire Storytelling Retreat August 5 – 8, 2010

Name________________________________________________

Street_____________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip code____________________________________________________

Telephone_____________________

e-mail_______________________

Shared room/meals/tuition $540 ______

Meals and tuition (I plan to stay elsewhere) $390 ______

Please make $100 deposit payable to Susan Danoff and mail to:

Susan Danoff, 121 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH 03071

603-291-0028 or 609-439-6467

For further information you may also contact Teresa Whitaker at ftzj@cox.net or call 860-668-1535

Balance Due: June 1

Traveling to NH: You will receive a list with names and contact information of all participants so that you might be able to find others with whom you can carpool.

Dietary Information:

Food Allergies, Medical Restrictions (Can eat none):

Food intolerances (Can eat only small amounts):

Food I choose not to eat: