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Folklore-bringing folktales to life
Joan gives interactive performances of adapted folk tales
on topics ranging from Magic!, Aesop, Jack Tales, Small Animals
to Dragons and shows that highlight multiculturalism such
Chinese New Year, Japanese Sea of Gold, Latin American Celebration,
African Safari, Native American Tales, and Caravan Tales of
the Middle East. Programs are available on many themes, aimed
at varied age groups ranging from pre-school - high school.
Discounts for BTB performances, E-mail JGL1@aol.com
Time Travelers
Joan also offers Colonial Tales, the life, times, and stories
of a colonial indentured servant; A Time to Heal, remembrances
of a Civil War nurse, the Whaler's Wife, a look at life onboard
a 19th sailing vessel from a woman and her family-themes of
science, conservation, and multiculturalism, and Westward
Ho! , the trip of Narcissa Whitman on the Oregon trail. These
are one-woman shows performed in period costume. Variations
of the shows are available for
K-3, 4-6, and Jr. and Sr. High, and general audiences on museum.
library, and community stages, with special adaptations for
corporate audiences.
Writing Programs
A freelance writer with hundreds of articles to her credit,
Joan's first book for children, Massachusetts, a history book
has just been published by Scholastic. She is designated as
a Writer in Virginia, as a Poet and is available to talk to
students on the writing process for K, 1-3, 4-6, Jr., High
and Sr. High.
Programs include:
Poetry (for Jr. and Senior High) Express your deepest self-in
brief
Get a Good Start (for K and Gr. 1-3) Uses a story and focuses
on beginning, middle, end.
Tale of the Tail. Teaching writing using folklore presentation
to model a story and teach how to write a pourquoi tale.
History: A Real Story. Talk about how to research, write and
revise.
For Gr. 4-6, Jr. High, and High School.
Drawing on her book Writing Techniques for Hotel Managers,
Joan Leotta also teaches: The Art of Saying What You Mean
Cultural Interpretation for Museums
Art, History, Natural History, Science Museums
Custom story presentations to enhance audience enjoyment of
exhibits ranging from ancient Greek urns to Renoir's Luncheon
of the Boating party and Baseball. A member of IMTAL, my radio
theatre script helps children learn about World War II on
the homefront. Programs on Gingerbread Houses. Russian Saints,
Tibetan Animals, and the Ukraine's Tales of the Golden Table
have entertained audiences in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington
, DC, New York, and Richmond. Whaler's Wife, Sharks!, Sea
Turtles, are especially good for nautical and natural history
museums where my shows included, and other topics. Most programs
are custom for a particular show are thoroughly researched
and include factual material. Docent Training programs in
general presentation and storytelling also available. E-mail
for details and rates: JGL1@aol.com
Library Programming
Engaging minds and hearts through story can have few better
venues than the library, the treasure chest of stores that
helped develop my own love of books.
I have performed in libraries in many locations and have a
variety of holiday programs, summer theme programs, and more.
Interactive programs for children from ages preschool through
elementary in library setting.
- It's Magic
- Jack Tales
- Aesop
- Dragons
- Custom Program of Folklore from
a specific country, or tales on a theme
Training for librarians:
- Planning and Giving Storytelling
Programs
- Starting a Children's Book Reviewing
Group
- Starting a Children's Storytelling
Club
Teaching Storytelling, Creative Dramatics, Creativity
Part of my performance philosophy is to empower others. I
want children and adults to be able to use my performances
as a stimulus to their own creativity. I also teach storytelling
to adults and children, teach creative dramatics to children,
and creativity to parents and corporate managers. Some of
my programs are listed below:
Single Seminars:
- 1 Hour presentation on storytelling-for
children
- Beginner's storytelling seminar
for adults, geared to pre-school teachers, or librarians
or elementary teachers-each seminar is three hours long
- Using Story in the ESL Classroom
- Using Story in the Social Studies
Classroom
- Making the Link between oral and
written language through Story
- Creativity Seminar for Parents
- Creativity Seminar for Teachers
Three-five Day Residencies
- Storytelling for Pre-school teachers.
Includes performances and work with your school's staff,
teaching them, helping them choose, prepare and give a story,
evaluate and strengthen.
- Storytelling and writing-writing
presentations in elementary school introduced by oral presentation.
Length of residency depends on number of children to be
served. Includes teaching students, working with students,
creating a class play on a social studies topic-e.g. Greek
Myth, Brazilian tale, etc.
Corporate Presentations
My degree in economics and years of working as finance analyst,
program analyst, and association executive have given me a
feel for what is needed in the corporate world. Over the past
few years I have written on a variety of HR topics for many
publications, including Selling Power and Federal Computer
Week and Quinlan Publication's HR Report.
Presentations include:
- The Whaler's Wife : Dealing with
a Multi-Cultural Workforce (suitable for large meetings.
Costumed presentation ½ hour show and ½ hour
on principals with handouts.
- Say What You Mean, a writing seminar
for mid-level executives.
- Custom Presentation-to your
company's needs-writing, work on presentation skills, story
of your company, and more.
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