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Laura Simms
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Workshops and Performances by storyteller Laura Simms.
Laura Simms
Storyteller ~ Writer ~ Activist

"Irresistible! A major force in the revival of storytelling in America."

~ New York Times ~
Laura Simms is an internationally renowned storyteller, writer, teacher and activist committed
to excellent performances and compassionate action in the world.

Her groundbreaking work combines ancient myth and fairytale with personal narrative.

Presently, Laura is telling stories throughout the world as well as creating projects through her
humanitarian organization GAINDEH PROJECTS (translates as the first rays of sun
in the morning from the Mende language), consulting on TV pilots, working with people in crisis,
and saving a zoo (or relocating animals to more appropriate zoos) as a community renewal initiative in Romania. Read the latest March ZOONEWZ.

Now her work expands further as she includes her adopted son Ishmael Beah in her work.
See Laura's new page about her life with this remarkable young man,
author of the New York Times bestseller "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier."


Please read about Laura's shows, mentoring and study opportunities and the fabulous books,
cds and tapes available in our marketplace.
 
Photo Credit: Kent Miles

New Essay
Read Laura Simms's "Being in the Story: Achieving the Impossible"
Download the essay here (costs $.20)
Laura Simms recounts two weeks spent with Gypsy children in Romania, using invented storytelling to achieve the seemingly impossible. This essay is part of a series on creative applications of story in peacemaking, healing, bridge building and reconciliation processes in groups and communities around the world.
Laura's essay was selected as one of two essays to be published in the online service,
 "The Storyteller and the Listener Online (Blog)"

Upcoming Public Performances/Events
Thursday, February 7
Salt Lake City, time place to be announced.
Public event at the University of Utah
The Environment and the Power of Story

Reading, Storytelling and Conversation with
author Ishmael Beah, Laura Simms, and Terry Tempest Williams
For information contact Heidi Camp.
Workshop continues Friday evening and Saturday morning
for students oat the University of Utah Dept. of Environmental Studies
For more information contact Alexandra Hesse at The Leonardo
801-531-9800
Look for the Digital Release of two classic Laura Simms titles 
"Dance Without End" and "Women and Wild Animals"
coming in Spring 2008 at BetterListen.com
Study Storytelling with Laura Simms
November 15 through April 2008. 
Laura's Storytelling Mentorship Program
Each participant commits to working with Laura and other mentees for six months. Full details here.
Tuesday, April 1
Children’s Author Symposium: Home Is Where the Heart Is

William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ

Saturday, April 12
16th Annual Conference, Storytelling for Children
"Why are Stories Powerful?
Keene State College, Keene, NH

Monday, April 14, 4-5:30 pm
“Sweet Words: Storytelling as Compassionate Action”
Part of a 5-day conference with the Dalai Lama | Seattle, WA

Friday and Saturday, April 25- 26
33rd Annual Rocky Mountain Storytellers’ Conference
Broomfield, CO
“Storygarden: From Seeds to Blossom”


June 29 - July 3, 2008
Plan now to attend the
Laura Simms Annual Storytelling Residency
Philo, California


See full performance/workshop schedule and workshops/coaching/mentoring programs page


Recent Writings

Ocean of StoriesAN OCEAN OF STORIES. Laura has recently completed a 31-story, 29-country assembly of international stories. An Ocean of Stories is part of the SEED Water Project where you can explore folktales about water from around the world and find activities that will help you create stories—from your own imagination or by working with others. These stories are offered to inform, inspire and delight. But mostly they are offered to be shared and to remind us of our common human history and our dependence on water to keep us alive.

BEING IN THE STORY: Achieving the Impossible by Laura Simms. Laura recounts two weeks spent with Gypsy children in Romania, using invented storytelling for peace and empowerment.

Books by Laura SimmsBooks by
Storyteller Laura Simms

List of all products.

The Robe of Love: Secret Instructions for the Heart. "Readers will savor every step of the journey that Simms creates in this work.... As she transports us, she also leads us to sense that the union we most long for is with our own innermost being."  -Publishers Weekly
Becoming the World is a powerful workbook developed for storytellers, teachers, child psychologists, social workers, and caregivers of all sorts and ages to use storytelling as a inner guide to uncovering tolerance and wisdom. Published by Mercy Corp.  Read about it here.
A Key to the Heart
and Other Afghan Tales
. Afghan tales in both Dari and English. A 66-page full color book illustrated by schoolchildren in NYC and in Afghanistan created as a partnership between Laura and Chocolate Sauce to benefit the education of Afghani children. Book is featured at ABC Carpets as part of their new social action mission; sold at the UN bookstore, and Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is sending books to Afghanistan to soldiers for them to personally give to a family. Winner, Storytelling World's Best Story of 2004 Award. Read more about it here.
Stories to Nourish the Hearts of Our Children in a Time of Crisis
. Story booklet created response to the WTC Tragedy, given to schools and families. Generously printed by Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation. Read about it here.


  Stories, Essays, Discussions, and Teachings 

Storyteller Laura Simms telling at PS 232

Projects about the World Condition
    • Laura's article/blog: "Being in the Story" Laura recounts her project with Gypsy children in Romania, using a zoo and invented storytelling for peace and empowerment. 
    • Mariatu: Disarmed for Peace (4-page pdf brochure) Laura is artistic codirector with Mariatu Kamara of a project to reunite a theatre troupe of 25 child amputees, victims from Sierra Leone's gruesome civil war. Mariatu, one of the troupe's members, currently lives in Canada and is a representative of Unicef. A documentary film produced by Susan McClelland, and other performances may come from the Summer 2008 project. Read more here. 
Laura Simms tells at NYU Tsunami benefit   Laura Simms at McCarren Park
Above left, Laura Simms tells stories at a Tsunami Benefit sponsored at New York University in February of 2005.
 
The Laura Simms Studio
814 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Email  |  Fax 212-982-4469

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