ASIAN VOICES : STORYTELLING CONCERT

ASIAN VOICES , a storytelling concert, was staged at Divine Word International Conference Center, Techny, IL on March 27, 2004. Storyteller Sue O’Halloran hosted the concert that focused on stories about Asian-Heritage and personal, family and community journeys in becoming Asian-American. six participants gave moving testimonies about their journeys out of Vietnam. Professional storytellers ETH-NOH-TEC : Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo (Philippino-Japanese heritage), Nancy Wang (Chinese American), Anne Shimojima (Japanese-American) and Arif Choudhury (American born of Bangladeshi-heritage) performed captivating stories that created a rich mixture of stories, song and drumming that brought the conert to an end.

The March 27 ASIAN VOICES DAY events were sponsored by the Justice & Peace Commission of the Chicago Province of the Society of the Divine Word and Angels Studio, a communications ministry of the same Province.

Further information : www.racebridges.net

Storytellers:

Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo have shared the artistic directorship of San Francisco-based ETH-NO-TEC since its founding in 1982. Whether in recounting an age-old folk talke or a contemporary statemnt on mreate a seamless performance of music, movement and the spoken word. They bring to life the meaning of their name: ETH-NO-TECH--weaving East and West cultures into new possibilities.

Anne Schimojima has delighted youth and adult audiences of all sizes with her graceful and spirited telling of folk tales from around the world, with a special emphasis on Asian tales. Stories of magic, humor, animal antics, clever folks, and strong womenn are told in a clear, warm inviting style. A school libraru specialist for 25 years, Anne also gives workshops on the use of storytelling in the classroom and media center.

Sue O'Halloran based in Evanston, Illinois, tells stories that explore the complex issues of social justice. The Chicago Readers says O'Halloran "has mastered the Irish art of telling stories that are funny and heart-wrenching at the same time." Sue gave a keynote address at the 2003 National Storytelling Network Conference, produced and featured in four JustStories Festivals for high schools this year, and wrote, producted and hsoted a unique JustStories TV series being broadcast in Northbrook, IL at present.

Arif Choudhury of Northbrook, IL is a businessman, and a newcomer to the world of professional storytelling. Arif recently enthralled hundreds of high school students with his real-life stories of his parents' journeys, and his growing up with a different skin-color in suburban Chicago. He also presents some post 9/11 attitudes-from a different perspective.

Quotes:

“The best show I’ve ever seen”

“The feeling in the room was electric!”

“When the whole audience danced and fang together at the end, it was an overwhelming feeling of unity”

“I felt as if I received healing because the Vietnam War ripped apart all of us. Something about having the people of the country speak - brought me some healing.”

“I never thought about what it was like for the other side - the Japanese people who were on the ground when the bomb hit.”

“I was baling, absolutely weeping at the Vietnamese students. I’ll never forget the image of putting hand print into the mud house or lying in the hold of the boat selling the fish, and not knowing what freedom was, but moving toward it anyway.”

” I wish everyone could have heard this.”

“Made me proud to be an Asian American. I felt less invisible. This is such important work you are doing.”