Mutmacher fairy tale
The classroom of the Hamburger Förderschule is fairytale-like: sitting cushions and candles form a large circle on a large oriental rug? Surrounded by a dim light and three collapsing walls made of large ornate cloth towels. Susanne Coy sits at one end of the rug. She takes a deep breath, then starts with the familiar words of Grimm's fairy tales: "Once upon a time ..."
With her whole body, her hands, facial expressions and language, the 64-year-old embodies the history of the people, captivating the 13-year-old students again and again. without book, without disguise. With her listeners, Susanne Coy has chosen a demanding audience: they are in the middle of puberty and have difficulty concentrating. But she also knows how to win for herself: Coy is a trained storyteller.
More and more people want fairytales
Storytelling is back in fashion. There are more and more who can be educated to bring people of all ages the old folk wisdom closer. This is possible, for example, in the European Fairy Tale Society in Rheine, where Susanne Coy also completed her training: "We offer a variety of courses that include fairy tales and narrative training," explains Sabine Lutkat, Vice-President. You can even take a voluntary final exam there.
Even if one can not usually live by storytelling alone, the demand also determines the supply. Means: More and more people want to hear fairy tales. For example, in the pre-Christmas season last year, Susanne Coy had more orders than ever before. The reason for the newly discovered need for fairy tales is probably the moral of the story: the good is rewarded, the evil is not. An image that is counteracted by reality, especially in times of financial and economic crisis, in which bank managers despite mismanagement collect severance payments in the millions. "There is much wisdom in fairy tales," says the narrator. And adds, "Fairy tales encourage you." After all, it is always about an emergency, the way to solve the problem and a happy ending. Many adults see this as part of their own lives? with a decisive difference: In the fairy tale everything is simple, always following the same rules. Many seem to long for this simplicity.
It is mainly women over 40 who turn to storytelling. The reasons are manifold: the search for a new challenge during the pension, the desire to tell his grandchildren. "Often women just tell the hole they feel when their children are out of the house, looking for something that they enjoy doing," says Hanna Dose, director of the German Wesersagen Museum in Bad Oeynhausen. A positive side effect: "Many go through a fantastic personality development through the training language and charisma get a whole new boost," says Dose.
Ongoing new stories are added
If you meet Susanne Coy, you know what the museum director means. Her pronunciation is very clear, her sentences are fluent without annoying uhs and ohms. Six years ago she started her education, three years ago she passed her exam at the European Fairytale Society. Meanwhile, the 64-year-old is booked two to three times a month.
She has over 40 stories in her repertoire, from Austria, Scandinavia, the Balkans and Russia. And from the Brothers Grimm. Ongoing new stories are added. "A good storyteller learns the stories inside," says Susanne Coy. The narrator must have pictures in mind, as vivid as in a movie. Only then could he convey it to his listeners.
Until she masters a text perfectly, Susanne Coy has to read it aloud 40 to 50 times. She types it off and rewrites it several times so that it takes shape - and thus a piece of her personality. Her voice trains the narrator by doing regular sound yoga and singing the chakra's scale up and down. "That sounds pretty esoteric, but it helps," says Susanne Coy.
She can not live off her income as a storyteller. Storytelling is more a vocation for Coy than a profession, because folk wisdom has been with them all their lives: "The longer I do that, the more I realize that fairytales have been around me since childhood." For her fairy-tale lessons, Coy demands only a lower fee in order to facilitate performances in institutions such as the Hamburger Förderschule. The Mutmacher fairy tale is finally there for everyone.
Here you can train to be a storyteller
You also want to train as a storyteller? Keep your eye on the seminar, because many black sheep are romping among the training centers. We will give you selected addresses that offer serious training.
European fairytale society in Rheine
The European Fairytale Society (EMG) is considered one of the most important, if not the most important, fairytale institution in German-speaking countries. It brings together scientists and practitioners, organizes congresses several times a year. She also offers numerous seminars on fairy tales and storytelling for beginners and advanced learners. These usually take a long weekend and cost several hundred euros. If you have completed ten courses and at least 30 fairy tales in the repertoire, you can voluntarily take an exam and is included in the list of recommended by the EMG storyteller. Here you will find more information.
Puppet Theater College in Bochum
The puppet theater Kolleg offers an extra-occupational training for storytelling. In 2010, she will be offered twice with two different instructors. The training takes place throughout the year on different weekends and costs a total of 1105 euros. Depending on the instructor, the focus varies. Finally, a public narrative evening is organized in which the participants receive a certificate. Here you will find more information.
Stuttgart fairytale circle
The Stuttgart Fairytale Circle offers a basic education in storytelling. On ten evenings you will be trained in fairy tale and speech training. On the closing evening, the real situation of a performance is simulated in front of the audience. The graduates of the different vintages meet once a month to exchange ideas. Here you will find more information.
Swiss fairytale society in Ersingen
The Swiss Fairytale Society (SMG) offers various events such as courses, seminars, workshops and symposia on the subject of fairy tales, myths and legends. You also manage a list of recommended storytellers. Here you will find more information.
German Fairytale and Weser Museum in Bad Oeynhausen
The Deutsches Märchen- und Wesersagenmuseum organizes a fairy tale story on the first Friday of each month. A narrative circle meets regularly every 14 days on Tuesday evening (outside school holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia), where you can exchange views with other narrators and has a forum to introduce new tales to a small, expert audience.This free narrative circle is a good accompaniment to Seminars and Courses Here you will find more information.
Fairytale forum Hamburg
The Märchenforum Hamburg offers regular meetings where storytellers tell their new songs in a smaller circle. In addition, seminars are included in the program and larger events such as the 2nd fairy tale festival in the Museum of Ethnology Hamburg on 30 and 31 January 2010. Chairman is our storyteller Susanne Coy. Here you will find more information.
Frankish saga and fairytale circle
The Fränkische Märchen- und Sagenkreis regularly offers narrative evenings on certain topics, as well as further education and seminars for educators and other interested people with previous knowledge. The fairytale circle is considered one of the most active in Germany. Here you will find more information.
