If you think a story is merely pages in a book, ask Mindy Donner. For her, a story is a shared experience, a family ritual or living history lesson.
In the tradition of raconteurs throughout the ages, Donner has honed the art of storytelling for education and entertainment. She will present some new yarns at the sixth annual Storytellers of San Diego Festival at Encinitas Library on March 19. At the all-day event, Donner, 70, will whip up tales of Hungarian delicacies in the “Food, Glorious Food” segment of the festival, as a chef prepares edible treats for listeners. In the past, she coordinated a Holocaust survivors series for the festival and has presented myths and folktales in the oral tradition.
A Waldorf-trained teacher, she also works in puppetry and led a Cal State San Marcos course on how to use visual arts, theater and music in the classroom.
Donner, who lives in the Talmadge area of San Diego, gives us the skinny on stories.
Q: Please describe what you do. A: I work as an arts educator, puppeteer and storyteller. Currently, in education, I am a teaching artist with Title 1, “Learning through the Arts” at Rosa Parks Elementary. In that capacity, I partner with teachers in their classes to make the curriculum most lively through the arts.
Q: How did you become interested in storytelling? A: During my Waldorf teacher’s training, I became smitten with storytelling! We learned and practiced storytelling in front of each other. Whew, that was awe-inspiring and scary in front of all adults! And my dad used to become fanciful characters, and we made up stories when I was young.
Q: How do you prepare to tell a story? A: I prepare my oral folktale stories in advance, learning largely from books. I may improvise movement, phrases and audience banter. Usually my movement is choreographed — that’s my training. Now, to a horse of a slightly different color, my puppet theater plays are written by me in scripted format.
Q: What is your favorite story? A: Truly, “Sealskin, Soulskin,” from “Women Who Run with the Wolves,” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, is my signature story. It is a stark folktale from indigenous tellers from the Arctic area, about a seal-woman who is captured by a hunter — a genre of folktales told by sea-faring communities worldwide.
Q: Please tell us about the Holocaust survivors’ stories you coordinated. A: My most memorable coordinating task for any of the festivals was that of meeting the unique Holocaust survivors of San Diego and hearing stories from at least five of the survivors. I volunteered to go out and meet survivors, and take down their stories at their homes, getting to know them a bit, and photographing them, as well. It was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life! Each survivor’s candor, warmth, courage and generosity shone through each story. Almost needless to say, their story segment was so memorable and well-attended.
Q: How can storytelling be used in the classroom to enhance academic subjects? A: Storytelling is a natural way to engage learners to investigate the subject matter further. Who doesn’t love a good tale? Biographies of great scientists, mathematicians, as well as leaders in every field are inspiring. One eighth-grade teacher in Escondido dressed up as Charlemagne to tell the rather violent story of the unification of Europe in the 800s. I made her a mustache. She was superb! If history is story-told, students will perk up; too many dates are laborious to read and hear.
Q: How can families incorporate storytelling into their traditions at home? A: Families can incorporate storytelling at birthdays, holidays, and as a regular occurrence after dinner, allowing each family member the opportunity to “tell” about their day — or make up a tale. Children love hearing any elder, including brothers and sisters, tell a story that starts out, “When I was about your size ...” or “In the time of my grandmother’s grandmother ...” or “When I was in kindergarten ...” We are all curious about what our parents were like when they were young. Storytelling shapes memories in a way that connects the older family members to the younger ones.
Q: What are the historical roots of storytelling? A: Historical roots of storytelling stem from our earliest human culture passing down the origins of everything through our myths. During the so-called Dark Ages in Europe when great books and literature were burned, stories went forth from the wandering minstrels, our bards, from town to town. All tribes and cultures have had particular people who learned hundreds of stories, through which the history of a culture was preserved and transmitted. Certainly, parents have always told stories to their children. It is, perhaps, the earliest form of teaching and learning. It is no coincidence that Shakespeare, who reinvented and repurposed many ancient stories, is known as The Bard.
Q: What is new for this year’s storytelling festival? A: In keeping with the World Storytelling Day’s theme of “Strong Women,” three of four participants in “Olympians: Faster, Higher, Stronger” are women. Another “Real People, Real Stories” segment will be “Incoming” with So Say We all in partnership with KPBS radio — stories from three veterans. Tempting palates as well as ears, “Food, Glorious Food: Stories from the Kitchen” will feature Chef Rosie Huffman, cooking up some appetizers for the audience.
Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you? A: I am an introvert.
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend. A: My ideal San Diego weekend is to go stand-up paddling in the bay, and go to a theater performance, especially if someone I know is performing in it.