Donna Dudinsky
Curator
When the pandemic began, storytellers and artists everywhere wondered when and how they would ever get to share their work, their passion. Then, little by little, storytellers began to tell stories online and a whole world came together. It has been a privilege to see and hear storytellers I had only read about. And it is a privilege to have been asked to bring some of these tellers to the Festival this year. With such a world to draw from, the choices were informed by the range, the heart, the versatility, and talent that comes shining through each of them.
In person will be Sheila Arnold from the U.S. Ms. Sheila is a powerhouse, telling folk tales, personal, and original stories. A fine writer, an engaging workshop leader, a beloved arts organizer, Sheila will be here for the entire festival. Coming in from the Netherlands is the remarkable Raphael Rodan. He weaves the old and the new, the traditional and the personal together in a unique way that raises the art of storytelling. See The Donkey’s Jaw to experience the power of these stories in person.
Coming to us online are three multi-talented tellers: Alton Chung, Mara Menzies, and Shonaleigh Cumbers. Alton divides his time between Hawaii where he grew up and Washington State. A first-rate performance storyteller, he tells folktales, historical, and personal stories. His Japanese ghost stories are spine-tingling. We are so glad he will be doing a set of traditional stories from Hawaii, a personal story – and a ghost story. Mara Menzies brings two cultures, two countries together in her stories: Kenya and Scotland. The power and beauty of her performances are magical. She will be giving a workshop and sharing folktales from Africa.
Shonaleigh Cumbers was invited to the Toronto Storytelling Festival a decade ago. She had to turn down the invitation because she was getting married that week. In the hopes she can make it in person next year, we are giving you a taste of what she brings to the storytelling world. A story and a talk about how she learned 3000 stories in a tradition passed down for generations.
Biography
An award-winning documentary film producer, Donna Dudinsky gave up the world of film and television for the world of storytelling. She’s been telling stories professionally, in English and in French, for more than 20 years. Telling old tales to the young at heart, she specializes in folk tales from around the world, often blending music into her performances with a variety of French-Canadian folk songs and traditional ballads. Donna has told at storytelling festivals, schools, libraries, and concerts across Canada and was selected for Canadian Children’s Book Week. A frequent host and teller at 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling, an organizer of concerts live and online (including Toronto Tells and Dream in High Park), Donna works tirelessly to promote the art. Since the pandemic began, Donna has been invited to perform at concerts in England, the U.S. and India. She currently runs Storytelling Toronto’s StoryTent, a weekly open mic story session where everyone is welcome to share a story.