Storyteller and writer Kay Elmsley Weeden, la Cuentista Lista, will mesmerize and engage you with stories and activities that could “make tortillas dance.” Audiences join in helping to bring the tales to life, singing, chanting and clapping with the characters. Traditional dances, song and rhythms are shared by all, smiling and laughing, leaving them wanting more.
Kay’s methods stimulate curiosity and heighten the imaginations of her listeners, helping them to expand their horizons of others’ cultures and languages. It’s not just stories – it’s learning disguised as high-energy, fun entertainment.
Kay began storytelling more than twenty years ago while she was teaching Spanish in the public schools. Since then she has been storytelling around the Midwest in schools at all levels, bilingual schools, libraries, and festivals, as well as in Costa Rica . She says, “I tell stories to share humor, language and life’s lessons. It is a wonderful way to directly involve people in something you love to do.”
Kay was chosen as a featured teller for the annual Wisconsin Storytellers Gathering in 2004 and 2007. She was also invited to perform in the annual Tellebration celebration in 2006 and 2007. She is a member of Wisconsin Storytellers, Northlands Storytelling Network, Madison Storytelling Guild, and the National Storytelling Association.
“Kay is an exceptional storyteller. She is captivating to both children and adults. She interacts with the audience intelligently, responsively and bilingually! Please continue to include her in your selections for future presentations. She is awesome!”
Elizabeth King, Madison Public Library, Madison , WI
“Kay presented a ‘how – to’ program on storytelling to our middle schoolers, a hard age to work with. They were all completely enthralled with her stories and the activities she had them do. Best of all, you can see how the students are using her ideas in our storytelling unit. The students just finished their tellings, and they were the best I’ve seen in the years I’ve been doing the unit. I truly felt that most of the students stepped into the role of storyteller during their presentations, with some actually ad libbing fluently on the spot… Hopefully we can make this an annual partnership!”
Paul W, 7 th grade English and Reading teacher, Slinger Middle School, Slinger, WI
“I really liked the different voices and words she used. She told us some stories with Spanish and then she told one with an English accent, too. She was funny and we all liked it.”
Samantha O., 4 th grade, St. John’s Evangelical School , Spring Green, WI
References
Paul Walter, 7 th grade English and Reading teacher, Slinger Middle School, Slinger, WI WalterP@slinger.k12.wi.us 262-644-5226
Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, Menasha , WI lochwouters@tds.net 920-967-5166, ex. 700
Susan B. Santner, Outreach Program Manager,Continuing Education Services,School of Library and Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison sbsantner@wisc.edu 608-890-0364
