2010 Featured Tellers
To Lead Storytelling Delegation To China

For centuries, the people of China have consistently participated in the activities of folk song, the telling of folktales, legends and myths, and have enjoyed the oral performances of drama and storytelling by professional and semi-professional entertainers. Dating back to as early as 202 BC, oral literature—narrated and chanted genres—was the primary form of historical and spiritual learning for most of the Chinese population who could not read or write.

Have you ever dreamed of embarking on an adventure to learn about one of the world's oldest and most complex cultures? Through the Nu Wa Storytelling Delegation, now you have an opportunity to experience China and learn more about the ancient art of Chinese storytelling.

Journey to the Far East for “Nu Wa Rising: A Journey To a Chinese Storytelling Village.” The trip is led by storytellers Nancy Wang, and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, known as Eth-Noh-Tec, Doug Banner and Linda Fang This is the fourth such delegation Eth-Noh-Tec has led in China, with attendees including storytellers of all levels, story lovers, and cultural adventurers as well as teachers, librarians, and other artists.

During this exciting trip, attendees will be given a chance to visit some of the most well-known areas of the country including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City in Beijing, and the Hanging Temples and Yugang Grottoes of Datong.

Participants will also visit the storytelling village of Gengcun; the rural farming community deemed “an ocean of stories.” While in Gengcun, attendees will serve as storytelling delegates by sharing, swapping, and exchanging stories with more than 100 Chinese storytellers who inhabit the village “The storytelling swap is a chance for those of us who love storytelling to serve as global citizens and share the best of who we are with the people of China,” says Linda Fang.

Jimmy Neil Smith, ISC founder and president, headed the first storytelling delegation in 1997. This delegation began when he was contacted by People To People about their citizen ambassador program. People to People has been organizing and promoting delegations like this to destinations all over the world for nearly 50 years. A group of 60, most of whom were storytellers, were in attendance for the first delegation. A special relationship with the village of Gengcun began with this trip. In order to continue building on this relationship Eth-Noh-Tec team was asked to assume responsibility for leading future trips. The September trip will be the fourth delegation lead by Eth-Noh-Tec.

The Nu Wa Storytelling Delegation will take place September 10-26, 2010 The registration deadline for the international trip can reserve is August 1, 2010. To register for this journey of a lifetime, visit www.ethnohtec.org or complete the registration form, which includes pricing and further travel details If you have additional questions or want to learn more about the delegation, contact Nancy Wang or Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo at contact@ethnohtec.org or by phone at (415) 282-8705.