Upcoming & Ongoing

Upcoming performances and workshops:

• September 13, 2010: Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium, Heusenstamm, Germany.

• September 15, 2010:  “Keeping the Promise”, Weibelfeldschule, Dreieich, Germany.

• September  20 – 24, 2010:  Intensive Storytelling Workshop, Nell-Breuning Schule, Rodemark, Germany.

• Oct. 19 – Nov. 23, Tuesday evenings: 6 week storytelling class at Langara College in Continuing Education, Vancouver, British Columbia. This is a multi level class.  As well as women, men are of course welcome. (In case anyone is confused by the absence of men in the class photo below.)

storytelling-class-photo Storytelling: Creating Story, Sharing Story

Each one of us has an important story to tell. Using a combination of physical, written and oral exercises, participants will craft a tale for oral presentation. Guided by a professional solo artists and storyteller, in a supportive environment, student are encouraged to to discover their own unique expression and to develop a lively and intimate relationship with their audience. $169.00, 6 Tuesday evenings – Oct. 19 – Nov. 23, 2010 6:30 – 9:30 pm.

“By far the best course and best instructor I’ve ever had at night school. Teacher very responsive to our needs. ” Rick Juliusson, Director of Non profit organization, fund raiser.

“Helen is wonderfully encouraging, an inspired teacher with much depth and knowledge about the craft.” Carol Nakonechny, retired teacher/ spiritual seeker.
“Helen Mintz’ storytelling class is an exciting and deeply creative environment. Helen is gifted in helping us both to find true value in our life experiences and to transform them into oral narratives.” Annie Lanteigne, primary teacher.
“Crazy as it sounds, “graduating” from this 8-week class means more to me in terms of overcoming my fears and believing in myself than my entire 4-year Bachelor degree.” Cara Harper, corporate trainer/motivational Speaker.

If you have any questions about the class, please contact Helen at hmintz@telus.net. To register, call 604 323 5332.

For those unable to attend the class, I continue to mentor individuals on their storytelling journey.

Exciting projects and activities:

•  July 25 – August 20, 2010: With the objective of improving my Yiddish language skills and increasing my knowledge of the culture of Vilna Jews, I will be participating in the month long Vilnius Summer Yiddish Programme in the Vilnius Yiddish Institute, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.

PT59_tall_tamare_sm-3• I am translating a collection of stories about Jewish Vilna from Yiddish into English. The stories were written by Abraham Karpinovitch. One of these stories entitled Tall Tamara (Tamare di Hoykhe) was published in the Spring edition of Pakn Treger, the Journal of the National Yiddish Book Centre. To read this wonderful tale and get a taste of Karpinovitch’s work,

www.yiddishbookcenter.org/pakn-treger/09-09/tall-tamare

Stay tuned for the publication of the entire collection.

• Beverly Dobrinsky (of Zeelia) and I are creating a show about relations between ethnic Ukrainians and Jews both in Ukraine and in Canada. We are thrilled to have the support of the Canada Council for this project.

• I am involved in the Yiddish Voices Project. Working with the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia, the participants in this proejct will  interview native Yiddish speakers living in BC.  By interviewing people in Yiddish, we are giving them the opportunity to speak about their experiences in the language in which they lived them. One of our objectives is to help preserve the rich and diverse dialects of Yiddish.