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Barbara’s
story begins on a Greek Island in the Aegean Sea…
“I was born in a two-room house, in a small fishing village
on the Island of Paros. In my village community, as I remember it,
there was a yiayia – a grandmother – in every house,
and I thought they were all mine. When my mother, Margarita, 9 year
old brother Yianni, 3 l/2 year old sister, Calypso and my 2 l/2
year old self, departed our Greek Island home bound for America
to join my father, Anastasios, I left with vivid images of teary-eyed
village folks, young and old, lining narrow, winding village streets,
waving goodbye. While I was only 2 l/2, I remember that day as though
it were yesterday…thus began my journey as a story teller,
story listener…”
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“This
website - like the story of my life - is a work-in-progress. I dedicate
it to everyone who has told me a story or listened to mine – especially
the students at St. Joseph’s School for the Deaf (Bronx, NY),
The Lexington School (Queens, NY) and Bernard Bragg and John Basinger
of the National Theatre of the Deaf, who taught me new ways of listening
to the world and telling my stories.” – Barbara
“Replacing the word speech with communication offers a broad domain
and may have a significant impact on future teaching strategies.”
-Source Unknown
Barbara,
an award-winning storyteller, is nationally known for performing
and producing storytelling events in voice and/or sign language
on television, in theaters, schools, libraries, community centers
and festivals. She has the unique ability to communicate with people
of all ages – hearing and Deaf - including English Language
Learners and individuals with special needs.
Her programs, designed to encourage people to celebrate all cultures
through the art of storytelling in all its forms (spoken word, sign/mime,
dance, music and visual art) represent an ethnographic kaleidoscope
of folklore around the globe and have been described as true celebrations
of diversity. Her repertoire includes: stories about her immigrant
childhood; her adult life in the bustling multiethnic borough of
Queens*; anecdotes/stories culled from 27 years experience working
with multilingual, linguistically diverse populations of all ages
and, for the younger set, popular picture books adapted for telling
center stage. |
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Barbara’s
high-energy workshops/presentations are tailored to meet needs of
clients and are recommended for staff development, sensitivity training,
parent groups, young adults, conferences and festivals.
Holds a BA in the Performing Arts from Empire State College (SUNY)
with a concentration in Total Communication and Performance. She
has studied with some of America’s leading storytellers, including
Donald Davis, Doug Lipman, Jay O’Callahan, and Bernard Bragg
and John Basinger of the National Theatre of the Deaf. |
*Since
the spring of 2002 Barbara has facilitated on-going Story Sharing
Workshops sponsored by the Flushing Jewish Community Council. During
these gatherings she has exchanged stories with immigrants from
Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South
America, The Caribbean and folks born and bred in the U.S.A.
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