How do we tell stories with our bodies? How can rhythm enhance our message? 

Heather Rodocker, middle school dance director led us for the second time this year, through a fun and liberating workshop, where we discovered a new language to tell stories, the language of dance.

Rodocker joined SAS in 2005. Her husband Geoffrey Rodocker is the director of athletics and activities for SAS Community Sports and Activities (CSA). Their daughter Mia is a third grader. 

Rodocker has a bachelor's degree in exercise health science, theater/dance, and a post-baccalaureate in K-12 education. She is passionate about dance/movement education and loves working with students to help them grow as individuals and become lifelong, confident movers. 

The Storytelling Club SAS received several requests to repeat this workshop, both from the previous participants as well as from other members, so we had to do it again! We are so grateful to Heather Rodocker for her time and enthusiasm in sharing her passion with us.

Heather introduced word and movement from the very first moment, as a form of expression, and we couldn’t help ourselves from dancing the whole workshop through! She demonstrated the guided movement-interpretation of a poem. 

Soon, it was our turn to work with a partner and figure it out...so fun!

Finally, the group created an ensemble interpretation. 

It resulted in a beautiful choreography even though it was mostly improvised by each one assuming a certain role in the poem.

Ensuring that we had a clear start and ending with a three-second pause, clearly made a difference when interpreting this poem.

We made lots of personal discoveries. Here are some of the discoveries that participants shared:

• For a long time, I have wanted to move to a story, so I’m truly grateful that the Storytelling Club SAS has created a platform so that I could finally try
• Music and dance make people feel lighter and happy
• You can be more creative when telling your story through movement
• It was interesting to see my partner’s interpretation of the same text, it was a way to see into her mind; it’s ok to have different perceptions and to express the same thing differently
• There’s a certain way to show certain words, so I feel more comfortable now to tell stories because I know I don’t have to rely solely on my voice, but I can also use my body to express myself and help my audience make meaning of what I want to share
• I felt released when dancing and I learned to relax as well when telling stories.

You (think!) never told a story before and would like to get started?
English is not your first language, but you enjoy telling stories in your mother tongue?
The Storytelling Club at SAS is the perfect safe space to get started. Join like-minded people from the SAS community, discover the storyteller within you, and have fun in our workshops and meetings. 

The Storytelling Club at SAS has two events left for the school year of 2017/18:
Wednesday, May 9, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the PTA Office – “Sharing Personal Stories”
Tuesday, May 15, 3.30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at room P 314 – Story Tellers feST (by Students)

We will be taking suggestions for activities & events next year and also dedicate time to share true personal stories.

The topic inspiring the true personal stories is: 
REMEMBER WHEN YOU WENT ON A HOLIDAY TRIP?
- Something important that you took or forgot to take?
- What happened that was awesome or that you wish it will never happen again?
- and other ideas that will naturally occur to you as you listen to others share their stories!

Come enjoy a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental space and share the gift of story.

The Storytelling Club @ SAS monthly meetings are free for adults from the SAS community.
To get updates about events and workshops organized by the Storytelling Club at SAS:
1. Join the Facebook page.
2. Send an email to the organiser at: gavin.ana@gmail.com.

The Storytelling Club @ SAS is organized by Ana Sousa Gavin, a SAS parent and professional storyteller and coach. We meet monthly! Just drop in and find out what we are all about.