Bodies of Wonder
create
connect
Calling storytellers, poets and artists of all forms interested in the relationship between body, wonder and story.
Join us for an online story choir, exploring and co-creating an interwoven concert of embodied stories around shifting, enchanted and enchanting bodies.
Bodies of Wonder is a collaborative, creative Storychoir running on Monday evenings. Sign ups are open until September 9th.
ABOUT BODIES OF WONDER
This Storychoir is facilitated by Dr Joanna Gilar, storyteller, fairy tale scholar and founder of Story Commons, with guest sessions from StoryCommons artists.
The Shifting Sessions will offer storytellers, artists and creatives the space to dive deeply into wonder tales and myths to explore their wild, complex, interwoven bodies, inviting stories into community and community into stories.
The sessions will offer space to discuss aspects of sexuality and gender which have been erased in the written history of story, and explore how we might invite these diversities back into their rich experience of embodied story.
They will also offer participants a space to develop their work within a supportive, co-creative community, and weave work into a collective story concert which gives voice to our bodies of wonder.
COURSE DETAILS
- The sessions will run online on Monday evenings from 7.30 - 10pm UK time, from September 9th - December 16th.
There will be a break through November, to allow participants to dive
into their creative work.
- The sessions will conclude with a co-created online performance.
- Each session will offer in-depth storytelling work as well as space
for movement, breathwork and co-created art.
- Participants are welcome to bring a story they are currently
working on, or come simply with curiosity, appetite and wonder.
COURSE FEES
Participation in the Storychoir is £240. We only have limited spaces available, so do get in touch if you would like to reserve a place.
At the moment we are able to offer 3 lower cost bursaries. Please contact us for more details if cost is a barrier to participation in the course.
If you would like to purchase a supporter ticket, to allow us to offer more lower cost options, you can purchase a ticket for £300.
about our choirs.....
It was so good for so many people to come together and co-create this magical process into being. It was a wonderful project and a privilege to be part of.
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-- Nana
About Bodies of Wonder
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It was an absolutely wonderful dive into stories
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Beautifully guided and held, I really appreciated the movement and breath work integrated throughout. I valued the theme, theory and reading lists at the beginning of our time together that framed the choosing of and working with stories. Despite it being online there was a real sense of supportive group cohesion - a strong sense of community.
The way that Jo holds groups with spaciousness and generosity makes every session a joy to be part of. I feel supported to bring of myself in a way that is both expansive and nurturing.
Bodies of wonder offered a delightfully creative, feeling space in which to explore fairy tales, inviting an embodied response that allowed the stories to circulate amongst us in unexpected and revealing ways. It formed a rich tapestry in which intellectual nuggets were interwoven alongside creative and embodied responses to the stories as they moved through us. Mainly I loved just how alive the stories were in the space - and in the spaces in-between.
I loved telling the stories back - this opened the door to being able to play with stories, to see how they landed and moved through us without getting caught up on 'recall' or 'performance' - this makes for a much more organic approach to storytelling that is accessible to anyone at any time.
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--- Feedback from Bodies of Wonder, 2023 - 24
About Our Choirs
We created something absolutely magical: an amazing bringing together of all these stories.
-- Sophie
I loved working with stories from all around the world. It was a massive, brilliant, gorgeous project to be part of.
-- Fleur
This was a fabulous space and has introduced me to the art of storytelling, and what we are told by stories.
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-- Sarah
We experienced a deeply open discussion where you honoured all points of view. I loved the questions we pondered. What a global gathering we have had.
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-- Kathy
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It felt like a safe space where people shared stuff, felt comfortable to do so, supported each other well, everyone brought their different skills. We were given the time and space to allow things to come together. It was a beautiful thing.
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-- Tunde