The Storytelling Center of New York City

Frisner Augustin of (La Troupe Makandal) calls the Ancestors.
(Photo by Tequila Minsky.)

A "Cric?" and a Resounding "CRAC!"
The Storytelling Center of New York's 
Mother's Day Benefit for Haiti

Above: Laura Simms, the MC for the benefit.
Below: Storytellers Joy Kelly Smith (left) and Diane Wolkstein.
(Photos by Tequila Minsky.)

A brilliant afternoon of Haitian stories, drumming, song, and dance filled Scandinavia House’s Victor Borge Hall on Sunday, May 9th for a Mother’s Day Benefit for Haiti.  Diane Wolkstein,  Laura Simms  and Regina Ress gathered an array of performers — Haitian and American — and a support team of  volunteers to celebrate Haitian culture, while raising money for the mothers and children of Haiti.

Musician–dancer Peniel Guerrier and partner in performance.
(Photo by Tequila Minsky.)

Following a  spine–tingling calling–in of the Ancestors by Master Drummer Frisner Augustin of La Troupe Makandal, our MC Laura Simms  introduced Lynn Carter, Executive Vice–President of the American Scandinavian Foundation and the Storytelling Center’s President Robin Bady who welcomed us to the benefit. We were then treated to the music and dance of Haiti by La Troupe Makandal and the dances and drums of Tamboula d’Haiti with renowned Haitian dancer Peniel Guerrier.

The stories told were all from Diane Wolkstein’s classic book The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales. Diane and Joy Kelly joined forces to tell the delightful “Horse and Toad,” Lily Cerat told both “Tayzanne” and “The Magic Orange Tree,” Regina  Ress told “The Monkey Who Asked for Misery.” and Diane brought tears to all with her telling of  “One, My Darling, Come to Mama."

Four of the "village breakout" tellers: Above: Bill Gordh and Neva Winter.
Below: Bobby Gonzalez and Linda Humes.

A delightful eruption of  "joyous chaos," organized by Laura, was the Storytelling Village. After Lily Cerat’s lovely telling of the story “The Magic Orange Tree,” ten New York storytellers scattered around the audience stood up, gathered the nearby listeners and simultaneously told stories of mothers and children. The auditorium was filled with story, laughter and love. Our "Village" tellers were “Bobaloo” Basey,  Bobby Gonzalez, Bill Gordh, Tammy Hall, Linda Humes, Julie Pasqual, Ron Sopyla, Karen Thibodeau, and Neva Winter.  The tellers and listeners were then sung back to their seats by powerful baritone Fred Johnson. 

A poignant moment, reminding us all why we were there, was when Suzelle Midy spoke quietly in Creole of  the losses and the reality of Port au Prince after the earthquake. It brought the audience to a deep moment of silence and was succor for all of the Haitians present.

The finale with La Troupe Makandal joined by members of the audience.
(Image captured from video by Philip David Morgan of Promenade Digital [Mediaworks].)

Our afternoon ended with the performers and members of the audience joining  together for a celebratory dance in honor of Haiti and the joy of coming together as a community to help one another. 

Random House's Schocken Books division, the publisher of The Magic Orange Tree, donated 25 copies and all were sold.  Our silent auction, with donated sessions of Thai massage, yoga, and Gyrotonic,  season passes to Symphony Space, and a beautiful art print by Javaka Steptoe was successful as well.
 
We are very grateful to the American Scandinavian Foundation for its gift of the beautiful auditorium, as well as to SmorgasChef, for its donations from its Mother’s Day Brunch. The  money was donated to ATD Fourth World, an organization that has been working on the grassroots level with the forgotten of Haiti since 1981.
 
Between ticket sales, book sales, and a silent auction, the afternoon brought in over $3,000.00 which will go directly to ATD Fourth World’s team in Haiti.

"CRIC?  CRAC! and THANKS to ALL!"
Members of the appreciative audience at Scandinavia House.
(Photo by Tequila Minsky.)

Our benefit was a huge success, with our "Cric?" ("Shall we tell you a story?")  being answered by the community’s resounding  "CRAC!" ("Yes! and we all want to help!").
 
Many thanks to all!