Storytelling is one of humanities oldest and most defining artistic skills.  Nothing beats the live interchange between teller and listener.

Eye to eye, mind-to-mind and heart to heart.

Storytelling is a powerful, live, interactive craft that every culture and age of civilization has experienced since the birth of language. It is the most bascic human function of expression and communication. Long before books, people all over the world told stories to pass on wisdom, teach values, heal wounded hearts, honor heroic deeds and to explain the mysteries of life. I believe the gold of storytelling runs deep in us and lies in our ability to actively listen...and actively imagine.  

My desire to explore storytelling began in the late 1980's as an early childhood educator. By 1995 I'd begun gather and telling stories professionally  around the country and pockets throughout the world.  My repertoire is a delicious collection of world myth, folklore, legends, wonder-yarns & nature tales with rich personal narrative  woven in. In the 1990's I was blessed to spend years researching oral tradition in  Scotland's Outer Hebrides as part of the The Hebridean Folklore Project. I am available to share stories to listeners of all ages, from 3 to 93 in a wide array of venues, from libraries to house concerts, schools to anniversary parties, conferences to festivals.

Here's a sampling of places and events I've performed:

• In collaboration with Burlington City Arts.  Tracy developed a storytelling outreach program, "Firehouse Tales" for the Burlington community.  Spinning yarns and sharing historical anecdotes about the past, present and future of Burlington's Old Ethan Allen Fire Station.  2000-01
• A regular at Eugene, Oregon's Saturday Market, since 1995.
• Storytimes: Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, VT 1999-2000
• Libraries Programs: Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, VT, South Burlington Community Library, South Burlington, VT. Salem Public Library, Salem, OR.  Fairfleid Public Library, Fairfield, IA.
• School assemblies and classrooms: ages 4-17, 10-140 children. In the States, Scotland & Ireland
• Myrtle Creek Elementary School, Artist In Residence Program. 1999
• Fairfield and Libertyville Schools, Iowa, 2006
• Scottish Heritage Festival, Salem, OR. 1996-98
• Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, Philomath, OR. 1996-98
• New World Festival, Randolph, VT. 1999-2001
• Opening act for musical performers, including Scottish folk musician Dougie MacLean. 1997
• Cafes, pubs, galleries and bookstores from coast to coast and a few in between: Revelations, Firehouse Gallery, Border's Books, Purple Shutter Herbs, Gina's Pies are Square, Fool's Paradise, tha SpOt and Art Beat Gallery to name a few.
• Oregon Public Radio, KRUU fm (Fairfield, IA) and BBC Radio Scotland.
• M.U.M.’s Annual Irish Celebration  2004 - 2008
• Fairfield, Iowa’s First Friday Art Walk
• Collaborating with world music band 6 Around One, performing in Duluth and Washburn, Wi – Spring 2010
• Over 20 Wisconsin Libraries – Wild Spaces and Watery Places tour – Summer 2010
• Over 30 Wisconsin Libraries – Under a Big Blue Sky tour – Summer 2011
• Everyone Tells - Storytelling workshop with; Our Lighted Schoolhouse Program: Lake Superior Elementary, Ashland, WI; Washington Elementary and Kate Goodrich Elementary,  Merrill, WI 2010-11
• Washburn Elementary, Washburn WI; Medford Elementary & Holy Rosary Elementary, Medford WI – 2011
• Title 1 Program: Wakonda Elementary, Menomonie WI – 2011

• The Power of Storytelling to Effect Change in the World: A 5 week Wellness Program Workshop;  Northland College, Ashland WI

Tracy brings the joy and imagination of storytelling to your 

Event, Classroom or Organization 

 www.listentoatale.com   ~  tlchipman@gmail.com

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