Tales from the Steppes

with Diana Shmiana and Dana Sherry

Sunday, October 12, 1:00-3:00PM

Silk Road House, 1944 University Avenue, Berkeley, 510-981-0700

http://www.silkroadhouse.org

http://www.dianashmiana.net

http://independent.academia.edu/DanaSherry

“Tales from the Steppes: An hour of stories from Central Asia for families performed by storytellers Diana Shmiana and Dana Sherry.

Our guests will bring you and your children on an imaginary journey to the Central Asia of folk tales, where friendship can transform mere gold into a true treasure, rascally boys can trick their elders, and pumpkins can have extraordinary adventures.

Diana Shmiana grew up in a very funny family in Berkeley, California. From a young age, she loved to sing, dance, dress up in costumes, and act very, very silly. Diana always dreamed of entertaining children, and in 1997 she finally made that dream a reality by becoming Diana Shmiana. Diana plays several musical instruments, and her dance background has run the gamut from Ballet to Jazz to Modern to Flamenco. She has studied Clowning and Theatre at Dell’Arte International, Clown School of San Francisco, the San Francisco Circus Center, and the Phil Bennett Theatre Lab. She has studied Storytelling at San Francisco State University and the Traveling Jewish Theatre, Improvisation with Bay Area TheatreSports, and Voice with several master teachers.

Dana Sherry was once simply a respectable historian of the Caucasus and Central Asia. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and has taught at U.C. Davis, Stanford University, and St. Mary’s College. However, she has developed a second life as a storyteller, where she crafts adult stories that transform historical events into tales of wonder and horror. She also tells traditional and literary tales to young audiences. In her school-age programs, stories become a way for children to experience empathy, community, creativity, and joy.
Silk Road House events are sponsored by the Silkroad Foundation.”