Eth-Noh-Tech Hosts Orcas StoryFest Aug. 2-5

Eth-Noh-Tec brings storytelling artists to Orcas for "The World of Stories" Aug. 2 through Aug. 5. Pictured above, from top left, Doug Banner, Judith Black Arif Choudhury, (lower row) Antoinette Botsford, Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang, and Anji Ringzin.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang, founders of Eth-Noh-Tec, have again prepared a storytelling festival to delight Orcas Islanders and their summer visitors. This year Orcas StoryFest will take place at several venues from Aug. 2 through 5.

The pair considers the festival their gift to the Orcas community; they have produced  StoryFest every second summer since 2005. This year, the Friends of the Orcas Island Library assist in bringing other storytelling artists to Orcas, through a grant to assist Eth-Noh-Tec in producing Orcas StoryFest.

This year StoryFest will feature storytellers of the oral tradition in addition to Nancy and Robert, who tell of stories from their own Asian cultures as well as engaging storytellers of other cultures, from their bases in San Francisco and Orcas Island. They began Eth-Noh-Tec nearly 30 years ago, and now oversee porjects such as involving San Francisco’s youth in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understand their relationship to their environment scientifically and sociologically and providing internships in creating community through storytelling.

Eth-Noh-Tec has led storytelling adventures to India in 2008 and to China in 2010. This year, they’ve expanded the dance and narrative of storytelling to include art and music. They host storytelling workshops and monthly salons in San Francisco, and have led a drive to aid disaster victims in Japan.

The professional tellers at “The World of Stories” Orcas StoryFest will perform a wealth of stories for adults as well as for children. Cultures from around the world and a variety of performance styles will grace the stages of the StoryFest schedule :

• ‘Wisdom, Wit & Wily Ways” at the Senior Center on Tuesday, August 2 at 1 p.m. (Free). The Orcas Senior Songbirds will open the performance.
• “Ghost Stories” at the Senior Center on Wednesday, August 3 at 7 p.m., with a sliding scale fee of $8 to $20
• “Pajama Tales” Family Night” storytelling at the Orcas Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m.
• “The Fine art of Storytelling” will be visited on Friday, Aug. 5 at the Odd Fellows Hall at 7 p.m.  (admission $10-$20 sliding scale)

The sliding scale for payment is part of Eth-Noh-Tech’s commitment to sharing their appreciation of storytelling. Nancy Wang says, “Storytelling is not a story slam or reading from a book. It is a particularly powerful and dramatic art form.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo's trademark enthusiasm lifts him atop Mt. Constitution

“Our storytelling friends are not paid, so we make the Orcas Festival a vacation for them, and the community rallies around that intent, providing restaurant dining and other experiences such as flying, whale watching, kayaking, and visiting our museums,” Nancy said.

Eth Noh Tec brings to Orcas Island artists who share the mission of community building through storytelling.

Doug Banner will tell  eclectic and versatile tales from the world and the Northwest.

Arif Choudhury, will tell stories from his  Bangaladeshi/Muslin heritage, reflecting on the immigrant experience and his personal tales of being Bangaladeshi post 9-11.

Judith Black’s satiric humor will highlight her stories, “Laughing at our Lives,” which carry a philosophical and poignant message.

Anji Ringzin will bring the poetry of the Persian mystic Rumi and other poets of that genre.

Antoinette Botsford, who has a Ph.D. in Theatre and a Master’s Degree in Folklore and Mythology, is especially known for native North American tales (many learned from her Canadian-Metís relatives) as well as a growing Celtic collection she calls, “The Forest of Broceliande.”

“We love it here,” says Nancy Wang, “and StoryFest is our gift to Orcas.

For further information, call 360-376-8705 or visit Eth-Noh-Tec website