cherie@cheriedavis.com
801-318-7197
“You rock!” Cherie was greeted by a child who had just attended her storytelling performance. Cherie Davis is an enthusiastic teller who has performed at storytelling festivals and other special events around the West. She coaches and mentors the youth tellers at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. She is the director of Story Camp, a storytelling day camp. She has taught storytelling in public schools from elementary school to high school and has guest lectured in the university. Cherie has recently released a book about Utah’s ghosts, Spooks and Saints. Gathered from years of experience leading and sharing the ghost legends of Salt Lake City, the stories are now in print.
Cherie’s Residency Philosophy & Approach
Techniques/Skills taught:
• Find a Story
• Performance Skills
• Microphone Skills
• Characters
• Putting the Life into a Story
• Story writing
• Adapt a folk tale
I am a hands-on type of instructor. I like to show, then give plenty of time for the student to try those skills, then perfect those skills. I believe in positive feedback with guidance.
I like to start a residency with storytelling. The best way to learn storytelling is to see storytelling.
Young storytellers like to memorize a story and then share. They don’t have preconceived notions as to how to tell a story. Nor do they have much experience in how to adapt their storytelling. The very young may not change how they tell at all. So the best thing to do with them may just have them practice, practice, practice.
The upper elementary school age kids are a lot of fun to work with. They are more likely to take what they are taught and really work their storytelling. They still don’t have a lot of experience with theater to get confused as to what the difference is.
When you get to junior high age the kids are more likely to get into drama and debate. They learn valuable skills from these areas. But there may need to be more guidance as to what the difference is between the performance area they are familiar with and storytelling. When I work with the junior high and high schools I find their teachers are a valuable resource. They have enough experience to grasp the storytelling concept and help out as an extra resource. Though I never turn the storytelling instruction over to them, I do get help from them in backing up these skills and judging when there are auditions.
Adults may want to perform or they may want to be better at sharing family stories. They, too, are a ready audience.
No matter, the age, a storytelling performance from a polished storyteller is vital for them to understand the art of storytelling when you are teaching beginning storytelling.
For more advanced students, a storytelling performance is still a great idea. It allows the group to see the skill on which you will be working.
I love to the give the students the opportunity to perform on stage at the end of the residency. It may be in the classroom, in an assembly or at the library. But it is a great way for the kids to show off their skills.
When I have taught these residencies or at Story Camp, I have received a lot of positive feedback so I know the teachers, principals and parents are happy with what their students have learned.
Cherie’s Special Training
Performance experience:
• Utah Performing Arts Tour
• Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, featured local performer
• Snake River Storytelling Festival, featured performer
• Weber State University Storytelling Festival, featured performer
• Zion Storytelling Festival, featured performer
• Timpanogos Storytelling Conference
• Murray Storytelling Festival
• Ghost Tours, Salt Lake City
• Brigham Young University Art Museum
• Cedar City StoryFest
• Red Butte Gardens
• Thanksgiving Point
• And more libraries, schools, special events
Teaching experience:
• Timpanogos Storytelling Conference, workshop presenter
• Zion Storytelling Festival, workshop presenter
• Weber State Storytelling Festival, workshop presenter
• Cascade Elementary, intensive workshop
• Murray School District Residency
• Canyon View Residency
• Story Camp of Utah
• Noorda Summer Camp
• Utah Valley State College, guest lecturer
• Brigham Young University, guest lecturer
• Southern Utah University, guest lecturer
• Timp Tellers Storytelling Chapter, several workshops
• Friendship Center, guest lecturer
Training I have received:
• Timpanogos Storytelling Conference, workshop presenter
• Zion Storytelling Festival, workshop presenter
• Weber State Storytelling Festival, workshop presenter
• Cascade Elementary, intensive workshop
• Murray School District Residency
• Canyon View Residency
• Story Camp of Utah
• Noorda Summer Camp
• Utah Valley State College, guest lecturer
• Brigham Young University, guest lecturer
• Southern Utah University, guest lecturer
• Timp Tellers Storytelling Chapter, several workshops
• Friendship Center, guest lecturer
Other Training:
• Donald Davis Retreat
o Part of the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute
o 3 time participant, most recently in 2014
• Rick Walton Retreat
o Part of the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute
• Doug Lipman Retreat
o Utah Storytelling Guild sponsorship
• Attended numerous workshops by:
o Carol Birch
o Milbre Burch
o Donald Davis
o Carmen Deedy
o MaryGay Ducey
o Elizabeth Ellis
o Diane Ferlatte
o Heather Forest
o Bill Harley
o David Holt
o Beth Horner
o Andy Offutt Irwin
o Susan Klein
o Bil Lepp
o Syd Lieberman
o Michael Parent
o Antonio Rocha
o Story Crafters
o Robin Bady
o Noa Baum
o John Beach
o Adriana Cassani
o Karen Chase
o Slash Coleman
o Ann Ellis
o Katie Farmer
o Meg Gilman
o Jackson Gillman
o George Grant
o Omar Hansen
o Rachel Hedman
o Flora Joy
o Janet Low
o June Miller
o Sherry Norfolk
o Susan O’Halloran
o Steve Otto
o Barry Rellaford
o Carol Rice
o Debi Richan
o Robert Rubinstein
o Jackie Thursby
o Nannette Watts
o Wes and Emily Whitby
o And more
Residencies Cherie Has Done
Story Camp at the Orem Public Library: 15 hours of Day Camp 2008-2015
• June Story Performance Camp: 3 hours of instruction for 5 days
• August Story Writing Camp: 3 hours of instruction for 5 days
Noorda Summer Camp, teaching storytelling 2010-2011
• June Camp: 2 hours of instruction for 5 days
Murray Schools Residencies 2012-2015
• Murray High School: 6 hours of instruction in a three week period during Drama class time
• Parkside Elementary: 10 hours of instruction in a two week period during class and after school
• Twin Peaks Elementary: 10 hours of instruction in a two week period during class and after school
Cascade Elementary, after school intensive workshops 1999-2005
• 6 hours of instruction after school
Canyon View Junior High Residency 2008
• 6 hours of instruction during school
Vineyard Elementary Residency March 2009
• 6 hours of instruction during school