Ms. Johnson is a seasoned storyteller and uses her talent for telling stories to keep the voices of the past alive in the memory of the present. Her repertoire includes traditional tales from the African Diaspora, the compelling voices of women suffragettes, oral histories of the civil rights movement, loud whispers from the Underground Railroad and tales addressing Diversity.
Ms. Johnson enjoys creating custom programs for birthday parties, family reunions, bridal and baby showers, and corporate functions.
The Soft Whispers of Ancestors
Many Voices - One Woman
Patchwork People
Jerry Rescue Re-ennactment
Talking Drums
Animal Talk
Come hear the voices of the Underground Railroad - runaways, free blacks, abolisionists and slave masters. These tales, told from oral histories, are heart-felt, lively and interactive. Students are invited to join in on this story-tell; to sing Underground Railroad songs and play African Drums and musical instruments.
A 245 pound chain-smoking wanna-be ballerina; a forty-eight year old grandmother falling for a twenty-three year old; a young woman struggling with the memories of her father's sexual abuse; a middle age woman bent on self-destruction. Vanessa Johnson lends her voice to a multitude of women and leaves their whispers living in your memory. Ms. Johnson tells these women's stories intermingling some of her own life experiences... and maybe you'll hear a little of yours.
"If you listen, the cloth speaks." Colorful mixed media quilts made by Vanessa Johnson accompany colorful stories with quilt themes. A mother makes a coat of patches for her young daughter, a group of Americans visit a slave fort in Africa, a teenager in love with the "new kid" on the block, a neighborhood trying to clean up a polluted creek, a runaway on the Underground Railroad, a father's boyhood memories - all of these "patchwork people" tell their stories through Ms. Johnson's art quilts. Participants are invited to bring a family or favorite quilt and to share a story about their quilt.
What happened in Upstate New York when the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed compelling people of the UNited States of America to turn in runaway slaves? Slave states and free, blacks and whites, northerners and southerners had to comply with this law. How did Upstate New York respond? Join in on this lively re-enactment of the Jerry Rescue. Read from the grade appropriate scripts and re-create this historical event under the guidance of Vanessa Johnson. History comes to alive in the classroom during this re-enactment of the Jerry Rescue.
Join the circle and hear the drums talk from around the world in this multiu-cultural and interactive story-tell featuring drum tales from Africa, Japan, the United States and other lands. Be sure to bring a drum (or use one in the circle) and join in on the beat that will accompany each tale!
If you listen ... the animals have a lot to say! They have lessons to teach you a bout living life, lessons about honesty and fairness. Lessons about courage and truth. Lessons about sharing and good manners. Vanessa Johnson tells animal tales from aaround the world using African Drums and Instruments, making these tales both lively and interactive.
Young children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animalto this fun storytelling session.
