The department of romance and classical studies and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies’ annual symposium began Tuesday with a performance workshop centered around storytelling and myth.
The workshop was taught in both Spanish and English and was led by assistant professor of arts and integration Joni Starr and Nicolás Buenaventura, a Colombian playwright, actor, film director and performer.
Elvira Sanchez-Blake, an associate professor in the department of romance and classical studies, said the symposium is geared toward methods of storytelling for Spanish students learning Spanish as a language.
“The symposium focuses on experimental learning, cultural aspects of language and language acquisition,” Sanchez-Blake said.
Buenaventura also spent much of Tuesday traveling to different classroom sessions.
Sanchez-Blake, who joined Buenaventura for his classroom visits, said the 80 students who listened to his tales had the opportunity to ask many questions.
“This week is important because it’s another way to gain experience in combining storytelling with learning a language,” Sanchez-Blake said.
A seminar by Buenaventura will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Rm. 303 in the International Center today.
He will spend the seminar similarly to how he spent his Tuesday classroom visits — teaching students how to tell a memorable story.
Using his own experiences as examples, Buenaventura will explain how he finds inspiration for the tales he tells and how he keeps his audiences engaged.
All of the elements to storytelling Buenaventura addresses will be brought together Friday evening with a performance of “Dar a Luz: La aventura del pensamiento.”
The title translates to “Giving Birth: The adventure of thought.”
Buenaventura will perform at the event with the Argentinean musician Georgina Hassan and technical producer Pilar López.
The three of them will work together to tell a story through music as Hassan sings Buenaventura’s tale.
The story will be performed in Spanish with English subtitles on the projector behind them.
“This is the big event,” Sanchez-Blake said. “It’ll be a beautiful, multi-artistic performance.”
“Dar a Luz: La aventura del pensamiento” will be held in Studio 60 in the Auditorium at 7 p.m.
