For more information: Rob Price, Director of Marketing (Media calls) 602.243.8030
Storyteller Marilyn Omifunke Torres will perform “West African Yoruba Myths of Osun: Goddess of Sensuality, Creativity and Love,” at South Mountain Community College on Oct. 13.
The free performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre of SMCC, 7050 S. 24th St. (just north of Baseline Rd.). Latecomers will not be seated.
Torres will be the second teller in the SMCC Storytelling Institute’s fall series, “Myths From Around the World.” In addition, on Nov. 3, Penny Morningstar will deliver a Norse tale.
Omifunke Torres will take listeners on a journey through the five stages of transformation, from Divinity to Woman. The myths of Osun as the goddess of fresh waters (rivers) invite the listener to explore the mythic journey we must all undergo in order to awaken to the power of the feminine within. In the chants and stories of Osun, the listener encounters the divine feminine as she chooses to co-mingle in the world of humans. Her journey teaches about the reciprocal role that women and men have in manifesting a truly civilized society.
On Nov. 3, Morningstar will tell “Freyja, Goddess of Love and Light.” In Norse mythology there is no goddess more beautiful or renowned than Freyja. Feared and loved as mistress of divination, shape-shifting and love-magic, Freyja brought peace between the two clans of gods and thus saved Middle Earth from destruction. After being captured by frost giants, she was rescued by a mortal, Odr, whom she loved and married. Her happiness was betrayed by Loki, the trickster god, and she was left to wander the world crying tears of gold for her lost love.
Performances are followed by a discussion of the stories, their themes and characteristics. Late-comers will not be seated once the featured story has begun.
“All cultures have stories of brave heroes who persevere through trials to take their rightful place in the world. The hero, whether male or female, inspires us to keep the faith and to honor our own journeys,” according to LynnAnn Wojciechowicz, Director of the SMCC Storytelling Institute.
“One of the goals of the SMCC Storytelling Institute is teach people that storytelling is not just for children; it is for grownups, too. This series was designed in part to achieve this goal,” Wojciechowicz said. “The series provides a great opportunity for students to hear some of the folktale types they will be studying told by professional storytellers in a concert setting."
For information about the SMCC Storytelling Institute, call 602.243.8022 or go to http://www.smcstorytelling.com.