Bobby Norfolk - Emmy Winning African American Storyteller, Author, Teaching Artist
Bobby Norfolk, one of St. Louis's premier storytellers, has established a national reputation by:
- Bringing great energy, humor and spirit to his school, library, and community storytelling performances.
- Providing a unique perspective and inspired motivation with his keynotes and storytelling workshops.
- Establishing a strong sense of place and time with his fascinating living history story performances.
- Highlighting through storytelling African-American experiences and traditions while providing kids with a role model and mentor.
News!
Bobby is busy developing a new show, coming for the summer of 2010:
Satchel Paige and the Negro Baseball League
First player from the African-American leagues to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame!
Bobby Norfolk was featured in the Sunday, November 29, 2009, edition of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The article can be read online.
In October 2009, children’s author and Emmy winning storyteller Bobby Norfolk was given the Circle of Excellence Oracle Award, an honor presented by the National Storytelling Network, which recognizes the very best storytellers in the country. This prestigious award is given to artists for exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling.
Programs
Character Education
Bobby is so entertaining that he has been called "a picture book come to life!" His community and educational programs promote character education traits such as: respect, responsibility, honesty, cooperation, and self esteem.
Program Themes
Additionally, he has storytelling programs emphasizing cultural diversity, literacy, drug awareness, nature, and history. Favorites include Folktales from around the World, Back to the Books, The Moral of the Story, Monsters, Dragons and Ogres, and the ever popular Anansi Tales. His humorous raps and prose are big favorites among the high school crowd too.
Living History
Audiences of all ages delight in his first person living history programs that range from the slave York of Lewis & Clark fame, to Henry Box Brown, the slave that mailed himself in a box to freedom, to the poetry and prose of Harlem writer Langston Hughes.
Music
His musical programs highlight great artists such as Scott Joplin and Duke Ellington, while "The Drums and Voices of Africa!" introduces audiences to the rich traditions which underlie much of America's musical landscape. These special two person programs feature Bobby with a professional musician.
Workshops and Keynotes
His keynotes on overcoming adversity and the importance of role models are favorites among educators and corporations. His workshops are also very popular with festivals and conventions.
