What are Creative Story Journeys?
Who is Simurgh?
Simurgh is the name of a mythical bird found in the mythology of Persia. This tale is a Persian one, chosen for its dynamic flow and amazing elements of adventure into worlds upon worlds.
The tale is told with the assistance of shadow puppets used as props in the tale and it has been divided up into 7 segments each on average 15 minutes in length to keep the focus of the process on the hands on explorations.
Included in each of the 7 sessions are:
- story segment
- holistic arts activity
- parents tip
- expansion activities across subject areas (math, geography, history, language arts, philosophy...)
Video Story Telling
The story is broken into 7 sections, each with a 10-15 min video of storytelling with props and puppets, set to live music by Susiawan.
Holistic Arts Activities
After watching the video, where we also share arts based integration activities, yourself and your child (in the case this is used by a family) can engage with the story through the arts based activities that can link to history, culture, geography, music, visual arts, nature, poetry, literacy, language learning, puppetry, drama, human virtues, perennial wisdom, magic and mathematics and more!
Expanded Questions and Parent Tips
Each session includes expanded questions to deepen understanding of the story as well as useful tips for parents!
Who is this course for?
This program is accessible to:
- Children (from 6 years up)
- Teens & Adults
The stories I have chosen are multi-layered – this means that it includes content that adults, older and younger participants can access in their own unique way.
What People Have Said
“The Simurgh journey has truly been a journey within for my family. Not only have we been learning about this beautiful philosophical story but we have been learning much more about how to be open in doing art and not to be stuck in a mindset of perfectionism and so much more! We are extremely grateful for this unique experience"
- Golbarg P.
“Creative Story Journeys with Susan is a magical journey along the luminous pathway that stories and myth weave deeply into our individual psyches and shared human heart. The varied arts processes engage the spirit of the children and adults alike to explore multi-layered delights in learning and discovery, from creative activities like drawing, puppetry and claywork to inspiration to learn about the geography, music or culture that the story is birthed from. I wish I had experienced this as a child, but Susan’s infectious enthusiasm invites the inner child in all of us to play.”
- Tamara J. Brown
Creative Story Journeys : Simurgh Curriculum
Meet Your Teachers
Susan Allen
Susan is a holistic educator whose life work for the past 30 years has been in creating and implementing ways to engage, support and strengthen the whole being, wellness for all, cross-cultural understanding and reverence for life in education in all of its diverse forms.
With two years towards a PH.D in Holistic Education at the University of Toronto, a Masters in Environmental Studies (field work was carried out in Cirebon, Java through ITB (Institute of Technology, Bandung) from 1990-95, Hatha Yoga and Pranic Healing Training, Susan further understood how education could honour place (the land we are on), culture (the cultures of the children and the ones connected to the land), and the multi-dimensional nature of begin human.
She has supported children and adults in becoming the creators that they are through her authentically designed and curated integrated holistic arts programs ranging from drama, musicals, yoga, experiencial environmental education, puppetry, kamishibai and creative movement at the Green School and Pelangi in Bali, Indonesia as well as through Exploring Toronto and Me and My Shadows ( a company she co-owned with Susiawan) in Toronto, Canada.
For the last 15 years she has helped to inspire students and teachers to access and nurture their creativity and well-being in Canada, Japan and Indonesia and curates programs through the Yellow Coco Creative Nest in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - a centre of holistic arts to support the development of creativity and well-being for all.
Susiawan
Susiawan is an artist and children’s arts educator in both Indonesia and Canada with over 30 years experience using the arts as a tool in learning.
He pioneered alternative education using the arts for children in Indonesia – “Yayasan Anak Merdeka”/ Institute for Children’s Freedom of Expression (Bandung, West Java,1981). Susiawan holds a B.F.A. in Graphic Arts from the Faculty of Art and Design – Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia.
He received the prestigious ASHOKA Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs in pioneering and developing children’s activities using the arts in environmental education (1986).
Susiawan developed an environmental education through the arts program in 8 public schools as a pilot project of the Cirebon Urban Development Project (CUDP, 1990 - 1995) where he trained teachers and students in community participation approach to develop a curriculum on environmental awareness (together with Susan).
He worked as the main art teacher for early years to high school at Green School Bali and pioneered lessons on natural dye batik painting, mask creation, arts for sustainability and Balinese ritual arts (2009 - 2011).
He co- created and co-facililates (with Susan) the Holistic Arts Foundational Training and subsequent arts-focussed specializations to engage, stimulate and support creativity and well-being in teachers and students.
Susiawan is also a painter and has shown his work in Indonesia, Canada, Japan and Europe.
About Yellow Coco Creative Nest
Yellow Coco Creative Nest was founded by Susiawan and Susan Allen in 2011 with the intention of creating the place and space that nurtures creativity, individual and collective potential and well-being for all.
Our programs are deeply rooted in Holistic Arts and a strong belief that an integrated approach to arts training and learning can lead to the full development of our potential and well-being.
Our cornerstone programs began with Creative Play for Early Years and Drama for all ages and have since expanded to adult programs, From our courses in Art and Archeology, Shadow Play, our Holistic Arts Special 5 Day Programs to Parent Circles and Expressive Arts, we are centred on helping participants fully access their expressive nature.
Because of our alternative ways of teaching we have been asked to speak and Conferences on Creativity in Entrepreneurship, Creativity in Early Years Learning as well as Using Drama and Movement in Nature Based Learning. We provide Teacher Trainings in Holistic Arts and specialized training in Shadow Play in Education, Storytelling, Drama and Movement in Nature-based Learning, Visual Exploration Techniques and more.
Rest assured that the online courses we create will provide and endless source in richness in learning and experimentation based on our years of experience that will delight as well as support participants grow in their holistic expression.
Click Here to view our Instagram.
