STORYTELLING LAB: IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE VOICE
with Martina Jánošíková and Dominika Belanská (SK and SK)
Are you wondering how to tell stories in an engaging way?
We invite you to a space where we will share experiences, listen to one another, and discover the power of storytelling. Together, we will explore traditional tales and look for what they reveal about today’s world, our lives, and our experiences. We will reflect on conventional storytelling methods and seek out your own way of telling stories naturally and authentically.
We will investigate various ways to enrich your storytelling performance—by working with your voice, gestures, eye contact, and connection with both the audience and the environment. A kind and respectful approach to ourselves, attentive listening to each other, and a safe environment are the principles we aim to cultivate together during this lab.
Every participant will choose a story to work with throughout the lab, according to their own vision. At the end, you will have the chance to retell your story in front of a live audience. This is completely voluntary, just like all the other activities.
What will the Storytelling Lab bring you?
- Skills that every storyteller needs: How to build the core structure of a story, how to refine it, how to keep your gestures and voice under control, how to read and utilize the expectations of your audience, and how to maintain your spontaneity and passion for improvisation.
- Mindfulness of your own voice and body: Diverse exercises involving voice and movement, as both components are vital elements of storytelling.
- Greater confidence in both speaking and listening: The lab will help you feel more natural when speaking in front of others, listen more attentively, and establish a more vibrant connection with audiences as well as with people in your everyday life.
Who is the Storytelling Lab open to?
We invite everyone from 15 to 99+ years of age who enjoys meeting and connecting with other people and has the desire to engage in creative exercises in pairs and groups. We will work within an intimate atmosphere of a smaller group—the capacity is limited to 12 people.
The lab can be highly engaging for both younger and older generations; for instance, for parents and grandparents looking for ways to pass down their life and family stories, or young people who would love to explore their avenues of self-expression. Teachers, students, lecturers, presenters, and artists can also find incredibly useful experiences here.
Both beginners and more experienced storytellers will find their place. The program is designed to bring entirely new impulses even to returning participants from last year’s lab, whom we would be delighted to welcome back. We look forward to all curious residents of Trenčín and its surroundings, as well as participants from other places.
Schedule of the Storytelling Lab
- Friday, August 21, 2026 from 18:00 to 20:00, introductory session for all
- Option 1 – Weekend: Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 14:00 to 18:00 (2 x 4 hours)
- Option 2 – Working week: Monday to Friday, August 24 – 28, 2026 from 17:00 to 20:00 (5 x 3 hours)
- Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Final celebration with everyonefrom 16:00 to 19:00
We offer two schedule options—either over the weekend or during the working week. Please choose the one that suits you best from a time perspective. (It is also possible to attend all days of the lab. However, some activities might repeat in both versions. Therefore, if you do not like repetitions, please select just one option.)
Some activities will take place outdoors. We will inform you about any changes in advance.
A few days before the lab begins, there will be an (optional) online meetup where you can get to know the tutors, other participants, and dive into the first stories.
Admission is free, but the number of spots is limited to 12. Reserve your spot here:
Who are the tutors of the Storytelling Lab?
Martina Jánošíková and Dominika Belanská were brought together by stories.
Martina Jánošíková studied storytelling as a performative discipline at Emerson College in Sussex (UK) under world-renowned names in the field. Today, she shares stories and spreads awareness of storytelling in Slovakia. www.pribehomnastope.sk
Dominika Belanská loves singing and dancing – and knows that the power of voice and movement connects people: to each other, to themselves, and to the places they inhabit. Through council circles and various other participatory methods, she creates spaces where authentic voices are heard and diverse needs can be met. www.belanska.art
