Using movement and narration as the foundation of her work, Elaine Muray's Embodied Voice StoryArts explores the use of a synthesis of art forms in storytelling, including music and magic. Her selections of material are adaptations of folktales from around the world as well as original material, for both children and adults. In addition to solo performances, Elaine provides Artist-in-Residency programs on storytelling and literacy, and movement, for students, and Storytelling for Educators for teachers.
Elaine was chosen by her peers and a national committee to represent the Pacific Region at the 2008 National Storytelling Conference. For the 2010 Conference she was chosen to perform in the Pacific Showcase. Elaine has studied with the masters of physical theater including Tony Montanaro. Since 2003, Elaine has been under the personal direction of Paata Tsikurishvili, artistic director of Washington D.C's Synetic Theater, winner of multiple awards for direction and choreography.
Other career highlights include featured performances at the Australian Storytelling Festival and at the National Theatre in Washington, DC. Elaine has recently been elected to serve on the Board of the National Storytelling Network as the Pacific Regional Director. She holds a Bachelor's in Social Work and is a certified ELL instructor. She is a member of NSN’s Youth and Educators in Storytelling, Arts Northwest, and International Performing Arts for Youth. Elaine is also the founder of Ventura County’s Storytelling Guild and Ventura Village Voices Adult Storytelling Series. Elaine is a performer/educator for Santa Barbara Children’s Creative Project, Kern County Young Audiences, Orange County Office of Education (DreamShapers), Fairfax County Arts Council (CAPS) (Washington, DC metro area) and Anne Arundel (MD) County. She is on the roster of Ventura County Artists-in-the-Classroom and Ventura’s Celebration of the Arts.
