Yale Native Storytellers Contest

November 15, 2016

Contest Description:

The 2nd Annual Yale Native Storytellers Contest is sponsored by the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program to showcase the breadth of storytelling by indigenous youth. To support the new generation of storytellers, we invite indigenous youth to submit written versions of their plays and video versions of their songs, dances, or poetry for consideration. Winners of the contest (and one parent/guardian for winners under the age of 18) will receive an all-expense paid trip to Yale University as a part of the Yale Native Storytellers Festival in April 2017. The winning playwright will receive a staged reading of their work with community and professional actors while the other winners will have the opportunity to perform as a part of the Festival.

Categories:

  • Playwriting
  • Spoken Word
  • Songwriting/Music
  • Dance

Eligibility:

  • For All Applicants:
    • Videos or written samples are due December 31st, 2016.
    • In addition to your piece of art, all contestants should submit an artistic statement about what writing or performing means to you.
    • The statement must be no longer than 500 words.
    • Please attach to the statement:
      • Full Name
      • Tribal Affiliation
      • Date of Birth
      • Home Address
      • Email
      • Phone Number
    • Email the statement with your play, poem, dance, or song to yipapstorytellers@gmail.com.
  • Playwriting*
    • Written submissions only.
    • The Playwright must be between the ages of 15 and 25 and identify as indigenous.
    • Plays must be original full-length (but no more than 120 pages) and written in standard play-script format with one-inch margins, #12 Times or Courier font, all pages numbered. 
    • Front page of script must list:
      • Title of play
      • Full Name
      • Tribal Affiliation
      • Date of Birth
      • Home Address
      • Email
      • Phone Number

*Note: Putting on a play is a collective effort and, as such, the winning playwright will be partnered with a professional Native playwright and/or director to workshop their piece before its staged reading in April.

  • Spoken Word
    • Video submissions only.
    • The Poet must be between the ages of 15 and 18 and identify as indigenous.
    • A video of your original poem must be under 3:30 minutes.
    • Upload the video to YouTube as “Unlisted” and send the link to yipapstorytellers@gmail.com.
    •  In the video description mark your name, age, home state, and tribal affiliation.
  • Songwriting/Music
    • Video submissions only.
    • The Musician must be under the age of 15 and 18 and identify as indigenous.
    • A video of your original song must be under 5 minutes.
    • Upload the video to YouTube as “Unlisted” and send the link or an MP3 to yipapstorytellers@gmail.com.
    • If submitting a video, in the description mark your name, genre of music (Rock, Hip-Hop, Country, Powwow, etc.), and tribal affiliation.
  • Dance
    • Video submissions only.
    • The Dancer must be under the age of 15 and 18 and identify as indigenous.
    • A video of your original dance must be under 5 minutes.
    • Upload the video to YouTube as “Unlisted” and send the link or an MP3 to yipapstorytellers@gmail.com.
    • If submitting a video, in the description mark your name, style of dance (Jazz, Fancy, Jingle Dress, Hip-Hop, Ballet, etc.), and tribal affiliation.