Raven Narratives

Tamara describes her time in North Africa studying music and dance, and how her experiences there led to a profound personal transformation. She told her story at the Raven Narratives events in late February and early March 2025 when the theme was “trees - rocks - birds”. Tamara is a Colorado-born mountain lover and music anthropologist, and the world's leading expert in an Algerian ritual healing tradition that nobody has ever heard of. From the melodramatic age of five, she was determined to become "a famous composer" which, indeed, materialized into advanced degrees in music composition and writing music for modern dance and film in her twenties. Fed up with studying dead, European White guys (i.e. Beethoven and the like), her rhythmic curiosity led her to study music in West and North Africa where she has spent more than 20 years conducting extensive musical and anthropological fieldwork on both sides of the Sahara Desert with Sufi communities (a branch of transcendental Islam). Now a senior researcher in mental health and healing across cultures (still a part-time musician), she has held academic posts in the US, UK, Germany, and Algeria and has published widely on musically-induced trance phenomena. Join us for two Raven Narratives SLAM storytelling events when the theme will be “mistakes” on Friday, June 20th, at the Fenceline Cider in Mancos, and on Saturday, June 21st, at the Ska Brewing in Durango. Storytelling SLAM events feature stories told by audience members, so bring your “mistakes” story and you might get a chance to share it on the stage! Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for the latest information on ticket sales and more.

Dave describes a friend who made a deep impression on him, and how some friendships can change you forever. He told his story at the Raven Narratives events in late February and early March 2025 when the theme was “trees - rocks -birds”. Dave has been trying to figure it out for a long time. Considering all the thoughts he’s thunk you would think he’s figured it out, but no, he hasn’t. Apparently it’s about quality, not quantity. Dave really loves people but spends most of his time with vegetables, trees, and his incredibly wise dog. He has been called a hermit, and a social butterfly, but when he dies he would prefer to come back as a porpoise, and is glad that has now been put into writing. He is a total sucker for sunset walks, pie, adventures, games, intense carnival rides, and pie. If given three wishes he would wish for peace for everyone, ALL the food to be grown in community gardens, and three more wishes. Join us for two Raven Narratives SLAM storytelling events when the theme will be “mistakes” on Friday, June 20th, at the Fenceline Cider in Mancos, and on Saturday, June 21st, at the Ska Brewing in Durango. Storytelling SLAM events feature stories told by audience members, so bring your “mistakes” story and you might get a chance to share it on the stage! Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for the latest information on ticket sales and more.

Shane tells the story of his solo backpacking trip in the Verde River canyon of Arizona, and how things got weird, and then even weirder, when law enforcement descended on him. He told his story at the Raven Narratives events in late February and early March 2025 when the theme was “trees - rocks -birds”. Shane escaped Los Angeles at 22 years old, after experiencing the muggle equivalent of a dementor sucking his soul from his body, a.k.a. working in Hollywood. He stuffed everything he owned into a Jeep that doubled as his bedroom, and spent his early twenties surfing couches, floors, RVs, and more, all in the name of living out Kerouac’s unfinished adventure, hoping to break free from the gravitational pull of city life and find a pulse stronger than the 9-to-5. Eventually, he traded in his vagabond shoes for the (slightly) more stable life of a wilderness guide in Durango, Colorado, where he found his people, which led him back to grad school and eventually to his current evolution as a Psychotherapist in Santa Fe. Shane is a hype-man of hope, a lover of love, and a darn fine whistler. His karmic duty now compels him to let any weary traveler crash in the guest bedroom, because he’s learned that the best stories come from unexpected company. Join us for two Raven Narratives SLAM storytelling events when the theme will be “mistakes” on Friday, June 20th, at the Fenceline Cider in Mancos, and on Saturday, June 21st, at the Ska Brewing in Durango. Storytelling SLAM events feature stories told by audience members, so bring your “mistakes” story and you might get a chance to share it on the stage! Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for the latest information on ticket sales and more.

Natalie and her partner face a difficult decision that changes them both forever. She told her story at the Raven Narratives events in early October 2024 when the theme was “friendship”. Natalie will always be thrilled to meet people she likes and admires and connects with. She was voted most likely to become the pope by her 8th grade class, which is clearly problematic for so many reasons. Natalie loves naps and she is continually impressed, moved, heartbroken, inspired, delighted, and overwhelmed by this transient fragile beautiful mortal experience. Join us for two Raven Narratives SLAM storytelling events when the theme will be “holidays” on Friday, December 6th, at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez, and on Saturday, December 7th, at the Durango Arts Center. Storytelling SLAM events feature stories told by audience members, so bring your “holidays” story and you might get a chance to share it on the stage! Follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for the latest information on ticket sales and more.