Delve into the rich history of storytelling through a discussion of the oral tradition in both Africa and the United States with Jeannine Osayande, a teaching artist, choreographer and performer of West African dance (Mali Empire). Osayande will demonstrate ways in which this tradition continues into the present through her personal experiences with elders in her neighborhood. The Brandywine River Museum of Art will open at 5:30 p.m. with the program at 6 p.m. and a reception to follow. Jeannine Osayande is an award-winning performer, educator and choreographer of West Africa (Old Mali Empire) and Brazilian (Samba and Bahian) dance. She is the founder and director of Dunya Performing Arts Company, specializing in artist residencies throughout the area. She has performed throughout the U. S. and internationally, and has taught at the University of the Arts, Bryn Mawr College, Swarthmore College and Usinus College. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology from Temple University, and a Certificate in Traditional and Contemporary African Dance from Noyam African Dance Institute and the Ghana Board of Education. This program is part of The Art of Stories presented by PNC Arts Alive—a multidisciplinary celebration of the narrative arts and the ways in which stories are crafted, saved and shared including discussions, performances and opportunities for artistic self-expression.