Storytellers return to western Virginia for popular festival

ROANOKE CO., Va. (WDBJ) - Antonio Rocha is a man of many talents, a student of the theater and the art of mime. But he traces his career as a storyteller to something else.

“I was tour guide for two years, with a microphone, in a bus, with 40-45 people telling them historical stories. And I’m like, wow. That’s where it started, you know,” Rocha told WDBJ7 Friday morning.

Rocha is one of four storytellers performing at the Sounds of the Mountains Story Festival this weekend at Camp Bethel in Botetourt County.

He offered a preview for students at Mountain View Elementary School in Roanoke County.

Family was Rocha’s first audience in his native Brazil. and in the 30 years since his first paid gig as a storyteller, he’s connected with audiences of all ages around the world.

“And when we tell a story we go back to that bonfire. We go back to that humanity. We go back to listening. We go back to respecting. We go back to understanding someone’s point of view,” Rocha said.

The Sounds of the Mountains Story Festival is now in its 23rd year. The two-day event began Friday evening at Camp Bethel, and continues through Saturday night. For more information, click on the following link:

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