Captivating her audience with energy and enthusiasm, singer, songwriter and storyteller Nina Ryne has performed for over 15,000 children in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. She has toured throughout California and New York, and has recorded It’s Our World a CD of traditional and original children’s music. Trained in acting and singing in New York and England, Nina has performed professionally since 1980. She integrates movement, storytelling and music in multicultural performances to emphasize diversity and respect for people and our natural environment.

Stories & Songs from Around the World presents multicultural songs and stories in a theatrical, interactive style. Songs accompanied by guitar are in Spanish, French, Russian and American Sign Language. Children are selected from the audience to act out a folk tale. Through songs and stories, children gain an understanding and respect for those of various abilities and diverse cultural backgrounds.

In Eastern European Songs and Stories, Nina is dressed in traditional Czechoslovakian costume once worn by her mother and grandmother and uses Russian nesting dolls to illustrate how folklore is handed down through the generations. Children participate in stories and songs accompanied by guitar. This captivating performance inspires children to appreciate their own heritage.

In Tunes and Tales, Mr. G (Jan Grigsby) adds vocal harmonies, guitar, viola, mandolin, percussion and sound effects to Nina’s high-energy, multicultural, interactive performance. Children and staff will be delighted by this dynamic duo, who have been providing music and storytelling performances for more than 20 years.