Dum de dum dum.....Presenting the letter "D" and DREAD

I was happily amidst a group of middle schoolers, all working hard on doing improvs or watching their friends do improvs when I had a comment on the work. As I began to speak my coaching piece, one of the girls interrupted with:

"Dum de dum dum.....!"

We all laughed.  No, there was no terror to be gotten from my statements but the drama of the lead in was enough to change the mood and start us on a path of ghostly improvs.

Dread sends adrenaline coursing through our bodies. Dread imbues stories with urgency.  Dread is the ingredient that addicts us to "The X Files", Rod Serling's shows, Hitchcock's movies, zombies, vampires, ghosts.  What if it REALLY did happen? What would I do?  How would I react?  Would I survive?

Walk into a room and sing out the phrase, "Dum de dum dum...." and watch everyone get silent, or worried. What power dread has over our lives.

I have been following the blog, Storytelling Matters.  There's lots of dread there!  Watch out!

Dum de dum dum.....