The Story of Joan and Mack

Joan and Mack Swift met while attending Emory and Henry College in Virginia. Drawn together by their mutual good looks, interest in the dramatic arts and passion for teaching, they married, raised two amazing children, and pursued careers in public education. After 35 years of teaching they decided to try something different. Combining their styles and talents, they formed the Tales in Tandem storytelling team. They know a wide variety of stories and have performed for audiences of all ages, both individually and together. By combining their teaching experiences with their dramatic skills and artistry, Joan and Mack create imaginative and unforgettable presentations in storytelling.

Tales in Tandem

Tales in Tandem leapt into the spotlight in 1995 when, together, Joan and Mack told one of their favorite tales, “Liza Lou and the Yellow-Belly Swamp Monster”, at a Twelfth Night celebration. Since then, they have mastered dozens of tales for audiences of the very young to the very young at heart. As a team, Joan and Mack received the Folk Arts Revival Society's Fiddlin’ Frog Award in 1997 for encouraging the art of storytelling. Tales in Tandem is now included on the Virginia Artist in Education, Artists-in-Residency Grant Roster, continuing until 2006 before renewal.

Joan Swift

Joan Swift taught elementary school for 30 years with a three-year hiatus to direct the gifted education program for the City of Staunton. In 1994, she earned her Master of Arts in Reading and Story Arts from East Tennessee State University. No longer a full-time employee of the city school system, Joan now divides her time between storytelling and part-time teaching. In addition to her storytelling gigs, Joan spends her time teaching a master’s class in Education at Mary Baldwin College and working as an adjunct professor in Reading at Blue Ridge Community College.

In her spare time, she is a member of the Virginia Storytelling Alliance (VASA), which she and Mack helped found. Additionally, she serves as board member of The Folk Arts Revival Society. She is continually expressing her creative side, not just through storytelling arts, but also through theater by directing, acting, and singing with Oak Grove Theater, Shenanarts, Theater Wagon of Virginia, Waynesboro Players. She particularly enjoys exploring the imaginary worlds she creates with her two-year-old grandson.

Mack Swift

Born in the Iron Mountains of northeastern Tennessee, Mack Swift has storytelling in his blood. Mack has been telling tales for as long as he can remember. He knows about 940 stories and will tell them to anyone who will listen.

Mack taught high school history for 35 years. He also taught speech and drama, and coached football and tennis. These days, besides being a storyteller, he works as an adjunct history professor at Blue Ridge Community College. Like Joan, he directs, produces and acts in many local and school theater productions. Mack serves on the board of Oak Grove Theater.