Slam Poetry the Power of Words

Words

The Super Powers of Spoken Word Art

Saturday, April 29 – 3:00-6:00 pm

Four Rivers Cultural Center

 

 

Please join Boise Poet Laureate and former Idaho-Writer-in Residence, Diane Raptosh on Saturday, April 29 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM for explorations into spoken word art on Saturday, April 29 for this FREE program. Ben Duran, a local Slam Poet from Boise will be in attendance to assist Diane and help attendees finesse their topics and help with their writing.  Intended for kids aged six to . . . infinity, this will be an afternoon of turning language into music. The event will kick off by watching some examples of spoken word art performed mostly by children and teens. From there, participants will go on to compose spoken word art, alternatively known as slam poetry, to be performed—that is read aloud, sung, or maybe just whispered, quietly or wildly—at the latter end of the program.

 

A veteran judge of Poetry Out Loud competitions, Raptosh will offer lively and fun writing prompts that may include, but will not be limited to, the following: “If I Were in Charge of the World”; “My Life Story in 24 Words,” “Song Poem That is Simply a List of Excuses”. “The Talent that Will Make Me Famous,” “My Super Power Poem.” These works of spoken word art will be written individually.

 

Later in the program, participants will write “team poems” on themes to be announced on the day of the event. Students will then practice reading and performing these works aloud in the low-pressure, supportive environment that is the Four Rivers Cultural Center.

 

The event will close with a performance of one of each participant’s favorite pieces. While spoken word art is usually performed without a written script, we will bend the rules a bit in the interest of time: Participants may rap or sing their words while looking at a page of notes, or read their pieces aloud in full, or simply improvise. The point is that everyone will be having fun with word sounds, as well as with one another.

 

Participants may write and perform in any language they choose.

 

Ben Duran, a local Slam Poet from Boise will be in attendance to assist Diane and help attendees finesse their topics and help with their writing.