Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam 2013

The rise of Rising Voices

Niu Navigations in Association with The EDGE presents

Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam 2013

Saturday 14th September, 7pm, Concert Chamber

Slam is more than just a competition; it’s a global, social, literary movement

Marc Kelly Smith, Poetry Slam Founder.

In 2011 a new concept hit the Auckland Town Hall stage. Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam opened its doors and introduced a new audience to the world of spoken word poetry.

Rising Voices was born out of an inspired collaboration between Grace Taylor and Jai MacDonald, both winners in previous Auckland poetry Slams and teaching artists to young and emerging spoken word poets. Jai and Grace saw a need for a Poetry Slam that catered for young poets outside of the pubs and bars most slams are held.

Two years and two slams later they have done just that. The Spoken word poetry scene in Aotearoa is growing and while Jai has moved on, Grace has taken the reins, producing Rising Voices under her own company Niu Navigations. This year Rising Voices has expanded to Christchurch, and in Auckland, interest to compete is now so high they have to hold auditions to take part.

“Since Rising Voices was created participation of new poets and audiences of spoken word poetry has increased tenfold. The huge success of the last two years means we have had no problem amassing poets for this year’s slam, it’s fantastic.”

Rising Voices is the first poetry slam that provides those competing the chance to develop their writing and performance through six weeks of intensive workshops, this year facilitated in Auckland by Dietrich Soakai and Marina Alefosio and in Christchurch by Tusiata Avia and Daisy Timo Lavea.

It is also an opportunity for audience members to experience poetry like they might never have before. It’s not a stuffy professor of elocution reading from a dusty volume, Spoken word is fresh, dynamic and often unexpected for first time poetry goers and an exciting must see addition to the calendar for those who have been before.

Rising Voices 2013 sees twelve emerging spoken word poets, ten from Auckland and two from Christchurch aged 16 to 24 bring their words to life, influenced by their diverse backgrounds, upbringings, and cultures as they fight for the title of 2013 Rising Voices Poetry Slam Champion.

The one-off performance consists of knockout rounds leading to an overall winner; the poets using only their words and voice with no music or props allowed. The slam consists of three rounds with each poet preparing three original poems all no longer than three minutes.

In round one all twelve poets perform. Round two begins with five performers remaining. The Judges give feedback and knock out a further three poets leaving the top two to battle it out in the final round with the audience taking control and deciding who will walk away with the championship.

Rising Voices is becoming a movement all on its own, it’s the voice of the youth of Aotearoa and it’s on for one night only. And According to Grace “This is just the start…”

Rising Voices Poetry Slam is on for one night only on Saturday 14 September, 7pm at The Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall. Tickets are:

$20.00 Full, $15.00 Child, $17.00 Groups 6+ and Concession (Seniors/Students with ID)

(*Service fees apply) and available from www.buytickets.co.nz or 0800 BUYTICKETS.

The best way to understand Rising Voices is to see and hear the poets themselves, here is last year’s winner.

Winner Rising Voices 2012 - Brian Gashema - I AM ME

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52OkkQ9I-E8#at=13

ENDS

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