The Edge present Rising Voices Summer Series

Smashing all the Slam Rules

Niu Navigations in association with The Edge present

Rising Voices Summer Series

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Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February 7.30pm, Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

It’s summer. It’s time to change it up and break the rules. Rising Voices Summer Series takes twelve of the best Rising Voices alumni poets, and challenges them to present a fifteen minute showcase of some of their fresh and favourite works and smash all the rules of Slam poetry.

With props, music, dance and exploring the space encouraged the possibilities are endless.

“Our hope is that the poets will really be able to show who they are without the normal rules of Slam Poetry applying” says Grace Taylor, Rising Voices Poetry Slam Founder “I’m really excited to see how far they push themselves and what might emerge in the wake”

Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam opened its doors and introduced a new audience to the world of spoken word poetry in 2011. Three slams later Rising Voices has become an institution and the Spoken word poetry scene in Aotearoa is growing. Last year they expanded to Christchurch and in 2014 the inaugural Rising Voices Summer Series kicks off 2014 with a bang.

The poets can choose to bring dance, music and movement to the stage to complement the passion and humour of their words. It’s an exciting opportunity for the poets and for the audience to see where this freedom might take them. Each night features a different line-up of six outstanding poets from the Rising Voices community. Poets include:

Husam Al-Deen (Slam Runner Up 2012) "I pump poetic blood through your arteries like my heart was a loudspeaker"
Marina Alefosio (2011 & 2012, Mentor 2013) “They speak about our beauty like its currency to exploit our scars, so we always forget how beautiful we actually are.”

Ashleigh Fata (2013) "I will see life through kaleidoscopes, where every shape and colour is beautiful"

Mohamed Hassam (Slam Champ 2013) "The gaps in-between the sentences we speak are dressed in our reflections, they will haunt us only if we let them. Tame them, and we will speak earthquakes"

Ileana Lamata (2013) "There is no time frame, no guarantee of company- just me, and this wide, blank wall."

Chris McMurray (2011) "I thought they never listened; turned out they couldn't hear me"

Te Kahu Rolleston (Slam Runner Up 2013) "We let a B.A-HONS determine a man’s honor, yet we forget about the depth of the heart, and expect nothing less than a M.A scholar..."

Zech Soakai (2013) "My art speaks... It has a voice... I'm just learning to find the right pair of ears to listen"

Kirsti Whalen (2013) "Arty loser in high school. Baby now, you're the cool kid."

Rewa Worley (2012 & 2013) "Just a pious watchman with questions and a nest of poems that swirl around his head when he thinks too much. He always thinks too much."
Courtney Petelo (2013) "Let the essence of your broken soul ring the silent alarms in his head."

“It’s going to be a great night out. Not only do you get the heart of six poets poured out on to the stage but we also have a summer BBQ and live music to enjoy from 6pm” Says Grace.

Twelve of Aotearoa’s most exciting young poets, who competed in the Rising Voices Youth Poetry Slam in the last 3 years, perform a mix of their best work in the Rising Voices Summer Series over two nights. Come and support your favourites and see something new this summer.

Come at 6pm to enjoy the bar, summer BBQ and foyer entertainment by the hilarious musical genius of STIKS & SWITCHMAN. BBQ from 6pm. Live music from STIKS from 6.30 – 7.15pm.

Rising Voices Summer Series is on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February, at 7.30pm at the Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre. Book at www.ticketmaster.co.nz or 0800 111 999. Tickets are Adult $20.00, Concession $17.00, and Children $15.00 or two shows for $35.00 full or $30.00 concession*

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ENDS

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