In Manhattan (4 weeks)
1. Transformers IV: you and your organic poem, you and your organic stage
Roger Bonair-Agard
Mondays, February 2-23, 4:30-6:30pm
This workshop will examine the work of Audre Lorde, Ross Gay, Rachel McKibbens, Terrance Hayes, and Carl Dennis. Using these contemporary poets’ works, the participants will craft poems of wildly divergent styles, and begin the “conversation” of learning the organic lives of these poems on the page and in the body; how the poem gets to represent both the fire of the voice and its most tightly honed craft, and then move towards the most available fire in the body, and its tightly honed craft.
2. High Wattage:Elements of Performing the Poem
Regie Cabico & Parker Pracjek
Wednesdays, February 4-25, 4:30-6:30pm
How do we make performance choices that heighten the poem’s life? How do we “live” the poem and not simply read the poem? The poem is your showstopper, your three minute solo play. We will explore the vocal & physical techniques for audiences to “see” the poem. From the professional slammer to the virginal journal poet, we will stretch your interpretation of your over-performed texts, and we will prepare you to kick your verses in the squint of the spotlight in a nurturing environment. Bring a poem, no more than a page long, comfortable shoes & clothes, your body and a packet of your emotional colors.
****In Brooklyn (8 weeks)
1. NEW Native Style - Brooklyn Stories
Trish Hicks
Tuesdays, February 3- March 31, 4-6pm
This workshop continues to explore different forms of creativity and how they inspire writing, mc-ing and spoken word poetry. Use film, photography, music, collage, and other forms of artistic expression to tell the unique story of your life. From Wild Style to freestyle, your own personal style is the raw material for making your voice heard! Bring it!
2. Spoken Word: Dynamics in Delivery
Darian Dauchan
Thursdays, February 5 - March 26, 4-6pm
We will explore rhyme scheme and cadence, and the musicality of spoken word, by listening to and viewing works by a diverse array of performance poets, while continuing to write new poems, and tackling our own material. We will experiment with vocal climax, pacing, and crescendo in order to break free of monotonous or one-note performances.
to sign up, email signup[at]urbanwordnyc.org or call 212-352-3495