WordPlay Teen Poetry Slam Festival in Baton Rouge

From April 26th through April 28th teens from throughout Baton Rouge, youth educators, and a mass of spectators will take over the Shaw Center Manship Theater for the first annual WordPlay Teen Poetry Slam Festival. Riding fast on the coattails of a second successful year of programming, WordPlay hopes to make All City a fast-paced, jam-packed, inclusive event that will engage diverse Baton Rouge audiences in writing and listening to poetry. For young people, All City also offers the chance to compete for one of six spots on the Baton Rouge all-stars team that will compete at the Brave New Voices National Teen Poetry Festival in San Jose, California this July. Currently, WordPlay is still taking registration forms from competing teams, but time to register is short.

Unlike Freshhhh Heat (WordPlay's teen open mic), slam, says WordPlay director Anna West, "is an Olympic-style poetry contest." Created in Chicago in 1985 by Marc Kelly Smith, slam has become an international phenomenon. But, as Ms. West is quick to point out, "Baton Rouge is learning that the game isn't adults only." WordPlay hopes to use friendly competition to gather young writers and performers and create a safe space that emphasizes community building, education, and youth empowerment. West notes, "like a sporting event, slam pulls out a huge crowd of people who are excited about the competition. For us, the competition is a 'hook.' But we emphasize the poetry and the development of young writers, not the competition element." As writing teacher, Chancelier "xero" Skidmore, who also hosts the local adult poetry open mic refrains, "the points are not the point; the poetry is the point."

Preliminary bouts and workshops will be hosted by two preeminent New Orleans spoken word poets, Hollywood and Mrs. Peaches Caldwell. West suggests that, "audiences should be prepared for some stirring work - moving from high comedy to trembling truth." According to the Freshhhh Heat open mic claimer, Baton Rouge teen poets "spit...the type of innovative and creative speech that only the youth can master!" Skidmore remarked, "The slam is the perfect place to learn what's going on with the young people of Baton Rouge. Their stories are candid, profound, charming, and often heartbreaking. They need our love and support, but the only way we can adequately give it to them is to find out how that support can best be administered. We have to listen."

Skidmore also noted, "It is well known throughout the youth development field that our young people take their literary growth more seriously when they know they have an authentic audience in the community." West also suggests that, "a slam team is a great way to build awareness and pride in your school, community, or youth center." WordPlay staff is calling on Baton Rouge's young people, anyone with a couple of poems, raps, or who is willing to perform, to come together in teams of 4-6 teens and "flex their poetic muscles." Regristrations are coming in, but the deadline is fast-approaching. Wake up Baton Rouge teens! For, as West says, "this is the season for the poets."

Visit the WordPlay website (www.wordplaybr.com) to register and for more details about ALL CITY: the WordPlay teen poetry slam festival.

Anna Hirsch, WordPlay Project Assistant, is a fiction writer, book artist, and teacher. She is currently a member of the Louisiana Delta Service Corps, serving at WordPlay, and a recent graduate of Louisiana State University (MFA). At WordPlay she oversees WordSkills tutoring and academic advising and teen publications. She is also the website czar.

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