The Kinetic Poetics Project

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The Kinetic Poetics Project has organized four nights of Spoken Word, Slam, and Poetry highlighting the talent of students, community members, and featured established Slam Poets, Monday Feb 9 –Thursday Feb. 12—on the stage of the Porter College dining hall on the UCSC campus. All portions of the event are open to the public, and held free of charge. Each night’s events will begin at 8PM.

Event Times and Location
February 9-12
Porter Dining Hall
Every night at 8pm

The project opens Monday, Feb. 9, with an “Original Works Open Mic” featuring from Hollywood guest artist, actress/actor, Haitian-American, performer, poet, educator, activist, singer, and gender-illusionist DRED. The project continues with two nights of SLAM competition held in conjunction with Synesthesia Poetry SLAM featuring Underground Harlem Poet BLUE on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and youngest slammster in the nation, founder and host of three-time National Poetry Slam Championship Venue, Urbana, Cristin O’ Keefe Aptowicz on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The second night of competition will be dedicated to selecting a team to represent the university at the National Poetry SLAM Competition this March. The final evening of Thursday, Feb. 12, entitled Featured Artists Night, showcases local and campus spoken word ensembles and solo artists, and a highly anticipated performance by member of past national SLAM Championship Team San Francisco, arts activist, Hip Hop Theater Explorer, past Broadway Performer, Dancer, Choreographer, Professor, and 3 time San Francisco Slam Winner Marc Bamuthi Joseph.

Each night presents the opportunity for students and community members to speak out, and to share and inspire each other through poetry. It is important to provide an artistic space for individuals’ voices to be heard. The nature of modern spoken word, SLAM, and poetry includes an in depth dialogue on the social and political world we live in today from the perspective of a variety of different individuals.

Theater art designers are transforming the Porter dining commons into an intimate performance space showcasing a photo gallery organized by Porter’s Photo Club. Food will be provided to add to the café environment and each night will feature a new DJ and host.

Participation in the “Original Works Open Mic” is open to all student, faculty, and community performers. Sign-ups begin at 7:30PM and musical accompaniment; props, ensemble poetry performances and other creative approaches are all welcome.

Please consider time constraints (large equipment will not be accommodated—don’t bring a drum set, but you may bring a drum).

Sign-Ups for the Open SLAM on Tuesday Feb 10 also start at 7:30PM. Props are discouraged for the SLAM. All nights are highly interactive, and workshops are in the process of being scheduled with the featured artists.

More Notes About the Project:
The Kinetic Poetics Project is funded generously by the Hitchcock Poetry Fund. George Hitchcock, is a poet, painter, actor, director, and emeritus professor of Porter College. In the summer of 2002, Mr. Hitchcock set up an endowment of approximately $500K in support of poetry activities at Porter College.

The Kinetic Poetics Project is made up of UCSC spoken word enthusiasts who see performance poetry as a tie that binds communities together by revealing the universal truths shared by each of us. Its mission is to create a free and safe space where this vital yet underrepresented art form may mobilize the voices within our community.