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 White Plains, NY - In case you haven’t heard, stars are coming to White Plains - the stars of Slam Poetry.
They have been featured at the White Plains Public Library the first Wednesday of each month since 2004 thanks to Eric “Zork” Alan, author and four-time National Slam Poet competitor; Program Librarian Barbara Wenglin, along with other library staff, and the White Plains Library Foundation.
Spoken word or performance poetry is now one of the most popular and growing forms of poetry throughout the United States and worldwide. The Library’s monthly slam poetry events offer an opportunity for poets in Westchester County to perform their original works at an Open Mic or Slam competition during the evening, as well as take inspiration from world-class guests and other local poets. The talented slammaster and performance poet, Eric “Zork” Alan, emcees each program. The visiting poets are exciting professionals from around the country who have been attracting a large and diverse audience. In fact, the program has made such an impact on teens that the White Plains Library Foundation is launching an additional slam poetry program just for them.
Following a year of competitions, the 2008 Westchester Poetry Slam winning team members are James Joseph Buhs, Dan DeRosa, Sean Gallagher, Anne Marie Marra, and Slammaster Eric “Zork” Alan. The team competed at the National Poetry Slam Championship in August in Madison, WI, and received great positive feedback. In 2007, the first-ever Westchester Poetry Slam team entered the National Poetry Slam Championship in Austin, Texas.
“Cultural arts such as live poetry performances elicit dialogue, and the sharing of ideas and experiences,” says Zork. “They bring people together in the community and help nourish the human spirit. The Library, as a community resource and gathering place, helps to build important cultural bridges.”
In addition to the live performances, the Library will present workshops co-hosted by Zork, offering performance hints and guidelines, sample writing exercises, demonstration of good and poor technique using videotaped performances, with group participation, critique and interaction.
“It is amazing to see the talent and enthusiasm of all the performers and the audience at each program. From the young to the seasoned, slam poetry is for everyone who appreciates the art of the spoken word “ says Judy Nevins, past-president of the White Plains Library Foundation.
The next Westchester Poetry Slam and Open Mic! will take place on Wednesday, October 1, at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring Jon Sands. Sands was the youngest poet ever to compete on the prestigious NYC LouderARTS slam team. He's been called "a baby-faced cyclone, a wild twister of poet who...uses everything he's got to move an audience...and blow them away." Slam and Open Mic participants should register at 6:30 pm and bring 2 original poems of up to 3 minutes each.
The Teen Poetry Slam kickoff will take place on October 7th at 6:30 pm. Check out www.whiteplainslibrary.org for future performance and workshop dates.
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