Embassy Events 2003
Embassy Helps Support U.S. Poets in Poland
8 October 2003 |
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Lovers of performance art and poetry heard two of the best American
spoken word poets live for the first time in Poland on October 3. The
U.S. Embassy helped sponsor their appearance.
Wordsmiths
Mahogany Browne and Jive Poetic appeared on stage at the Traffic Club
in Warsaw. Mahogany and Jive each have their own unique delivery,
drawing equally from the Beat poetry reading tradition, street
performance, Slam poetry and avant-garde hip-hop.
Aside from the
verse, the audience had the opportunity to see a performance by the
fighter-dancers from the Beribazu Capoeira group, whose martial arts
are truly another kind of powerful, physical poetry.
The
audience -- mostly students -- was enthusiastic about the performance.
"I was very impressed. The artists were so positive," says Ann, an
American who was in Warsaw for only two days.
On October 4 in
the Stara Prochoffnia, Poland's fourth Poetry Slam took place. Poetry
Slams are spoken word poetry competitions, judged by the audience, and
open to absolutely anybody who comes armed with his or her own work.
After the Slam, Mahogany Browne and Jive Poetic performed once again,
so the audience could compare Polish and American performance poetry.
"I
have never seen such a performance before in my life. I am happy I had
the opportunity to see and listen to artists straight from New York.
Their poetry was even better than hip-hop!" said Magda, a Warsaw
University student.
You'll be able to experience American Slam
poetry in Poland yourself. American poets will perform in Warsaw in
June/July 2004 during New New Yorkers Festival organized by the U.S.
Embassy.
