Brave New Voices™ 2006, NYC

The 9^th Annual

    International Youth Poetry Slam Festival

Urban Word NYC and Youth Speaks are pleased to announce Brave New Voices 2006, in New York City - Tuesday April 25^th – Sunday April 30^th. 
 

Festival Description  

In April of 2006, a generation of young artists, educators, poets, and mentors will converge on New York City to participate in the spectacular, internationally renowned InterNational Youth Poetry Slam Festival. Brave New Voices™ gathers, educates and showcases talented, dedicated and courageous young writers from across the country. Now in its 9^th year, Brave New Voices 2006, New York City, will continue to create a forum and community among an ever-growing number of youth who are returning to literature and reinvesting in education through the power of the spoken word.

Building bridges across radically diverse ethnic, racial and socio-economic lines, Brave New Voices is for a generation of young people speaking for themselves; a generation documenting their days in journals, reciting struggles and successes on open microphones, teenagers transcending traditional stereotypes by speaking their truths and listening to the truths of others.
 

Brave New Voices includes youth open mics, an adult reading that features professional poets and performers, (inter)-national community building and networking, panel discussions, workshops lead by professional writers and educators, and The National Youth Poetry Slam Semi-Finals and Finals.

A Poetry Slam is an Olympic-style poetry competition where poets compete on teams in rounds with scores awarded by five judges. The National Youth Poetry Slam Festival uses The Poetry Slam as a tool to bring together the top young poets from around the country to share their work with their peers and a larger audience.
 

Participants
 

More than 300 young poets will participate in this year’s festival held in New York City,

representing over 40 parts of the country and Leeds, England.

Teams to this point include (this is not yet a final list):
 

Across the country, teenagers participate in poetry slams and other readings organized by nonprofits, teachers, schools, local poets, community organizers, and youth workers.  Although the slam is a competitive event, where participants and organizers pour in hours and days of effort and dedication, competition is de-emphasized and commitment to craft and growth in the writer and person are encouraged.  From these local slams, 4-6 of the top
poets (13-19 years old) will be selected to represent their city at Brave New Voices.

SLAM RULES
 

Brave New Voices 2006, New York City April 25-30
Preliminary Event Schedule (this is a sketch only)
 

Each year, Brave New Voices consists of a number of events and workshops that highlight, and educate, an entire generation of local and national young writers. As the schedule is fleshed out, updates will be sent. What is below is a tentative schedule. Schedule will be finalized by February 1^st, 2006.

Tuesday, April 25

Introductory open mic & party.
Upon arriving in New York, all of the team poets and their adult partners get a chance to meet and greet in the best way we know – through an introductory performance. This will be followed by a party with food, dj’s, dancing, and open mic. More info to come.

Wednesday, April 26

Workshops and Panel Discussions

Prelims: National Youth Poetry Slam & Open Mic

During the day & early evening, the young poets have a chance to dive more fully into the art form, and get to know each other as writers. Also, we get into the semi-finals of the Poetry Slam. Each team gets two bouts to perform in throughout the prelim’s & semi’s on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We will also have additional non-competitive performance opportunities.

Thursday, April 27

Workshops and Panel Discussions and other Programs Adult Mentors/Coaches reading

Semi-finals National Youth Poetry Slam & School Assemblies

Thursday, we have more workshops, panel discussions, open mics and other programs that allow the young poets to interact with professional writers, local youth from the Bay Area, and each other. We continue on with the semi-finals of the Slam. We also will feature a reading with our talented coaches and adult mentors from across the country, many of whom have been poetry slam champions, Def Poetry poets, published writers, etc.

Friday, April 28

Workshops and Panel Discussions and other Programs Adult Mentors/Coaches reading

Semi-finals National Youth Poetry Slam & Bridging the Beat & School Assemblies

Friday, we have more workshops, panel discussions, open mics and other programs that allow the young poets to interact with professional writers, local youth from New York, and each other. We continue on with the semi-finals of the Slam. That night, we settle into for a powerful lineup of local poets and performers who will model for the teenagers what possibilities they can reach in their craft. Further, we have something new for 2006 – poets from across the country performing in local middle and high schools.

Saturday, April 29

Coaches & Organizers Brunch and Planning Meeting, 10am  NYC Tour

Grand Slam Finals, The National Youth Poetry Slam

The culminating event of the weekend will provide an opportunity to showcase some of the most talented young writers in America in a 2500 - 5000-seat theater. After taking in the city on a tour facilitated and directed by New York youth, we highlight the top slam teams for 2006. Meanwhile, the organizers have gotten together and begun planning for next year in the Twin Cities.