santa monica, california: poetry/performance workshop

[Raha]

Made possible in part by the CITY of SANTA MONICA COMMUNITY ARTS GRANT PROGRAM, a project of the Santa Monica Community Arts Commission

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HIGHWAYS DOES IT AGAIN!
ALL-STAR POETRY LINE-UP FEATURED AT SECOND ANNUAL SALUTE TO
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

(Santa Monica, CA) From L.A.'s best slam poets vying for a coveted prize to a midnight show featuring erotic and love poetry and the serving of aphrodisiacs, Highways Performance Space returns in style with its salute to National Poetry Month, "In The Beginning Was The Word (2)", a 3-day festival featuring many of L.A.'s top performance poets, on Thursday through Saturday, April 6, 7, & 8th. Tickets are $10 for April 6th's poetry slam, $15 each for the remaining shows or $40 for a three-day festival pass. Reservations can be made at 310-315-1459. "In The Beginning Was The Word" is curated by LeVan D. Hawkins. Highways Performance Space is located at 1651 18th Street in Santa Monica, within the 18th Street Arts Center. There is a parking lot and street parking available

"Our goal this year is the same as last year's: To have a top-quality festival featuring accomplished writers who are also dynamic performers who often include theatrical elements in their work," says Hawkins. "We also strive to present a wide range of styles and voices; from Kamau Daaood, the revered co-founder and artistic director of the World Stage in Leimert Park Village whose latest book, "The Language of Saxophones" was a California Book Award Finalist and a recent winner of the National Black Book Award to Shihan, a two-time LA Grand Champion Slam Poet who has appeared on all five seasons of HBO's "Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry" and is one of the hosts of Da Poetry Lounge, L.A.'s largest open mike venue.

"Last year we had an all-star line-up (in talent and experience) and we continue the tradition this year: Providing great nights of entertainment and substance. In addition to Daaood and Shihan, we have the only LA's only two-time female Grand Slam Champion who has opened for the Black-Eyed Peas, Joss Stone and Erykah Badu appearing on both Saturday shows, 3 other poets who have appeared on HBO's "Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry", the Vice-President of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, 2005 Highways Slam Champion, the featured poet for the Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra, several poets who have appeared on national television, a noted erotic writer and editor, acclaimed performance artists, published writers, members of national slam teams, college professors, art curators, poetry hosts and visual artists."

The shows are as follows:

Night One - Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 8:30 p.m. - REPRESENT 2006 - Slam poets compete for the opportunity to present a show at Highways, one of the country's premier performance spaces. "A show at Highways is a great opportunity. Mollie Angelheart, last year's winner presents her show on Friday."

Night Two - Friday, April 7, 2006 - 8:30 p.m. - COMMON GROUND - One's white. One's black. One's younger. One's older. Together, they meet on Common Ground. Fresh from a 26 city college tour, Highways 2005 Slam Champion Mollie Angelheart (seen on HBO's Russell Simmons presents DEF Poetry) claims her prize with a 2-woman poetry show. Poetic cohort Miss Natalie joins her as they explore the oneness of humanity in the midst of our separateness.

Night Three - Saturday, April, 8, 2006 - 8:30 pm. - TESTIFYIN' - Major Performance poets Kamau Daaood, Bridget Gray, Robert Carroll, Kimberly Dark, Maria Elena Fernandez, George McDonald and Ratpack Slim take the stage and let "it all hang out". "This will be a show filled with passion. Some of the performances will feature theatrical elements such as music and props. There will be a reception afterwards and prior to the midnight show featuring the live music of Chazz on percussion, the vocal stylings of Shurlavision, and others."

Saturday, April 8, 2006 - Midnight - LOVE AND SEX (AT MIDNIGHT) - Erotic and Love Poetry by Shihan, Bridget Gray, LeVan D. Hawkins, Peter J. Harris, Rachel Kann, reina prado, and Jaha Zainabu. Hostess of the night: Pat Payne. "Bring a lover, look for a lover, reminisce about a great lover or be inspired to find one. Aphrodisiacs will be served." Pre-show reception with music begins at 10:30 pm. Attend both Saturday shows for $25."

"Audiences who enjoy good entertainment and thought-provoking even arousing content can get a nice sampling of what the Los Angeles poetry scene has to offer on any of the three nights."

IT'S NOT MAGIC!!!



A POETRY/PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP






People assume writing is like magic for "talented" writers. Not so! Leaders of Santa Monica's most outstanding poetry readings share their writing techniques by examining one of their poems from idea to finished product. Bring a short poem you've written and an idea for a new one and during the session, apply some of the techniques suggested in the workshop to your idea and receive some tips on reading and performing your short poem.

Saturday April 1, Noon - 3pm
$5 - Free to Santa Monica residents
To Register: word22006@yahoo.com, 323-251-3578
Virginia Ave Park, Patio Room, 2200 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica CA 90404


Facilitated by LeVan D. Hawkins

Poet/Performance Artist and Curator of Highways' 2nd Annual Poetry Fest: IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD (2). April 6 – 8th , Highways Performance Space, Santa Monica.
Rachel Kann: host, co-lab:Oration

Mani Suri: co-host, Rapp Saloon, International Youth Hostel, Santa Monica
Peggy Dobreer: host, Horse of Another Color, Velocity Cafe, Santa Monica

Sponsored by, www.highwaysperformance.org

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