The Sedona Poetry Slam is set to kick off its 16th season on Saturday, September 28. The event will take place at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, starting at 7:30 p.m. Performance poets will showcase their talents in a lively, competitive atmosphere.
A poetry slam is an energetic event featuring individual performances, each lasting three minutes. Audience members will judge the poets. Participants can sign up to compete for a grand prize of $75 and a second-place prize of $25.
Open Slam Details
To enter the slam, poets must prepare three original poems, each no longer than three minutes. Props, costumes, and musical accompaniment are not allowed. Five audience members will be randomly selected to judge the performances using an Olympic-style scoring system.
Slam poetry brings together written-page poets, theatrical performers, hip-hop artists, and lyricists. Poets from locations such as Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, and Flagstaff will compete alongside local talent from Sedona and Cottonwood, as well as college students from Northern Arizona University and high school poets from the Verde Valley. All styles of poetry are welcome, ranging from hip-hop and narrative performances to political pieces and personal reflections.
Each poet will have three minutes to captivate and inspire the audience.
The next slam will take place on October 19 and will feature Flagstaff’s Ryan Smalley between rounds. The season will continue with events on November 9, February 1, March 15, April 5, May 3, and concluding on May 31.
The prize money is partially supported by a donation from local poetry advocates Jeanne and Jim Freeland.
Understanding Poetry Slam
Poetry slam began in 1984 at the Green Mill Tavern in Chicago, founded by Marc Smith. This competitive art form aims to engage those who may not typically attend poetry readings by turning the experience into an energetic contest. Judging is conducted by five randomly chosen audience members who evaluate the poets’ content and performance.
Poetry slam has grown into an international phenomenon, with over 100 major slams across the United States, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. Slam poets have performed at significant events, including the Winter Olympics, the White House, and the United Nations General Assembly. They have also been featured on HBO’s “Russell Simmons’ Def Poets.”
Sedona has sent teams to represent the city at the National Poetry Slam in locations such as Charlotte, NC; Boston, MA; Oakland, CA; Decatur, GA; Denver, CO; and Chicago, IL.
Tickets for the slam are priced at $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Both the theatre and the SIFF office are located at 2030 W. Highway 89A in West Sedona.
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