(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on May 9, 2007.)
By Gillian Brunette
Slam poetry, otherwise known as spoken word poetry or performance poetry, is a relatively new art form in Canada that is increasingly gaining popularity.Earlier last month the Huntsville Festival of the Arts sponsored two short classes on the art for Grade 9 and Grade 12 Huntsville High School (HHS) students. This was followed on April 26 by a workshop and performance of slam poetry at Sutherland Hall.
Four poets from the Toronto Poetry Slam scene – Electric Jon, Gypsy Eyes (Matt Toth) Mike Smith (a.k.a. the White Noise Machine) and Dave Silverberg – were the workshop presenters.
They also performed for the students as well as introducing different genres of spoken word poetry including group performances.
The workshop was attended by 60 English and drama students from HHS and facilitated by English teacher Kirsten Corsen. It was also attended by students of Roger Bird and Doug Raisbeck as well as several local poets.
The workshop focused on voice, tone, interpretation and physical aspects of breathing and projection, said festival of the arts director Suzanne Riverin.
“The students then had a chance to share their talents with each other and the poets before sharing with the larger group.”
She continued: “The reaction was incredibly favourable as the students enjoyed the performances of the poets and took away new insight into the meaning of storytelling and the spoken word.”
The festival is holding its annual Poetry Café on July 16 at 7 p.m. at the Algonquin Theatre, and it is expected that some of the students and adult poets will try their hand at slam poetry. The evening will also feature Toronto’s celebrated poet laureate Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, who will share his work and join the “home-grown” poets in an evening celebrating poetry and its many faces.
To learn more about performance poetry in Toronto, go to www.torontopoetryslam.com.
