Toronto Poetry Slam

by Toronto Poetry Project

The first slam of 2012 and the first time TPS has gone bi-weekly was nothing short of a mad success. It didn't matter that it was on a Sunday night, as The Drake was still at capacity by the time the show begun. And what a show it was.

Host Amanda Hiebert busted our guts with her banter, stories, and a couple of cuss words tossed in along the way.

Yes, that's right, it's the first slam of 2012 and we can't wait to see you! January is the first time that Toronto Poetry Slam will be going twice a month so come on out and make it a big one!!

SUNDAY JAN 8 @ the Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St.

He's been getting a lot of slam love this month so it was only fittin Tomy Bewick won December's slam. But he had some tough competition...

It felt like a night of veteran spoken word artistry. Amanda Hiebert came at us with a funny poem about her boyfriend, Britta B dropped the heavy with a piece on domestic abuse, PAN made us laugh with his trademark piece on geek coitus, Arianna told us about her Singapore adventures, and Ritallin delivered a pitch-perfect performance of his machete smile poem.

When the third round came around, it was Tomy and Ritallin and Britta B.

In case you didn't know, Toronto Poetry Project artists are available to perform in schools across Ontario. For the past four years, we have conducted slams and workshops in many schools, offering classrooms an exciting opportunity to learn more about spoken word, one of the fastest rising literary art forms.

Teachers, get a hold of us! Email us at info@torontopoetryslam.com

We have also performed at summer camps and arts festivals, so if you are looking for dynamic poetic talent for those venues, give us a shout!

Toronto Poetry Slam is honoured to have Jovan Mays make his TPS debut on Sat Nov. 26 at the Drake Underground. Mays was on the Denver team that won the National Poetry Slam last year in Boston...and let's just say it was an absolutely well-deserved win.

He answered a few questions for us so you get to know him a bit better prior to his feature set on Nov. 26:

1.

Congrats to the new BAM! Youth Slam Team, selected on Nov. 9 at The Central during the BAM! Finals.

The team is: Ambrosia, Kurt Dadivas, Sheila Brewster, Olga Bond and alternate Saman Naderi

Thanks to everyone who came out this season! BAM! is getting bigger and better every year!

Scores (after 4 rounds)

Ambrosia - 104.5
Kurt - 100.1
Sheila - 97.9
Olga - 95.4*
Saman - 95.4*
Bidhan - 95.1
Walid - 94.5

*while Olga and Saman did tie overall, Olga's scores in the finals were higher and this earned her the spot on the team and Saman the alt.

Friends, you don't want to miss one of the hottest youth slams of the year...

The BAM! Youth Slam Finals go down Nov. 9 at The Central, at 603 Markham St.

Doors 630, show at 7. Open mic for anyone of any age.

Who are the finalists vying for the four-person team?

You'll hear poetry from: Kurt, Walid, Sheila, Ambrosia, Saman, Olga Bidhan

Plus, a rocking feature poet will grace the stage: Greg 'Ritallin' Frankson!

Hosted by PAN

See you on the 9th, poetry fans!

You would think the slam after the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word would be a bit light. But that was not the case. At all. Poetry fans packed the Drake Hotel Underground and we hit capacity by 815, and 20 poets tried to make the 11 spots available (Kliggy was a guarantee).

Once the poetry began, we knew we were in for a treat. Seasoned poets hit the stage, such as Krystle and Electric Jon, but we also got a taste of some fresh faces (Iyah, Marcus, aforementioned Kliggy).

The next Toronto Poetry Slam is scheduled for SATURDAY OCTOBER 22 @ Drake Hotel Undergrond, 7pm doors, 730pm sign up.

$5 all night.

featuring the awesome and powerful Megan Ann Ward from Montreal!

Facebook event invite:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=232467443475217