Students showcase their spoken-word poetry
The second annual iSpeak! spoken word showcase will take place at Wheaton on Saturday, April 25, with performances by student artists and two guest slam poets.
The second annual iSpeak! spoken word showcase will take place at Wheaton on Saturday, April 25, with performances by student artists and guest slam poets Elizabeth Acevedo and Joshua Bennett.
The event, which starts at 7 p.m. in Chase Round Dining Hall, is free and open to the public.
Roxanna Azari '10, founder of the iSpeak slam poetry club, has been writing and reading poetry since the age of seven. She has performed widely and has won a number of competitions, including two major poetry slams in 2006, in which she beat over 500 competitors.
"Spoken word poetry--also referred to as slam poetry in competition--is performance-based, as opposed to regular poetry, which is a different kind of personal experience," Azari says. "The unique aspect of spoken word is its ability to convey emotion and opinion in a clear message to the audience."
Today, iSpeak! includes a diverse group of Wheaton students whose work expresses themes of love, hate, social injustice, activism, heartbreak, race, class and gender. In the showcase, each student will participate in a group poem, while a select number of students will present individual poems.
The participating student poets are Roxanna Azari, Marcus Dennis, Pamela Dicent, Max Enos, Alex Friberg, Katie Gay, Karessa Irvin, Melissa Johnson, Nigel Lindgren, Shania Mason, Iraimi Mercado, Jessica Smith, Michelle Stephan and Cara Suriyamongkol.
Max Enos '12 will present a spoken word piece on the suppression of homosexuals. "Poetry is a true method of exposing injustices and venting my thoughts," he says. "Performances allow the poet to covey those thoughts to an audience."
Shania Mason '11 will present two solo pieces addressing social issues. "Poetry is a literary mirror that reflects so many aspects of the world; the beauty, the wonders, the changes. Poetry is art, and art is powerful," says Mason.
Guest poet Elizabeth Acevedo, a high school classmate of Azari's, has won a number of awards, including the 2004 Knick's Poetry Slam Award and the Urban Word Poem Slam Award. Slam artist Joshua Bennett is a member of the New York City Urban Word Slam Team.
"Acevedo, Bennett and the iSpeak members are inspirational slam poets who I hope will encourage people to leave the performance wanting to write and speak their minds," says Azari.
