Poets in the Park

What is a poetry slam?

A Poetry Slam is a judged competition where participants read or recite original poetry or lyrics. This style is known as "spoken word": poems are expressively and rhythmically performed.

Format and Scoring
Poet's read one poem per round and scores are given after each poem. The poet's performance is judged on a numerical scale by members of the audience. The scores for each round are calculated by dropping the highest and lowest score and adding the remaining scores together. Final scores are calculated by averaging each participant's scores from all rounds.

History
The Poetry Slam was established in the mid-1980s as a means to heighten public interest in poetry readings. Since then, spoken word has evolved into an international art form emphasizing audience involvement and poetic excellence with roots in urban and hip-hop culture.

Poets in the Park slam rules

1. Read 1 piece of poetry per round. There will be 2-3 rounds depending on participation.

2. Time limit is 3 minutes per poem. Time limit may be adjusted depending on the number of participants.

3. No props, costumes or music allowed. You may read from a piece of paper.

4. Be creative. Be yourself. Have fun with it!

Poets in the Park Teen Poetry Slam
and Poetry Workshops

2012 Poets in the Park Teen Poetry Slam
Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m.
1:30 registration

Join Slam Master Cynthia French for a spoken-word poetry competition for teens ages 12-19. Bring your original work and express your creativity in Caponi Art Park's outdoor amphitheater. Slam competitors should arrive at Caponi Art Park by 1:30 p.m.

New Heist Crew, a breakdancing group from Minneapolis, will perform between rounds of poetry. The winners of Dakota County Library's poetry contest will also be announced.

Coordinated by Caponi Art Park, students from the School of Environmental Studies, and the Dakota County Library. Caponi Art Park will also host a workshop on poetry slam performance for teens. See below.

2012 Teen Poetry Workshops

Frankenstein: Bring Your Words to Life
Monday, April 30, 4-6 p.m.
Wescott Library, Eagan

Explore the world of slam poetry and learn how to transform your written poetry works into a stage performance with HBO Def Poet and Slam Champion Thadra Sheridan. Ages 12–18. Please call Molly at Caponi Art Park at 651.454.9412 to register. Free, with a $5 suggested donation.

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