CHARLOTTE SLAM POETRY TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPS

Charlotte’s own poetry slam team took first place at The National Poetry Slam 2007 held in Austin, Texas from August 6 – 11. You can catch winning team members and other local poets at monthly slams held in the McGlohon Theatre (345 N. College Street) at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The next event is Friday, August 24 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available for advance purchase at (704) 372-1000. Any remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the door on August 24.The Charlotte squad was one of 75 teams competing for top honors at The National Poetry Slam; it performed twelve different, original poems during the competition. Official regulations require that poems cannot be longer than three minutes and ten seconds and they cannot be repeated throughout the competition. The win is an especially impressive feat, considering that this is only the fourth year that Charlotte has had a competitive team.

In 2005, Slam Charlotte took second place at The National Poetry Slam held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Monthly poetry slams and the championship team are led by Slammaster “Bluz,” also known as Boris Rogers, who was ranked thirteenth in the world at the Individual World Poetry Slam, held in Vancouver, Canada earlier this year. Other members of The National Poetry Slam 2007 winning team include Bethsheba, Mike Simms, Carlos Robson, Da Minista, Paul D and team manager Inkera.Rogers said he is proud that the city of Charlotte has received recognition for its support of spoken word and will now have a trophy to display. He explained that many local organizations and corporations– including Tribble Creative Group, Center City Partners, the ASC, Starzchild Productions, Wine Up and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center — have been instrumental in getting the team off the ground. “It shows our passion to poetry,” said Rogers. “A lot of people thought we were good but now we’ve got the proof.” He continued: “[It’s] something else that Charlotteans can brag about. In addition to basketball, the football team and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, they now have the number one slam poetry team in the nation.”Monthly poetry slams, featuring local poets take place at the McGlohon Theatre every second or third Friday of the month.

The next Slam Charlotte event is this Friday, August 24.The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider.

For more information, visit BlumenthalCenter.org or call (704) 372-1000. The Center receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.