Poetry Workshop

Facilitated by: Jon Goode and Dana Gilmore

Spoken Workshop is a dynamic and interactive learning experience for anyone interested in the art and artistry of Spoken Word Poetry. The workshop is taught by Dana Gilmore whose work has been showcased in three separate seasons of HBO’s Def Poetry; & Emmy nominee Jon Goode whose work has been showcased on HBO’s Def Poetry, BET’s Lyric Café, CNN’s Black in America and TVLand/Nick@Nite. During the workshop the history of Spoken Word and Slam Poetry will be explored from its roots in African Griots to The Harlem Renaissance and all the way up to Marc Smith and the modern poetry movement known as Slam.

Alongside the history of poetry there will also be a class that will present and demonstrate effective tips for writing and performing for anyone interested in taking the stage as a performance poet, interested in being a better orator/presenter or just in love with the aesthetic beauty of words and performance. During this portion of Spoken Workshop, attendees will thoroughly examine pertinent topics such as; pitch, tone, pace, body language, audience awareness, and stage props. Through conversation, demonstration, exercises, games and hands on experience people will find that by the end of the workshop they will have a gained a better understanding of Spoken Word as an artistic movement and a firmer grasp on their place within Spoken Word as an art form.