TJ well underway with 4th year of Poetry Slams.
by Jake Hazan
photo by Kevin Fleming
Four years ago a TJ student by the name of David Henceman came up with an idea that would shake up poets at Thomas Jefferson forever. Henceman created the now famous Poetry Slams with former English teacher Nathan Silver, opening an outlet for students looking to voice their poetry and display their dramatic talent. Since that inaugural Poetry Slam in 2005 the event, which takes place once a month, has continued to flourish.
With Henceman graduating with the class of 2007, previous leader Sinjin Jones graduating in 2008, and Silver leaving TJ last spring, the reins of the beloved event are now in the committed hands of Senior Asia Dorsey who was willing and ready for the challenge. "It all fell into place for me. I have always been involved in the Poetry Slams, and I was motivated to continue them," said Dorsey.
This is not the first time Asia has stepped up to the performance plate. She also assisted Jones in organizing the Poetry Slam last year, and reviving the event after Henceman graduated. Dorsey is a member the class of 2009, who were freshmen the inaugural year; therefore, Dorsey is good fit for the task, as she is an experienced slammer and poetry enthusiast. “This being my fourth year, I kind of feel like the Poetry Slam is my adopted child,” Dorsey joked. “I didn’t create it, but I have to take care of it.”
Replacing Silver as the staff advisor of the Poetry Slam is Librarian Sudi Stodola and English Teacher Jacquelyn Hudson-Raila. “The only thing I enjoy more than poetry is improvisational drama. To watch young, creative, people strive to go beyond the parameters of what they learn in the classroom is really rewarding,” Stodola said.
With so much history and hard work behind the Poetry Slam, many people are still wondering what a “slam” is in the first place. A slam can be described as a spoken, dramatic form of poetry, with an emphasis on performance. “Slamming is about the performance. It is 50% performance, and 50% content. You can have killer metaphors and similes, but if your performance is monotone and lackadaisical, you’re not going to do well,” stated Dorsey. “I have heard people slam Miss Merry Mack and The Pledge of Allegiance, and do it very well. Slamming is not necessarily about what you say, but how you say it.”
Senior Kevin Fleming is another essential member of the Poetry Slam, with an impressive resume: Fleming has been to every single Slam since its conception. “It was fun as a freshman, and even more fun as a senior,” he said. Fleming is an avid slammer and is continually composing new material, without writing anything down. “Slamming is a good way to express yourself in a way that others do not usually think about. It’s just one moment that is seemingly not reality. It is kind of like singing, except you don’t have to carry a tune.”
Open Mic Lollapalooza took place on September 12, 2008 and was officially the first Poetry Slam of the year. The purpose of the slam was to act as an introduction to new slammers, and to provide a laid-back environment for all participants to perform, sing songs, and everything in-between. Open Mic Lollapalooza had a different format than the usual, as it was entirely open-microphone with no competition, instead of the usual spilt time between open-mic and competitive slam. Several new enthusiastic slammers showed up, and were thrilled by their first Poetry Slam. “My first Poetry Slam was an exciting new experience, and I was impressed by the amount of talent the veteran slammers demonstrated,” said Senior Sam Stavish.
The Open Mic Lollapalooza was a tough act to follow, but the second Poetry Slam on October 17 didn’t disappoint. Several poets presented their abilities. This Slam included a competition portion that showcased 4-8 poets challenging each other, with eliminations and audience judging. Sophomore Anna Romero was the winner of the Slam over the veteran Fleming, with a thought-inspiring poem about the misuse of the “peace sign” gesture in today’s society.
Another highlight of the night was a performance by Senior Patrick White who played two songs on the guitar, Redemption Song by Bob Marley, and Across the Universe by The Beatles.
The next Poetry Slam will be on Friday, November 21, right before Thanksgiving break. The Poetry Slams will continue, as will TJ’s excellent exhibition of “Slammin’ it Hard”.
