inkSlam

l 18, at Da Poetry Lounge, where there will be poets from all walks of life. Schedule:
Tuesday, April 18th @ 845pm
Da Poetry Lounge Slam Finals with Special Musical Guest

Description:
A culmination of 9 months of hard work and dedication and over 100 competitors. The final 6 poets compete for the 5 slots on the DPL Slam Team, which will compete at the 2017 National Poetry Slam this August. Also, featuring a special musical guest. Competing Poets TBA March 29th. Hosted by Shihan Van Clief

Wednesday, April 19th - @ 8 pm - Movement Towards Freedom: Voices Of Struggle
A Mic and Dim Lights Venue Showcase:
Movement Towards Freedom: Voices Of Struggle
featuring
Matt Sedillo and Alyesha Wise

Hosted by King


Thursday, April 20th @ 8 pm - Ink'd Out: Stories from the LGBT Community
Hosted by Yosimar Reyes

Friday, April 21st @ 8 pm - Da Poetry Lounge Founders' Night

Featuring the founder's of the world renowned, DPL. Dante Basco, Shihan Van Clief, Poetri Smith and Brutha Gimel Hooper

Description:
The founders share stories and poems from the 19 years of Da Poetry Lounge. Saturday 4/22 @ 1pm WORKSHOP
Expand Your Story On The Page:
Facilitated by Beau Sia
Description: Participants will take an aspect of their story and through various exercises layer the depth of their story such that it is specifically theirs and resonates beyond who they are because all stories are simultaneously the individual and the all. Saturday 4/22 @ 2:30pm WORKSHOP
Expand Your Story On The Stage:
Facilitated by Arianna Basco
Description: Most perfomers learn a method to express themselves. many performers thik that that is the only way to express themselves. In this workshop, participants will engage in exercises to free them form this rigid idea, allowing them to see their performance can reflect the full range of who they are and not just the aspect they're celebrated for. Saturday 4/22 @ 5 pm WORKSHOP
Q***r Pen: Workshop for folx from the LGBT Community
Facilitated by Edwin Bodney

Saturday, April 22nd @ 8pm
Venue Showcase
Bridging The Gap: Legendary Poets
featuring Luis Rodriguez, LA Poet Laureate and Kamau Daoud, Co-founder of The World Stage

Description: The lives of two poetic visionaries are put on display in an intimate setting and discussed. This show will consist of poems, stories and a brief Q&A session. Hosted by Taalam Acey

Sunday, April 23rd @ 1 pm – Melrose Trading Post - Youth Exhibition

Monday Dark

Tuesday, April 25th @ 845pm - Da Poetry Lounge Community Open Mic with Special Guest Poet
Hosted by Shihan Van Clief

Wednesday, April 26th - 6pm Mixer 7pm Venue Caravan
Description:
Attendees will meet up at the Greenway Court Theater at 6pm for a mixer, then, caravan to support another community space. Venue: Our Mic is an open mic created & hosted by Arianna Basco and Beau Sia that meets every Wednesday in Downtown LA at The Great Company. This trip will be in support of the premiere for the spoken word show, heartstorms: a show about an open mic. the people who come. the stories they share. and the lady who hosts it. Thursday, April 27th @ 8pm - Chingona Fire with Special Venue Showcase: The Definitive Soapbox

Chingona Fire. The alchemy that occurs when bad ass women of color come together and set s**t aflame. Description:
Together as Chingona Fire(a Latina feminist poetry collective), they curate monthly poetry events for women of color, featuring women of color and produced solely by women of color. It is their mission to create space and visibility for our community we have grown to call The Chingonas. Come, join us in setting the world aflame. Hosted by Angela Aguirre and Yesika Salgado

Friday April 28th @ 5 pm - Intro to Party Rocking DJing 101 Intensive WORKSHOP
Facilitated by Brutha Gimel
Description: If you're a beginning DJ or have interest in learning the craft of DJing, this is the workshop for you. This 90 minute intensive will include:
1. Hand son tutorial on getting to know your mixer and decks.
2. Blending songs form deck to deck. (side to side)
3. How to build a set form the opening to the peak to the closing set! This is the intro to party rocking! Friday April 28th @ 8pm - DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, SPIT ABOUT IT Spoken Word Play. SP!T is a lyrical anthology of powerful vignettes that explore the important themes of our times. Written in contemporary metered and free verse, SP!T dances between dialogue and soliloquy, bravely confronting the audience with the true stories of everyday people. SP!T embraces a unique storytelling platform to reveal and heal through the exploration of issues as Self-Image, Love, Loss, Abortion, Separation, Domestic Violence, Immigration, the Prison Industrial Complex, Police Brutality, Poverty, Displacement and Belonging. This project contains adult themes and explicit language. Discretion is advised. #spitaboutit

Saturday, April 29th @ 1:30 pm WORKSHOP
ReBrand: The New Business of Spoken Word
Facilitated by Taalam Acey
Description: A straight forward discussion on the means and methods of successfully marketing your spoken word talent. Toics include social media, travel, merchandising, planning and more. Saturday, April 29th @ 5 pm
The Poets’ Round Table
Community roundtable to discuss the health and wellness of the Los Angeles and National Poetry Community at large. Saturday, April 29th @ 8 pm
Our Mic Venue Showcase
inkSlam Invitational
Hosted by Shihan Van Clief

Sunday April 30th @ 1 pm – Melrose Trading Post - Youth Exhibition

will begin at 2:00pm with Ink'd Out, a workshop geared toward the LGBT Spoken Word community. Then, at 4:30pm, we invite all those in the arts community to join us at the Poets' Round Table, an open panel that is free of charge. The night will end with the Slam, at 8:00pm, where 12 poets will compete for the title of Slam Champion. Our last day of InkSlam will take place at the Melrose Trading Post, where we will have our Youth Slam on the outdoor stage.