Celebration Slam Project---Description
The Celebration Slam was a live spoken word and percussive performance that our class presented for the Dia de los Muertos Exhibition at the Memorial Bowl in Chula Vista. Our class divided into groups of six and wrote an original group poem to perform in “spoken word” style. Each group's poem was about our views on a certain aspect of life, because Ms. Britt thought it fitting to celebrate life on the day of the dead.
The Celebration Slam was a live spoken word and percussive performance that our class presented for the Dia de los Muertos Exhibition at the Memorial Bowl in Chula Vista. Our class divided into groups of six and wrote an original group poem to perform in “spoken word” style. Each group's poem was about our views on a certain aspect of life, because Ms. Britt thought it fitting to celebrate life on the day of the dead.
Some of the main things that we learned about during the Celebration Slam Project were:
--Imagery
--Symbolism
--Haiku poems
--Carpe diem poems
--Free verse poems
--Elegy poems
--Choreography
--Performing
--Imagery
--Symbolism
--Haiku poems
--Carpe diem poems
--Free verse poems
--Elegy poems
--Choreography
--Performing
Parts of the Celebration Slam Project
Part 1: Studying and Writing---Description
The first part of the Celebration Slam Project consisted of studying different poets and various types of poetry. We learned about imagery and symbolism along the way. During this time, spoken word and hip hop artist Kane Smego visited our class to talk about his experiences writing spoken word poems and some writing techniques that he had learned. All of this was in preparation for our groups to begin writing our spoken word poems.
The first part of the Celebration Slam Project consisted of studying different poets and various types of poetry. We learned about imagery and symbolism along the way. During this time, spoken word and hip hop artist Kane Smego visited our class to talk about his experiences writing spoken word poems and some writing techniques that he had learned. All of this was in preparation for our groups to begin writing our spoken word poems.
Part 1: Studying and Writing---Reflection
In the past, my idea of poetry was mostly limited the whimsical rhymes like: "Roses are red, violets are blue..." I had never really studied poetry at my old school like we did during phase 1, so this was a very new and interesting experience of me. The hardest part of our poem to write was the first few opening lines, but after that it was easier to flow into it. Our poem is a reminder that death comes to all eventually, and that we should always remember to use our time wisely, lest we become plagued with regrets in the end. The symbolic theme of our poem was the dusk, or twilight. We chose to use the sun as a representation of time, and the sun setting as a metaphor of inevitable death, or separation.
In the past, my idea of poetry was mostly limited the whimsical rhymes like: "Roses are red, violets are blue..." I had never really studied poetry at my old school like we did during phase 1, so this was a very new and interesting experience of me. The hardest part of our poem to write was the first few opening lines, but after that it was easier to flow into it. Our poem is a reminder that death comes to all eventually, and that we should always remember to use our time wisely, lest we become plagued with regrets in the end. The symbolic theme of our poem was the dusk, or twilight. We chose to use the sun as a representation of time, and the sun setting as a metaphor of inevitable death, or separation.
Part 2: Reciting and Revising---Description
Once our group had finished writing the first draft of our poem, we recited our poem to the class a few times so that we could receive our first critiques. We continued to present, growing more comfortable with our poem and making revisions along the way.
Once our group had finished writing the first draft of our poem, we recited our poem to the class a few times so that we could receive our first critiques. We continued to present, growing more comfortable with our poem and making revisions along the way.
Part 2: Reciting and Revising---Reflection
This was the most tedious and frustrating phase of the project because I was having trouble memorizing my lines, band I was also having problems with some of my group members. Although these took a while to resolve, it was a good growth opportunity for me in memorization and team working.
This was the most tedious and frustrating phase of the project because I was having trouble memorizing my lines, band I was also having problems with some of my group members. Although these took a while to resolve, it was a good growth opportunity for me in memorization and team working.
Part 3: Rehearsing and Performing---Description
After we had made the final edits to our poem, we began planning out some hand gestures that would emphasize the meaning of our poem and that would visually enhance our performance. We also started rehearsing our poem with emotion and vocal buildup to make it more dramatic. Our first actual performance was for an at-school exhibition in October 2015. Our second and final performance took place at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Memorial Bowl in Chula Vista.
After we had made the final edits to our poem, we began planning out some hand gestures that would emphasize the meaning of our poem and that would visually enhance our performance. We also started rehearsing our poem with emotion and vocal buildup to make it more dramatic. Our first actual performance was for an at-school exhibition in October 2015. Our second and final performance took place at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Memorial Bowl in Chula Vista.
Part 3: Rehearsing and Performing---Reflection
This final phase of the Celebration Slam Project was fun for me because our group had finally memorized our poem by heart, and so I wasn't all that all that nervous for our performances.
This final phase of the Celebration Slam Project was fun for me because our group had finally memorized our poem by heart, and so I wasn't all that all that nervous for our performances.
Celebration Slam Project: Reflection
I am glad that I had the opportunity to partake in this project because I did learn a lot about poetry. The biggest lesson that I learned form this project is that even though performing on stage can seem overwhelming, it is far better to simply ignore that anxiety and perform because it truly does not matter what I think my audience might think. It is better to just go out there and do it.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to partake in this project because I did learn a lot about poetry. The biggest lesson that I learned form this project is that even though performing on stage can seem overwhelming, it is far better to simply ignore that anxiety and perform because it truly does not matter what I think my audience might think. It is better to just go out there and do it.