NM INTERSCHOLASTIC POETRY SLAM feat. teams and solo poets from NM high schools and mid schools

Teams and individual poet from all over the state will converge on Downtown Albuquerque for the largest youth poetry event ever to be held in New Mexico -- the 2010 N.M. INTERSCHOLASTIC POETRY SLAM on SATURDAY, APRIL 24 at the ABQ’S new youth arts space, WAREHOUSE 508.

The event combines the state’s two largest youth poetry events – the N.M. High School Poetry Slam Championship and the middle school championship, VE=NT (Voices Emerging = New Thunder) into a one-day lollapalooza of youth poetry.

It'll be a great day of youth performance and empowerment. Sign-up for the NM-IPS will start at 9 am for teams and individuals. Preliminaries start at 10 am and run into the afternoon at Warehouse 508’s Club side venue as well as the Chroma Art Center, 100 Roma NW.

Finals for the middle school and high school slam, as well as the individual competition start at 6 pm in the Warehouse 508 larger Warehouse side venue. Tickets for the Finals are $5 at the door the day of the event, or on Holdmyticket.com.

The competition is split into three divisions:
- Team, High Schools (age 14-21)
o Includes teams from high schools, charter schools, and combined teams sponsored by youth spaces or organizations

- Team, Middle schools (age 10-15)
o Includes teams from high schools, charter schools, and combined teams sponsored by youth spaces or organizations

- Indie Poets (ages 13-21)
o Poets who are unaffiliated with a school or organization
who are still attending a secondary school like a high
school, charter school or are being home schooled.

The top three teams and individuals in all three categories – high school team, middle school teams – will receive awards.

Among the high school teams expected to compete are teams from Taos High School, Santa Fe Indian School and Albuquerque High School as well as teams from Rio Rancho Cleveland H.S., Robert F. Kennedy Charter School, the Post-It Note Poets (Española/Los Alamos), Volcano Vista High School, Cibola High School and Silver City’s Wellness Coalition combined team.

Up to nine Metro-area middle schools from the Albuquerque area are also sending teams. There will also be a competition for “indie poets,” performers who are not affiliated with a team.

The “Indie Poet” competition is open to youth poets not affiliated with a school or organization. The Indie poet competition is open to performers aged 13-21 who are enrolled in a high school, charter school or are home schooled.

Enrollment for the team and indie competitions will be open until the morning of the competition but interested teams and poets are encouraged to RSVP as early as possible. There are only 16 spaces for each competition – team slam, high school division.; team slam, middle school division and indie competition.

For information, call/text Kenn Rodriguez at 505.379.2666 or email kenn@warehouse508.org.

Warehouse 508 is also seeking sponsorship and donations for the event. Potential donors and sponsors can get info by contacting Kenn Rodriguez at 505.379.2666 (call or text) or at kenn@warehouse508.org.

N.M. INTERSCHOLASTIC POETRY SLAM
featuring high school and middle school teams
from all over New Mexico
SATURDAY, April 24.
Preliminaries, 10 am – 3pm
FINALS, 6 pm
Warehouse 508
508 First St. NW
Prelims – FREE. FINALS
$5 at the door
Also available in advance through Holdmyticket.com
For information on competing as a team or an individual
or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kenn Rodriguez
at 505.379.2666 or kenn@warehouse508.org