Tigertail is launching the WordSpeak 2014 book and CD by Tigertail’s award-winning 2014 WordSpeak teen team. This book and CD brings you the leading edge of new work in spoken word.
On Friday, Dec. 26, 8 p.m., at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave. in Coral Gables, members of this team will “spit” poems guaranteed to rivet you to your seat. The WordSpeak 2014 book cover is designed by Chris Meesey and its interior by Heber Siqueiros. The teen editor is Maylin Enamorado.
Join these teen poets for an evening of passionate performance. The entire event will be livestreamed by Books & Books. The link will be available following Dec. 26 on Tigertail’s website, www.tigertail.org, as well as Books & Books’ website, www.booksandbooks.com.
“WordSpeak Volume IX is the ninth book and CD from our Tigertail teen spoken word project,” said Mary Luft, Tigertail executive director.
“This is a powerful, direct-from-the-heart collection of spoken word poems captured in print and on CD. “This wonderful group of teen poets participated in the Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam and Festival held this past August in Philadelphia, PA.”
Team members in the book are Al Alexandre, Christell Roach, Celestelle Webster, Maylin Enamorado, Momo Manalang, Steffon Dixon and Wesly Oviedo.
“To write spoken word poetry is to empty yourself of a child. To perform it is to birth a new life. For the first time in my life, I am not afraid to call myself an artist.” — Maylin Enamorado, WordSpeak 2014 teen editor.
Spoken word is first of all an oral and performance form. Tigertail started printing WordSpeak and SpeakOut poems in an effort to document the writing of these incredible young writers. The experience of reading this book and listening to the CD are quite different from one another.
Tigertail WorkSpeak adult coach Teo Castellanos guided the project and teens in a multi-month process of writing, training and working together. One thousand Miami-Dade teens were reached through spoken word performances and workshops and over 550 teens competed and read at slams held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens.
This year, once again, Tigertail’s SpeakOut, LGBTQ teen spoken word project is represented in this book with poetry by Maylin Enamorado.
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