SlamCharlotte's Monthly Poetry Slam September 12, 2008

SlamCharlotte and Blumenthal Performing Arts Center have partnered for a 3rd year to bring you another season of unforgettable poets and poetry.

SlamCharlotte is the 2007 and 2008 National Poetry Slam Champions. SlamCharlotte's monthly poetry slam is hosted by the slammaster, Bluz. Bluz is the 13th ranked individual poet in the world.

Twelve of the hottest local and regional poets compete for a cash prize.

This month's feature will be HBO Def poet, Mayda del Valle. Mayda del Valle has taken the national spoken word scene by storm. A native of Chicago’s south side, Mayda began performing her own writing while in high school. She relocated to New York City in October of 2000 after graduating from Williams College with a B.A. in Art. One of Mayda’s first stops was the legendary Nuyorican Poet’s Café. In spite of never having performed poetry competitively Mayda won the 2001 Nuyorican Grand Slam Championship and went on to the National Poetry Slam in Seattle that August. There she won the Individual National Poetry Slam Championship, and became the first poet from the Nuyorican, the youngest poet, and the first Latino person to win the title. Mayda has been featured on 4 seasons of the HBO series Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry. She was an original cast member and writer for the critically acclaimed Tony award winning Broadway production of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, and was also part of the national tour of Def Poetry.

Official Website: http://www.slamcharlotte.com