Poetry Out Loud

Attend a POL event this month!

Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry. There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music among our youth. Poetry Out Loud (POL) builds on this momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theater into schools. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation partner with the Maine Arts Commission and provide the opportunity for all Maine high school students to participate. This is the 12th year of the program and POL continues to grow while helping students to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Each school that participates selects one student to represent them at one of two regional finals event.  Ten students are ultimately selected to recite at the state finals. One student, moves on from the state finals to represent Maine at the national finals in Washington D.C., where students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico compete for a total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends for the purchase of poetry books.

Poetry Out Loud events are very exciting to attend. If you or your students are interested in poetry you won’t want to miss the amazing opportunities.

Key Dates for POL in Maine

February 13, 2017      Northern Maine Regional Finals (Performing Arts Center, Hampden Academy, 3 p.m. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.) RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 – SNOW DATE!

February 28, 2017      Southern Maine Regional Finals (Garland Auditorium,Thornton Academy, the event is free and all are welcome to attend.)

March 2, 2017            Snow date Southern Maine Regional Finals

March 13, 2017          Maine State Finals (3 p.m., Waterville Opera House)

The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

March 14, 2017          Snow date for Maine State Finals

April 24-26, 2017        Poetry Out Loud National Finals (Washington, D.C.)

Schools participating this year in Maine

Northern Regional Finals on February 27:

Rose Horowitz, 2016 Maine State Champion

Bangor High School

Calais High School

Camden Hills Regional High School

Carrabec High School

Erskine Academy

Gardiner Area High School

George Stevens Academy

Hampden Academy

Kents Hill School

Lee Academy

Maine Central Institute

Medomak Valley High School

Messalonskee High School

Narraguagus Jr./Sr. High School

Presque Isle High School

Rangeley Lakes Regional School

Richmond High School

Searsport District High School

Waterville Senior High School

 

Southern Regional Finals on February 28 (snow date of March 2):

Cape Elizabeth High School

Casco Bay High School

Deering High School

Freeport High School

Gorham High School

Greely High School

Harpswell Coastal Academy

Kennebunk High School

Lewiston High School

Lisbon High School

Maine Coast Waldorf School

Maine Girls’ Academy

Morse High School

Mt. Ararat High School

North Yarmouth Academy

Oak Hill High School

Portland High School

Sacopee Valley High School

Saint Dominic Academy

South Portland High School

Waynflete School

Westbrook High School

Yarmouth High School

Dance Grant Series 1

Dance education funding – “Hopes for the Future”

This is the first of three blog posts that will be included, February 9 – 11, describing the dance education residency that took place in December 2016 from a special grant called the “Hopes for the Future” funding. Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teacher Leader and dance educator from Thornton Academy Emma Campbell collaborated and planted a seed and it grew into a dance education opportunity for Maine students. Learn more from this series of posts. Please note: funding will be available again during 2017. Watch the blog and the Maine Arts Commission arts education list-serv for information.

In November of 2015 a collaborative performance was held at Thornton Academy in Saco. Two schools and five dance studios work together as part of the Community Dance Project to create the performance and raise funds to help establish a dance education grant. The “Hopes for the Future,” funding was available to schools/districts who have no dance education program in place during the school day. Applications were accepted with a handful of guidelines. Two of them being that the funding was to be used during the 2016-17 school year and a dance educator from the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist roster had to be selected to provide the artist residency.  The roster presently has 15 dance artists.

The funding was to be used as seed money so schools/districts would actually have a complete opportunity to experience the benefits of dance education for learners. In April 2016 the funding was awarded to MSAD #33, comprised of Dr. Levesque Elementary School in Frenchville and Wisdom Middle/High School in St. Agatha located in the northern most part of Aroostook County.  The district’s 240 students and teachers had the unique opportunity in December 2016 for dance educator/teaching artist John Morris to spend a week in their schools.

I was thrilled to be able to travel to the County and visit the classrooms and see the students in action working with John Morris. Along with John worked closely with art teacher Theresa Cerceo and music teacher Charles Michaud to be sure that the learning opportunity was at an extremely high level. The preparation work that both teachers did before John arrived was evident. The 5 days were documented very well with photos, video footage, quotes from students and staff. It was obvious at the culminating performance on a chilly Friday night in St. Agatha that the opportunity exceeded the expectations.

Dr. Fern Desjardins, Superintendent of Schools, MSAD #33 said the following:

“MSAD #33 had a unique opportunity to have a dance artist come to the District for a weeklong residency to introduce K-12 students to dance education as an art form.  I gratefully acknowledge Thornton Academy for their generous donation to the Maine Arts Commission to make the competitive grant, “Hopes for the Future” possible.  To bring dance to our rural area opened our students to a different way of expressing themselves by using a talent they may not have recognized or even considered.  This could have opened career options for some of our students who were not destined to seek a post-secondary college degree.  As I watched the closing performance of students at Wisdom Middle/High School’s Night of the Arts, I saw how dance artist John Morris had reached students of all academic abilities.  I was convinced I needed to make an effort to bring Mr. Morris back next spring for a follow-up residency.  He made it possible for a segment of our student population to really express their creative talents that are not otherwise discovered and displayed for our community to observe and truly appreciate – as they did on the evening of December 9, 2016.  The smiles, applause, and comments from the audience brought much pride to our little school.”

Lisa Bernier Principal at the Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Frenchville said the following:

“Having Mr. Morris in MSAD# 33 was phenomenal for students.  Not all students will excel in sports.  The students who participated and benefited in the Dance Residency are students who have talents that would have remained hidden otherwise, especially at the high school level. Administrators and the community of MSAD# 33 believe in the arts and it’s ability to shape and mold the lives of all students. The residency solidified our belief.  We are also very lucky to have exceptional educators who care enough to go above and beyond to bring such activities to the district.”

Over the next 3 days you will have the chance to read more posts that explain the details of the dance education residency. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.