Tuesday, February 15, 2005

This year, the theme is “play.”

Recorded by CBC Radio One for later broadcast on CBC Radio’s “Cinq à Six.” Producer: Meredith Dellandrea.

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For the fourth year, CBC Radio One celebrates our country's poetic imagination by approaching it from a sports perspective. Poets will come together in cities all across Canada to perform in a live-before-an-audience poetry cabaret. In each of 14 cities, five poets will be commissioned to write and perform their work on a common theme. This year, the theme is “play.” The audience at each event will choose a winner and the winning entry will go on to the national play-offs. These will take place on CBC Radio’s Sounds Like Canada in April. The national listening audience will then be able to vote on their favourite, and a national champion will emerge.

Harry Standjofsky will host the Montreal event during the Festival Voix d'Amériques. The competing poets will be Katherine Blenkinsop, Endre Farkas, Lateef Martin, Carmine Starnino, and Ruth Taylor. Recorded by CBC Radio One for later broadcast on Cinq à Six. Produced by Meredith Dellandrea.

these are not harmless girls
these are women with powerful spirits and talents to match
who have cut their paths through the world with their words
in their own inimitable ways

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Five inspired and inspiring women who are all in their own distinct ways dazzling on-stage.

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The FVA loves women who bring a certain intensity, power and generosity to the stage. After the enormous success of last year’s show, the second Body and Soul features five inspired and inspiring women.

Don’t miss Jamaican-born activist dub poet Lillian Allen, who’s back in Toronto after a stint in New York. With her rhythmic and declamatory vocal style and her strong personality, she is the embodiment of the artist. Also on the lineup are the powerful Motion in Poetry from Toronto, a dynamo who balances irony and wry observations with great emotion; the fabulous Sheri-D Wilson from Calgary, poet, playwright, performer, director, producer, and artistic director of the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival: nicknamed “The Mama of Dada,” Sheri is internationally known for her free spirit and jazz approach; Karen Young, with her amazing voice and a life that has been guided by curiosity and boldness; and dancer Lin Snelling, another great Montreal artist, who will join Karen Young for the first time, accompanied by bass player Éric Auclair.