Born and raised in the great state of Ohio. Brought up by a single parent. Chris attended public schools for most of his educational career prior to attending a Catholic High School. While growing up he enjoyed playing sports and other extra curricular activities, but once teachers noticed his exceptional writing ability his talent would no longer be a secret. His grandparents were two of the most impacting people in his life by displaying high levels of achievement in their academic careers. His grandmother who was an English major and long time educator, pushed Chris to be a better writer each and everyday. Growing up without a father inspired him to become one of the most influential black males in society today. Chris has high aspirations to not only be the change you want to see in the world but teach the generation that follows how to be that change.
Chris uses the gift of poetry to articulate personal testimonies that he believes the world needs to hear. "The only way we can help one another is to open up and express what's on our heart. I have always been passionate about writing, but it wasn't until my undergraduate studies that I decided to expose my work to the world." Chris has featured across the country and graced the stage with many well known artists. As a full-time artist Chris spends most of his time on stage and can be found in classrooms, coffee shops, writing workshops and other various locations in the community reciting a poetic style that is similar to no other.
Getting back to your Slam Family before dealing with your real family!
Just before you have to put up with all of your relatives for the start of the Holidays...come and relieve some of that pressure with an open mic night, starting at 7:00 PM.
As always, all ages are welcome and encouraged and there will be drink specials courtesy of Paige for those of you who are of-age!
See you there!
Dynamic South African poet to grace Dayton Poetry Slam stage this Sunday
Dayton Poetry Slam has the honor of welcoming Radwinn Van Wyk to our stage this Sunday. Radwinn is a poet from Durban, South Africa who uses poetry and hip hop to tell stories and serve his community. On Sunday, November 1 at 7 PM at Canal Public House (308 E 1st St) in Dayton, OH, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this young, dynamic poet in action in the US. His debut CD Reign is out now, and you can catch behind-the-scenes footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFtEzBcf0Vw.
Sunday is an evening with Furaha Henry-Jones
Hey folks, this Sunday it's a rare treat! One of the original Slammers is coming back in for a feature that will show you just how far you can transcend your words and thoughts: Furaha Henry-Jones will be featuring on Sunday 10/4 at 7:00pm at Canal Public House!
Here's a little something to give you an idea about Furaha from the folks at TedX Dayton:
Furaha is an associate professor of English at Sinclair Community College, where she also serves as director of Sinclair’s Writing Workshop and organizes the Sinclair Cultural Diversity Grant project Ubuntu: Poetry and Community. At heart, Furaha is a teacher and a poet, and she has spent the past 20 years working with people and words. She has taught in public high schools and prisons, GED programs and college composition courses, charter schools for out-of-school youth and migrant education programs. Her passion for helping people learn about themselves and others through the written word began in classrooms, but has extended into life beyond formal educational settings.
This Sunday...WE'RE SLAMMING!
This show features our first regular slam competition in two months. So come on out and compete with those poems you've been working on all this time! Or just sit back, hang out, and enjoy the fun, creative atmosphere we bring to every show.
As always, the open mic will be rocking for those of you who just want to share words with people. 7 PM, FREE, All Ages. Sign-ups at the door.
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Dayton Poetry Slam hosts a show every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at Canal Public House in Dayton, OH.
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The Three-time UD Litfest Winner to feature Sunday night!
Ethan Rivera has been on 6 national slam teams out of Columbus. This includes being a National Poetry Slam Finalist in 2011.
He currently is the slammaster of Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam, a weekly open mic and slam series that brings in features from around the country as well as sending representatives to all PSI sanctioned events.
Ethan runs writing workshops with high school and college students throughout the year. He currently coaches the Mosaic High School Poetry Slam Team which came in first at the Columbus City Schools Poetry Slam in 2014.
Sometimes Ethan writes some poems. Other times he just watches Netflix and tells people that he is social.
Song Lyric Slam tonight!
Greetings poetry faithful,
Ever wonder just how poetic your favorite song could be? Well, wonder no more! tonight at 7:00pm starts our first ever Song Lyric Slam!
The rules: no singing. That's it! The winner gets a special prize tonight, as well.
And, if you're not sure which song to do, then jump into the open mic, Dayton's longest running!
See you tonight at Canal Public!
Ted and Link
On Sunday, Cincy comes to town with Cheryl Morton!
This Sunday night, 8/2, we're kicking off August with some amazing poetry from the Individual World Poetry Slam Championship contender from Cincinnati: Cheryl Morton! The show is going to kick off at 7:00pm and will also house Dayton's longest running open mic, drink specials from Paige, and you!
Here's a little about Cheryl if you need to know more:
Cheryl Morton is a spoken word artist from Northern Kentucky. New to the poetry slam scene, she has quickly become a local favorite, winning multiple slams at poetry venues such as Queen City Poetry Slam, Dayton Poetry Slam, Metaphorically Speaking, and so on. She is the 2015 Queen City Poetry Grand Slam Champion and will be competing at the 2015 Individual World Poetry Slam. Her plan is to release a memoir by December 2016. She eats all her vegetables, but often colors outside the lines. She enjoys spontaneously smiling at people just to see if they will smile back.
See you on Sunday night!
On Sunday, the Haiku DeathMatch...the stakes, someone's getting shaved!
This Sunday, we have a full and awesome night! Not only is there a Slam, there's an open mic (where all styles and approaches are welcome), but we're holding our first ever Haiku DeathMatch! The fantastic Tyler King is going to take on The Godfather, Link Schreiber in a 3-round Haiku battle! The stakes, their beards! That's right, the loser is going to shave off their trademark beard on-stage!
The audience will be the judges so come on out, enjoy one of the drink specials at Canal Public House courtesy of Paige, and cheer on your favorite poet! And who knows, you may jump onto stage yourself by the end of the night!
The poetry starts at 7:00pm at Canal Public House this Sunday, 7/19!
Red, White, Blue, and Scared!
Come join us on the night after the 4th...for those of you who aren't math folks, that's the 5th., for a whole night of open mic! Poetry, Comedy, Dancing, Singing, Hip Hop, and anything else we can throw up onto the stage before we're done for the night!
Sign up starts at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:00pm! As always, all poetic styles are welcome and this show has no cover charge, but there will be snacks and drink specials courtesy of the wonderful Paige!
See you on Sunday night at Canal Public House!
Solstice Slam and Open Mic this Sunday night!
Greetings all of you true poetry believers out there...or even you not true poetry believers!
This Sunday, June 21st, the Dayton Poetry Slam will host a Summer Solstice Slam with a special grand prize...want to find out what that is...come to the show!
There will be an open mic, as well, but it will be limited. The key to know is that we're, from now on, starting at an earlier time: the doors at Canal Public House open at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00pm.
Still a free show, still the same great hosts, always a different poetic experience each and every show, and great drink specials courtesy of Paige behind the bar!
We'll see you this Sunday...long after your father has gone to bed!
new writing challenges available on Twitter
Hey all of you wonderful poetry supporters!
We're trying something just a little bit different. We're not providing writing prompts; however, we are issuing open challenges.
You can find these on our Twitter feed: @SlamDayton
See you at the next show!
Huntor Prey Feature and Open Mic 6/7
Dayton Poetry Slam has the honor of welcoming an insightful and dynamic performer this Sunday: Huntor Prey of Toledo, OH.
About Huntor:
A Balance of Personality, Flow, Emotion, Acting, Feeling, and Genuine Heart. Imagine CNN Describing the Recession from the Perspective a 20-Something Black Man in Ohio Going Through it. Not only Self-Aware, But Environment-Aware, Huntor Prey is able to turn the Details our Eyes gloss over into the most Epic Movie you’ve seen. Huntor has performed at poetry venues, community events, and slams across Ohio, and you don't want to miss his Dayton Poetry Slam feature debut!
Show is FREE and ALL AGES, and as always, features an Open Mic before and after the Feature performance. Sign-ups start at 7:30, drink specials at the bar all night. Come hang out!
Slam and Open Mic for Short Story Month 5/17
We have left National Poetry Month and entered National Short Story Month! Come share a story (8 minutes or less) or poems that tell stories on our FREE an OPEN mic, then stick around for a 3-round Slam. Prize $20. Then more Open Mic. FREE, All Ages, sign-ups for the Open Mic and Slam start at 7:30. May 17 2015, Canal Public House, 308 E 1st St. Poetry kicks off at 8 PM.
Riverscape Showcase with Art in the City
Next Friday, at 5pm, we're performing at Riverscape here in Downtown Dayton!
The Dayton Poetry Collective takes on Columbus!
Just a heads up that we headed up to represent Dayton at the MeatGrinder Slam at Kafe Kerouac on May 2nd!
Ted Says Yes, A. Slate, Jay Martinez, and Link Schreiber made up the team.
This is the first time that Dayton has ventured out of the region to play since our relaunch two years ago, so this is huge!
Open Mic and Rachelle "Chelle" Smith
Next Sunday May 3:
Come do a couple poems, dance, or spit some bars at our FREE and OPEN mic. Then sit back and listen to Chelle share her poetic gifts! Then more Open Mic. FREE, All Ages, sign-ups start at 7:30 PM.
Triple Feature, Open Mic and Slam THIS SUNDAY!!
Three incredible poets that have been making waves in the local poetry scene for the past two years grace the Dayton Poetry Slam stage! Jay Martinez, Ace Metaphor and Tripp Fontane will each get an extended set to stretch out and share their words.
We will also feature a 2-round Slam after the feature performances. A lively but abbreviated Open Mic will kick off the evening, so get there early to guarantee a spot! Sign-ups for Open Mic AND Slam start at 7:30, show kicks off at 8. And as always, the night is FREE and All Ages.
Spring Cleaning Slam is THIS SUNDAY
Hey folks,
Here's the skinny on this week's Slam!
Come to our last Open Mic and Slam before our Easter hiatus! We have a special night planned for you featuring a random Slam in which poets read each others' work. So clean out your closet (or hard-drive or notebook), and let your old poems go in celebration of Spring!
To participate in the Slam, bring 3 poems (original or not) each on physical REAL paper. Poems should be 3-minutes long or less when read at a REASONABLE PACE. Each round, poets will pick a random poem (not theirs) and perform THAT poem in the slam. Good luck!
As always, we will have a long Open Mic list, so come early to get a good spot (sign up starts at 7:30). On nights when there is a Slam or Feature, we have 8 Open Mic poets, then the Main Event, then the rest of the Open Mic. Poets, please choose Open Mic OR Slam on any given night, not both. Donations encouraged but not required. All Ages. FREE Admission.
It's all happening at Canal Public House on 1st Street on Sunday March 22nd!
Also, don't forget that we're a week and a half away from LitFest!!!