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2020 Grand Slam Judges!!!11/4/2020 It's that time of year again! The Word- The Front Line Grand Slam is going down this Saturday Nov. 7th at the Herald Theatre. We are down to the top 6 teams in Tāmaki Makaurau and these poets have had to work harder than any cohort in history to be here. Their voices are more important than ever! Make sure to grab your seats in advance. Tickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster Here. Our Judges for the Grand slam do not have an easy task ahead of them! Good thing they are such an incredible collection of artists. We are honoured to have them for this Saturday. Check them out and make sure to get your tickets!  Mazbou Q is a UK-born, Tāmaki Makaurau based Nigerian Kiwi rapper and producer. His unique musical background of golden-age hiphop, West African highlife and heavy metal forms the backdrop for his non-formulaic style of music. Inspired by the likes of Fela Kuti, The Roots and Oddisee, Mazbou Q is known for confronting his listeners with an unapologetic style of socio-political commentary, while engaging them in the complexities of his unique cultural identity. With the release of his 2020 EP, AFROTERNITY, Mazbou Q established himself as a voice that consistently and fearlessly shines a light on issues of justice and afrocentric consciousness - a voice he has also become recognised for outside of the domain of music.  Jahra Wasasala is a world-builder, movement psychopomp and writer of realms. Jahra is of Fijian/European origins and within Viti, she hails from the provinces of Macuata and Ba. A student of mythology, world-building and her own bloodlines, Jahra utilises her training and specialisation within performance activation, movement techniques, poetry and voice soundscape as a psychopomp for her shape-shifting and storytelling through the body's memory. Jahra's performance works have toured across Aotearoa, Australia, Hawai’i, Turtle Island/US, Berlin, Guahån and Canada, including a comissioned performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2019. Through facilitation, Jahra has mentored with collectives, training institutions and initiatives throughout Aotearoa and overseas including Rising Voices, Pacific Tongues, Sailing Solo and Action Education. Jahra believes that we do not wait for the new worlds; we build them, with art as the ancestral gifting to be able to do that.  Local poet, writer and media personality Te Karere Scarborough (Ngāpuhi) has taught and performed poetry internationally and is a former member of the South Auckland Poets Collective.  Aotearoa-born Tokelauan and Samoan poet Luti Richards is the eldest of 12 siblings who was born and raised in Happy Valley, Wellington. She was a member of the critically acclaimed South Auckland Poets Collective and the visionary behind WORD – THE FRONT LINE, Aotearoa’s first inter-high school spoken word program developed under the leadership of Action Education in 2014. Luti has worked in varied roles in film and television production, youth development, business management and more recently in strategic advisory roles within faith-based organisations. She is a visionary wordsmith with an innate ability to reimagine a new and better world through poetry, picture and verse and has performed in various events and conferences including the Queenstown Poetry Festival; the Northern Easter Camp and the Every Nation Conference in Manila, Philippines.
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Judges for Semi Heats 1 & 2!9/29/2020 Semi Finals Heat 1 Kicks off tonight! 7PM Live on the Action Education Facebook Page. Tonight we will be hearing incredible new poems from Papatoetoe College, Rangitoto College, Epsom Girls Grammar School & Saint Kentigern College. Come along a cheer on these incredible young poets! Now, meet our judges for this weeks Heats!  Phodiso Dintwe is a multidisciplinary artist and performer from Botswana. He was a Rising Voices 2016 finalist, and is currently pouring his focus into music. His work speaks into the worlds and weavings within the Afrikan continent and all who are tethered to it. Phodiso has recently released his debut album, 'Act I’.  Stevie Davis-Tana is a spoken word poet, youth worker, and māmā to be, born and bred in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is currently working on a new project ‘Kō’, a spoken word poetry visual album about reclaiming identity as a young person in te ao Māori. She is passionate about creativity, culture, community, young people, and pasta.  Lastman So'oula is an educator, artist, and performer. An alumni of the South Auckland Poets Collective and a Fine Arts Graduate of Elam, he has been a coach for multiple Word the Front Line teams and is the 2017 Auckland University Poetry Slam Champion.  Aotearoa-born Tokelauan and Samoan poet Luti Richards is the eldest of 12 siblings who was born and raised in Happy Valley, Wellington. She was a member of the critically acclaimed South Auckland Poets Collective and the visionary behind WORD – THE FRONT LINE, Aotearoa’s first inter-high school spoken word program developed under the leadership of Action Education in 2014. Luti has worked in varied roles in film and television production, youth development, business management and more recently in strategic advisory roles within faith-based organisations. She is a visionary wordsmith with an innate ability to reimagine a new and better world through poetry, picture and verse and has performed in various events and conferences including the Queenstown Poetry Festival; the Northern Easter Camp and the Every Nation Conference in Manila, Philippines.
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Semi-Finals Heats 1 & 2 Live Stream!9/29/2020  In it’s 7th year, Word – The Front line is the only event of its kind in Aotearoa. A poetic battlefield in which young leaders, artists, and visionaries gather from all over Auckland to share their voices. Come along and celebrate the top 16 high school teams as they battle for a chance to compete in the 2020 Grand Slam.
Due to the current covid safety guidelines all of our semi-final heats this year will be online events streaming from the Action Education Facebook Page. Heat 1 Tuesday 29th September, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB Papatoetoe High School Saint Kentigern College Epsom Girls Grammar Rangitoto College Heat 2 Thursday 1st October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB Mangere College Aorere College Team 2 Birkenhead College Ngā Puna O Waiōrea Heat 3 Monday 5th October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB Onehunga High School De La Salle College Team 1 Mt Roskill Grammar Northcote College Heat 4 Wednesday 7th October, 7.00pm-8.30pm, Online via FB De La Salle College Team 2 Aorere College Team 1 Mount Albert Grammar Saint Dominics Event is open to all ages. However there may be use of mature language and themes.
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Grand Slam 2019 Judges!8/29/2019 Back for it's 6th year, the Word - The Front Line Grand Slam is the biggest poetry event in New Zealand. Happening Saturday 14th September, 7pm at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, the top 6 teams from around Auckland will compete for the title of 2019 Grand Slam Champs. Tickets can be purchased at the Ticketmaster website here! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we are fortunate to have an incredible judging panel of officials, poets, artists, and community figures. For the first time ever we will also be having 5 judges! So without further delay, here are our judges for the Word - The Front Line 2019 Grand Slam.  Photo credit: Neil Mackenzie Judge Andrew Becroft |
 Jordan Vaha'akoloJordan Vaha'akolo, also known as 'The River Jordan' by his social media followers, is known for his ability to make people laugh and spit some serious truth. Having previously worked for Attitude, he has a natural gift for speaking to young people and communities about some of our toughest topics. For the most part Jordan works in television and film. Having acted and presented he also spends his time behind the camera, currently producing for Māori TV. He’s passionate about people, food and story telling with hopes to one day create world renowned movies about the Pacific and our culture. |  Photo credit: Pati Solomona Tyrell Jahra 'Rager' WasasalaJahra ‘Rager’ Wasasala is of Fijian/Euro origin based in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and is an award-winning cross-disciplinary activation artist and world-builder. Jahra’s mahi has toured across Aotearoa, Australia, Hawai’i, New York, Berlin, Guahån and Canada so far. Recognised as a performative force of nature, Jahra utilises her training within performance activation, contemporary dance technique and poetry soundscape as a psychopomp for ancestral attunement, shape-shifting and story-telling through her work. Jahra is currently in development for the new solo activation work ‘GOD-HOUSE’, commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. |
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| Photo credit: Peniel Fa'amausili/Sole Photography | Photo credit: Peniel Fa'amausili/Sole Photography |
Te Kahu Rolleston | Carrie Rudzinski |
| Te Kahu Rolleston (Ngāi Te Rangi) is a Māori poet, spoken word performer, actor and battle rap artist from Tauranga. He has been called 'The Taniwha of Slam Poetry'. His work often honours his ancestors, the land, and the ongoing Māori struggles for Tino Rangatiratanga and socio-economic betterment. His poetry speaks to what it means to be Māori, combining mythology, history and modern politics. Te Kahu was the 2014 winner of The National Poetry Slam Competition, and in 2015 was invited to attend The Banff Centre’s Indigenous Writing Programme alongside Witi Ihimaera. He has since performed his work nationwide and internationally, working particularly with youth, schools and community groups. | Carrie Rudzinski is a poet and published author who ranked 4th in the world at the 2014 Women of the World Poetry Slam. Featured in Bustle, the Huffington Post, and Teen Vogue, she has performed her work over the past 14 years in 6 countries and in almost all 50 of the United States. She recently won the 2019 Pussy Riot award at the Auckland Fringe Festival and performed at the 10th annual Tedx in Christchurch. Her poems have been published in Landfall, University of California Press, Learn Than Burn, We Will Be Shelter, Catalyst and Muzzle. She is currently a lecturer of performing arts and creative writing at Manukau Institute of Technology and a program coordinator for the Michael King Writer’s Centre’s Young Writer’s Program. |
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Semi-Finals #2 Judges!
8/8/2019
We are pleased to announce the judges for our WORD - The Front Line Semi-Finals Heat #2 this coming Saturday August 10th at the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall.
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #2:
We are so excited to have some incredible poets, artists, and community figures on our judging panel, who are so kindly gifting their time, talents and expertise. This event could not happen without them! Judging a poetry slam is no easy feat, so we wish them all the best!
Without further ado, here are your judges for HEAT #2:
VilletteVILLETTE is an award-winning all round creative - from singing producing & DJ’ing to song writing. Born & raised in New Zealand, VILLETTE’s sound is a mix of RNB, Hip Hop & Electronic Soul. in 2016 she was signed with Red Bull Sound Select which provided her with opportunities to travel NZ and go to LA to work in studio sessions with prominent writers and open for AlunaGeorge alongside Xavier Omar. Most recently, VILLETTE won the award for Best Pacific Music Video at the 2019 Pacific Music Awards. Her production & vocals has taken her on a NZ & USA tour, and travelling around Australia opening for UV Boi.  | Sonya Renee TaylorSonya Renee Taylor is the Founder and Radical Executive Officer of The Body is Not An Apology, a digital media and education company committed to radical self-love and body empowerment as the foundational tool for social justice. Sonya has shared her work as an award-winning Performance Poet, Activist, and educator in numerous countries and on major media outlets around the world,reaching hundreds of thousands of people with her commitment to radical self-love and transformation. Sonya continues to perform, speak and facilitate workshops globally.  |
Te Karere Scarborough | Billy Revel |
| Two time Poetry Idol winner and judge Te Karere Scarborough (Ngāpuhi) is formerly a member of the South Auckland Poets Collective. He has taught and performed poetry internationally and works for the charity Parenting Place | As a member of The Black Friars Theatre Company, Billy has a passion for building bridges and making mirrors particularly for Pasifika youth, through various mediums and sectors. Privileged to stand on the shoulders of giants, he too hopes to offer his shoulders and grow to be a giant for others. |
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