In this issue

Important Dates

* March 31-April 7 : Teen Poetry Slam Semi-Finals in Madison Schools
* April 3 : The End of the Jews Book Signing & Discussion
* April 4: Just Bust! Teen Open Slam Semifinal
ft/Adam Mansbach
* April 12: Wisconsin
Teen Poetry Slam Grand Slam Finals
* April 22-25: Line
Breaks: The Remix
* May 2: Just Bust
ft/ Element
* July 7-11:Teacher's
Institute ft/ Amiri Baraka

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Friends,

Spring is coming slow to Wisconsin this year, but have no doubt: it is coming! Looking for signs? Two of the hottest events of the year, the Wisconsin Teen Poetry Slam and Line Breaks: The Remix, are just around the corner. Time to bust out those shorts and sunglasses - at least at OMAI's upcoming shows.

Adam Mansbach &
The End of the Jews: April 3-4

Idris Goodwin

OMAI welcomes acclaimed poet, MC, and author Adam Mansbach to Madison for two events to celebrate the release of his new novel The End of the Jews (Spiegel & Grau/Doubleday), an ambitious family drama and a sweeping tour of race, religion, art and identity in 20th century America.

The End of the Jews
Book Signing & Discussion with Adam Manbach
Thursday, April 3
7:00pm
1651 Humanities Building
free & open to the public
sponsored by OMAI, Hillel, & JCC

Just Bust!
Teen Slam Semifinal & Open Mic
Friday, April 4
Memorial Union Main Lounge (800 Langdon Street)
hosted by First Wave and DJ Pain1
featuring Adam Mansbach
7:00pm Writing Workshop with Adam Mansbach
9:00pm Teen Slam Semifinal, followed by Feature & Open Mic

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5th Annual Wisconsin Teen Poetry Slam: March 31 - April 12

Teen Poetry Slam

With Milwaukee's 10 finalists set to go, dozens of Madison youth poets will show their skills on the mic in the local semifinals starting this Monday. Tickets for the Grand Slam Finals on April 12 are now available at the Orpheum Theater box office. Buy yours now, and come support Wisconsin's youth as they take center stage.

5th Annual Wisconsin Teen Poetry Slam

GRAND SLAM FINALS
Saturday, April 12, 7:00pm
Orpheum Theater (216 State Street)
with special guest emcee Baba Israel (NYC)
& featuring the First Wave Hip-Hop Theater Ensemble and DJ Pain1
$5 student tickets, $10 general admission
Tickets available at Orpheum Theater

MADISON SEMI-FINALS
• West High: Monday, 3/31, 4th period
• Memorial High: Monday, 3/31, 7th period
• LaFollette High: Thursday, 4/3, 2nd period
• East High: Monday, 4/7, 7th period
Register with the poet-mentor at your school

OPEN SLAM SEMI-FINAL (at Just Bust!)
Friday, April 4, 9:00 pm
Memorial Union Main Lounge
Register with Josh Healey

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Line Breaks: The Remix
April 22-25

Teen Poetry Slam

Here it is, the schedule for Line Breaks: The Remix. One huge show (get your tickets before they run out) and six star-packed panel-performances. From hip-hop dance to theater to education to gender studies, Line Breaks highlights new movements in the culture. And watch out, there's some surprise guest artists expected to drop in as well. For more info, see Line Breaks link.

 

LINE BREAKS SHOWCASE:
HIP-HOP ON THE MAIN STAGE

Thursday, April 24, 7:00pm
* featuring Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Staceyann Chin, Rokafella & Kwikstep, & Rennie Harris
and the spring showcase of the First Wave Hip-Hop Theater Ensemble
--> Memorial Union Theater (800 Langdon Street)
--> $5 student ticket, $15 adults
Tickets available at the Union Theater box office. 608-262-2201.

All other events are free and open to the public:


Line Breaks Panels & Performances

Tuesday, April 22

7:00pm at Majestic Theater (115 King Street)
LIGHTS, CAMERA, HIP-HOP
* The First Wave documentary premiere, plus Dahlak Brathwaite, Mayda Del Valle, Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi, & Rafael Casal

Wednesday, April 23

12:00pm in the On Wisconsin Room, Red Gym (716 Langdon Street)
HIP-HOP 101: REMIXING EDUCATION
* Marc Bamuthi Joseph

2:00pm in the On Wisconsin Room, Red Gym
TOTAL CHAOS: HIP-HOP THEATRE
* Rennie Harris, Paul Flores, Jorge ‘Popmaster Fabel’ Pabon, Rha Goddess, & Marc Bamuthi Joseph

Thursday, April 24

12:00pm in the On Wisconsin Room, Red Gym
TURNING THE PAGE: HIP-HOP POETICS
* Dennis Kim, Mayda Del Valle, Staceyann Chin, & Kevin Coval

2:00pm in the On Wisconsin Room, Red Gym
KEEPING IT MOVING: HIP-HOP DANCE
* Rennie Harris, Popmaster Fabel, Jarius King, Kwikstep, Rokafella, & Chris Walker

7:00pm in the Memorial Union Theater
LINE BREAKS SHOWCASE: HIP-HOP ON THE MAIN STAGE
* Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Staceyann Chin, Rokafella & Kwikstep, Rennie Harris, & the First Wave Hip-Hop Theater Ensemble

Friday, April 25

12:00pm in the Play Circle, Memorial Union (800 Langdon Street)
CENTERING GENDER & SEXUALITY IN HIP-HOP STUDIES
* Jeff Chang, Dawn-Elissa Fischer, Bakari Kitwana, Mark Anthony Neal, & Craig Werner

2:00pm in the Play Circle, Memorial Union
THE FUTURE OF HIP-HOP STUDIES
* Wendy Day, Davey D, & Jeff Chang

Line Breaks: The Remix held in conjunction with Hip-Hop as a Movement Week, Afro-American Studies Words and Music Series, and the Arts Institute

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Register for the Spoken Word Education Institute: July 7 - 11

Teen Poetry Slam

Teachers, students, and youth workers: register now for the annual, award-winning seminar on spoken word pedagogy, hip-hop culture, and educational attainment. This year's institute kicks off with a special performance by poet, activist, and founder of the Black Arts Movement, Amiri Baraka.

3rd Annual Spoken Word & Hip-Hop Education Institute
July 7–11
UW-Madison campus

Instructors include Amiri Baraka, Michael Cirelli, Queen GodIs, Dr. Daniel Banks, Chris "Kazi" Rolle, Josh Healey, Dasha Kelly, and more

Sessions include: Language and Liberation, Arts Activism, Hip-Hop Lesson Plans, The Power of Youth Voice, Connecting to Resources

$500 for the week, sliding scale available

University & CEU credit options available

Register with Kahaema Byer

presented by OMAI & Urban Word NYC

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