Pull the Next one up-Never been to a Nationals before, this is your reading whether you are a competing poet or not.

Hip Hop Headquarters-Want to spit some words, battle, cypher circle, come strut your stuff in this free-form circle of hip hop.  Open to all.

Erotic Poetry Reading-Poetry was invented to woo, and this is the reading where poets try their "hardest" to do just that.  Open to all and hosted by Gabrielle Bouliane and more.

Poetry of the Oppressed Workshop-This workshop will focus on the performance of poetry using tools of ensemble work and theater production.  Participants will work with political poetry using techniques developed in the Theater of the Oppressed.  This workshop will be limited to the first 10 women to sign-up.  Taught by Stefanie Willis  and Virginia Hampton.  Stefanie Willis is and artist, director, and architectural designer living creatively in Albuquerque.  Virginia Hampton offers her ancestors, her art, her life and her happiness in her poetry and performance.  Sponsored by A Room of Her Own Foundation.

Preparing Poems for Performance Workshop-Do you ever feel the power of writing something on paper bu then fail to translate that power as you perform?  Maximize your ability to consider poems from a performance perspective by examining and preparing them with regard to accessibility, characters, moments, timing, amplitude, and the true intention of the piece.  Bring 3 one to two page poems to be workshopped as time allows.  This workshop will be limited to the first 6 women to sign-up.  Taught by Paula Freidrich, who was a member of 3 National Poetry Slam teams and an Oberlin College graduate in creaving writing, which makes her mother proud.  Sponsored by A Room of Her Own Foundation.

Jewish Showcase-Whether you are ashkenazi or sephardic this reading is open to any of the 12 tribes. 

EC Challenge Survivor Slam-Using the "survivor slam" format from Austin and San Antonio Slam master's Mike Henry and Phil West, this reading is a team competition with members of Executive Council taking on members of the community in a wild and wooly reading where sock puppets read, mass quantities of cup cakes are consumed in a short time and interpretative dance is encouraged.

The Rainbow Showcase-the Slam family boasts the best Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgender poets working today and this event showcases their incredible words.  Hosted by Ragan Fox, Andrea Gibson, and Mary Oishi.

Hawaii Slam:  Poetry in Paradise In August 2004, the Hawaiislam Team, represented their hometown at the Slam Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri, for the first time ever.  This team represented the voice of young Hawaii in candor and without stereotype.  This film tells the story of their adventures at their first ever National Poetry Slam.  Omaha's First documents Omaha's first ever slam team as they prepare for the 2003 Nationals in Chicago.  The film captures Omaha's rise into semifinals and highlights the team's poetry and their individual relationship to the hokey pokey and the art of slamming.  35 Minutes.  Directed, edited and produced by Mele Mason 2003.

African-American Showcase-One of the most highly anticipated events in Slam, this reading showcases the incredible diversity of our family with a sign-up list exclusively for African-Americans.  Hosted by Flowmentalz, Ejypt, and more.

Asian-American Showcase-Vibrant, intense, and vital, this showcase always amazes, with a sign-up list exclusively for Asian-Americans. 

Grief & Remembrance Reading-In this reading we honor grief and loss, remembering loved ones who've experienced tragedy or passed on.

Nerd Slam-Did you see Revenge of the Sith the first day it came out? Do you play D & D, collect comic books, spend too much time in front of your computer voluntarily, think pocket protectors are a good idea, or like They Might Be Giants?  Well, this reading is for you.  Come relish in the nerdiness of the poetry slam.  Sponsored by Marble Street Studio.

Slammaster's Slam-Organizing takes time, and too often you don't get to slam because you are busy hosting them.  This reading puts the people behind the slams in front of the microphone for bragging rights.  Hosted by Nick Fox and more.

The Six Steps to Building Poetry Workshop-Learn to critique, revise, and improve your poems by using the six steps to building poetry.  Bring 3 one page poems to be workshopped as time allows.  This workshop will be limited to the first 6 women to sign-up.  Taught by Laura E.J. Moran, who was Providence's first Grand Slam Champion, has published three volumes or poetry, several broadsides, two CDs and was recently recognized as one of 2004's Emerging Writers at the Center for the Book Arts in NYC. This workshop will be limited to the first 8 women who sign-up.  Sponsored by A Room of Her Own Foundation.

The Feminine Voice in Political Poetry:  How to Write a Political Poem Without Writing a Political Poem-Carolyn Forche once said that she doesn't write political poems: she puts herself in political situations and writes poems, period.  In this workshop, we'll look at poems from Forche, Debra Marquart, Adrienne Rich, and others to discuss what makes effective political poetry.  We'll focus on detail, tone, and the author's voice (or absence of voice).  Please bring writing materials.  Taught by Sarah McKinstry-Brown, who studied poetry at the University of Sheffield, UK, and the University of New Mexico and competed in the National Poetry Slam in 2001, 2002, and as a member of the first ever Omaha Poetry Slam Team in August of 2003.  This workshop will be limited to the first 15 women who sign-up.  Sponsored by A Room of Her Own Foundation.

Kid's Show-Interactive, fun for all ages, new takes on old favorites.  Think your kids are too young to get poetry?  Not this poetry, hooking 'em early in this fast and fun show.  Hosted by Danny Solis.

World Peace Reading-War against Terror, War in Iraq, War in Afghanistan, War on the poor, War on the environment.  Have you had enough war yet?  This reading asks if we can have peace?  Open to all who are interested in using words, not war.  Hosted by Don McIver and more.  Sponsored by the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice.

Over the years, the Women's Showcase has become a cornerstone of the National Poetry Slam.  Essential, full of passion, grace, and power, this showcase is not to be missed with a sign-up list exclusively for women. 

Poetry Teaching Tips-Taught poetry slam in schools, or interested in teaching poetry slam in schools.  Join teachers, Daniel Ferri and Joyce Cunha in an informal how to/best practices workshop on how to improve, begin, or hone your teaching skills.

At a time when debate was missing and dissent was considered unpatriotic there arose expressive voices within the halls of our schools which refused to be silent. WORD! is about Poetry, Censorship, Education and the Creative Spark of Youth.  The power of the word is seen through courageous poets and the stories of educators who, in 2003, were suspended and/or fired from their jobs for supporting their student's right to speak out about the imminent war with Iraq.  This special pre-screening of WORD! during the 2005 National Poetry Slam is the only presentation of the film prior to its completion and entry into the Sundance Film Festival.  This showing sponsored by the Guild Cinema.  

Latino Showcase-Step into the heart of Aztlan for a reading full of everything from raucous humor to vivid intensity.  This may be the most comfortable and inclusive showcase at NPS.

Indigeneous Showcase-From the Aleutians to the Tierra del Fuego to the Pacific Rim, come and experience the poetic flower of indigenous cultures that span millennia.  Hosted by Terry Creech (Samoan), Colleen Gorman (Dine) and more. 

Youth Slam-Come cheer on the youth (18 and under) as they slam it out for bragging rights.  Hosted by Damien Flores and more.

Group Piece Showcase-The National Poetry Slam is one of the few venues open to the group poem.  Come experience poetry as delivered by more than one voice.  Hosted by Mike Henry, Phil West, and more.

We ART the People Folk Art Festival-Don't miss a family event celebrating the arts of the everyday and the artists who make it happen!  Join OFFCenter in a visual feast including a large scale puppet parade, samba drummers and dancers, street theater, story telling, music of all kinds, demonstrations of visual and performing arts, displays of wheeled vehicles, hands-on art activities, a paint-by-number art competition, and sales of 100 vendors promoting FOLK arts and skills.  Bring your picnic lunch, your lawn chairs and parade gear.  We welcome unexpected, spontaneous acts of creativity from neighborhood and community groups.  This year's festival will feature visiting poets from the National Poetry Slam, a large paint-by-number public art project and a "plastic fantastic" civic sculpture. 

Poets' Plaza Dedication-Five years in the planning, the completion the Poets' Plaza has been timed to coincide with the National Poetry Slam.  The Poets' Plaza is a City of Albuquerque Public Art Project, housed on the grounds of the Harwood Arts Center.  Join us and 500 poet guests from around the country for the dedication of Albuquerque's community space dedicated to the performing arts, especially poetry.

Head to Head Haiku-is where performance poetry meets the tea ceremony.  To win, you will need 30 or so haiku, the luck to have your name picked out of the pager bag of hopeful competitors, and a sense of humor (in reverse order).  Come hear why this is many people's favorite event.