National Performance Poetry Challenge

National Performance Poetry Challenge

That rush, that moment when you choose…. Condom, no condom.

That split second that you make in-love, in-toxication, high on something, hopeful, wanting, needing to justify. Play it out, put it in, be wanted, be needed, be a man, be a woman.

And that’s just the sex. Just a few minutes, perhaps a bit of foreplay, maybe even an hour.
What about the build-up, move making, flirtation, infatuation, pull in and play this.

Pure potential

Her, him, them… at the same time?

And then look for love.

Cause that’s what we all want, right.

Right?

Enter the DFL Lover + Another Poetry Challenge
and talk about Sex, Relationships & HIV and AIDS…

No judgement

No restrictions

No pretence

Just you, the mic and the stage…

THEME: Lover + Another “multiple sexual relationships and HIV and AIDS”

Tell us what it’s about

PROJECT SUMMARY:

The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge is an exciting and innovative performance poetry project which aims at empowering University students, youth and the wider community to confront their realities pertaining specifically to multiple sexual relationships and HIV AND AIDS. This is a project that allows the youth to talk about SEX, RELATIONSHIPS & HIV AND AIDS education in a space designed to fit their socio-cultural contexts. Through the spoken-word culture the youth is able to directly address the risks and cultural factors affecting their sexual behavior, values and attitudes towards SEX, RELATIONSHIPS & HIV AND AIDS.



See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcW-6u269km

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js-NczP3eaA for a sample of performances from the final of The Lover + Another Performance Poetry Festival held on the 20th August 2009 at the UKZN.



The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge began at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg Campus) in 2009. The concept is truly an example of applied arts in HIV AND AIDS Education. The 2009 and 2010 extension of the project proved very successfully and popular at multiple levels, the competition saw regional finals in both Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg, culminating in a successful competition held at Wits University with 6 finalists from both cities, battling it out. The project had great support, with over 700 students in attendance. This was a competition between the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) and University of Johannesburg (UJ). An extension of the concept and project for 2011 now sees the inclusion of youth in Cape Town.



TARGET AUDIENCE and PARTICIPANTS:

The Lover + Another Poetry Challenge is targeted to University students, youth (17 –35 years old) in our community to produce and perform original pieces of performance poetry that speak to the social, psychological and physical correlates of multiple sexual relationships and HIV and AIDS.