miguel poster myspace 1

For Immediate Release

May 25, 2003

Contact: Sh Cage 612.746.1500 (x2)
sha@mnspokenword.org

The MN Spoken Word Association presents
“El Ritmo Del Corazon (The Rhythm of the Heart)”
An evening of Hip Hop, Poetry, Spoken Word, and Music
featuring the infamous Nuyurican Poets Café founder, poet and activist MIGUEL ALGARIN
along with Los Nativos (Rhyme Sayers Collective),Tatiana Omaza, and Emmanuel Ortiz
on Saturday, June 7th at Pillsbury House Theatre, 9:00 p.m.

Curated by Laurie Carlos and e.g.bailey as part of the Non English/ Speaking Spoken Here Late Nite Series, the event will be an unprecedented evening of poetry, DJing, and electrifying Hip Hop layered with Spoken Word bringing together Miguel Algarin from New York with Twin Cities artists, Los Nativos, Tatiana Ormaza, and Emmanuel Ortiz.

Headlining the evening Miguel Algarin, one of the most nationally and internationally recognized poets of his time and founder of the Nuyorican Poets Caf in New York City where he has nurtured the spoken and written word for nearly three decades and provided a blueprint for the development of the international slam poetry movement that first surfaced in Chicago. A distinguished poet and critic with eight collections to his credit and professor at Rutgers University, Algarin, along with the emerging artists of the Nuyorican Poets Café, bring their talents to the forefront, dazzling audiences with vibrant presentations; mixing the traditional arts of oral story telling and classical poetry with the edgy raw rhythm of the hip-hop influenced streets creates the soulful heartbeat which is the Café.

Featured in several films and documentaries including Poetry In Motion, Anthem and the critically-acclaimed Pinero, about his longtime friend and fellow poet, Miguel Pinero. Algarin’s innovative style culminates in a massive new piece of literature he will be sharing for the first time in the Twin Cities, entitled Dirty Beauty, which deals with religious, political, erotic and psychological themes.

Annointing the mic and recently returning from tour, Los Nativos has been receiving critical acclaim for their latest album. From the nationally recognized Rhymesayers Collective (the hip hop ensemble) is captivating on stage, as they navigate from English to Spanish hip hop flowetry leaving audiences begging for more.

Colombian desendent and chidren’s rights advocate Tatiana Ormaza launches from deep roots in poetry, struggle and survival while Guerilla Wordfare’s Co-Founder Emmanuel Ortiz’s work is grounded in activism and the political consciousness of our times. They will both perform new works of poetry that canvas the spectrum of identity, kinship, and culture.

El Ritmo Del Corazon (The Rhythm of the Heart) will take place on Saturday, June 7rd 2003 Pillsbury House Theatre (3501 Chicago Ave. So. Mpls, MN). This is an all ages event. Doors and Free Spanish Dinner at 8:15pm. Event 9:00pm-11:00pm. Tickets are $8 (students $5) 16 and unde, Freer. For more information call 612.746.1500 or email info@mnspokenword.org.