NUYORICAN SLAM TEAM
Founded circa 1973, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe began as a living room salon dedicated to nurturing new work, in the apartment of writer & poet, Miguel Algarin. By 1975 a new and larger space was needed. William Morrow Inc. had just published an anthology titled "Nuyorican Poetry". Piñero's "Short Eyes" had just won best play of the 1974 season. Poetry, the vital sign of a new culture, needed to be heard live. So Algarin rented a bar, on E 6th St., which was christened The Nuyorican Poets Cafe. By the 80's, the overflow of audiences led to the Café moving to a new building at 236 E 3rd St. in order to expand its activities.The Cafe had emerged as one of the country's most highly respected and innovative poetry venues. The Nuyorican became the home for slam poetry in New York City in the early '90's. Since then, the Café has sent a team to the National Poetry Slam Competition (NPS) every year. These teams have included artists such as Reg E Gaines, writer of Bring in the Noise Bring the Funk, Mayda Del Valle from Def Poetry on Broadway (& HBO) as well as the first Latina to win the individual Slam title at NPS, along with too many others to mention. At NPS, the Nuyorican has finished in the top three seven times since 1991, and winning the NPS in 1998. - This years team holds the tradition down by finishing 2nd IN THE NATION with Jive Poetic ranking 10th in the nation.
Booking Info: rockypresents@hotmail.com | 480.636.9392
