Words, Beats & Life Festival brings poetry, music, workshops to DC area all week long
The Words Beats & Life Festival kicks off this week in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
That means an entire week of poetry, music and workshops here in the DMV!
“Words Beats & Life originated in 2002 as a program that our founder and his co-founders were doing at the University of Maryland and it evolved into what would eventually become a 501(c)(3) organization,” Words Beats & Life Academy Director Donney Rose told WTOP. “WBL has five different pillars: arts education, creative employment, centering marginalized voices, this idea of ‘for the culture,’ and cultural diplomacy. Every year, WBL brings artists from different parts of the world to spread the gospel of hip-hop arts here in D.C.”
It kicks off Monday with the DMV Youth Poet Laureates In Concert at the Busboys & Poets in Arlington, Virginia, as well as a dance workshop by Taylor Matthews titled “The Blue Note: A Choreopoem” at the Eisenhower Rehearsal Studio at the Kennedy Center in D.C.
Tuesday brings the U Street All-Star Reunion to the Busboys & Poets at 14th Street, Northwest D.C., as well as a dance workshop with Chitra & Neverless titled “Grovoes & Party: A Hip-Hop Celebration” at the Eisenhower Rehearsal Studio at the Kennedy Center in D.C.
Wednesday brings “We’re ALL Immigrants” to Busboys & Poets on K Street, Northwest D.C., as well as a dance workshop by Amirah Sackett titled “Hip Hop: Funk Styles” at the Eisenhower Rehearsal Studio at the Kennedy Center in D.C.
Thursday brings “Dynamic Duos” to Busboys & Poets in Hyattsville, Maryland, as well as the Baltimore Poets Invasion at the Busboys & Poets in Columbia, Maryland. Meanwhile, Sunken Cages will perform with dragonchild and Faraway Ghost on The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in D.C., followed by a rooftop party with Farrah Flosscett, Miss H.E.R. and Coco Spinelle on the Wild Days Rooftop at Eaton D.C.
Friday brings the “Cosplay Open Mic” to Busboys & Poets in Brookland, D.C., as well as “An Evening with Saul Williams at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in D.C.
Saturday brings the “Slamtastic Semi-Finals” to Busboys & Poets on 14th Street, Northwest D.C., as well as The Combine Literary Decathlon at Eaton House on K Street, Northwest D.C. You can also head to Eaton D.C. for “Remixing The Art Of Social Change” and the “Waiting Room 2040: Interactive Exhibition.”
It all culminates Sunday with the “Jazz & Blossoms Park Jam” featuring performances by the Grammy-winning hip-hop trio Digable Planets, Sun Ra Arkestra and more at Franklin Park on I Street, Northwest D.C. right off the McPherson Square Metro stop.
In addition to the festival, Words, Beats & Life also brings education to local classrooms throughout the year. Stay tuned to WTOP for a follow-up piece on that exciting aspect of WBL.
Find more information on the festival here.