Young poets from across America take the spotlight in the new HBO special BRAVE NEW VOICES 2010. Hosted by Common and co-hosted by Rosario Dawson, the show spotlights four promising teams from New York, Denver, Albuquerque and the Bay Area as they compete at the 2010 Brave New Voices National Youth Poetry Slam Championship in Los Angeles.
Debuting in November, the special features emotional, creative and inspiring slam poetry, as well as interviews with the poets, coaches and judges.
Held in a different city each year, the Brave New Voices championship presents voices of 21st-century America in all their demographic diversity. Taped at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles on July 23, HBO’s cameras captured the four teams and their coaches as they vied for top national honors.
Judges for the competition’s finale include poet Mayda Del Valle, TV host Penn Jillette, musician Talib Kweli, actress Sanaa Lathan and poet Beau Sia.
Created by Youth Speaks in 1998, the Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam Festival has quickly become the largest youth poetry festival in the world. The festival focuses on arts education and performance, local program development, national movement organizing and the highlighting of a new generation of performing artists, audiences and opportunity
