Five renowned poets gathered once again at the Main Street Playhouse on August 25 for a spoken word performance, the fourth time they visited, thus the name "Words United IV." The performers plan to visit Miami Lakes again in February 2014.
Main Street Players officials Dennis and Clara Lyzniak had only words of praise for the poets. The artists included Asia, Lizz Straight, Bluz, G(eorge Yamazawa), and Bertrand "Da Younsta" Boyd II.
Many of the poets have been named participants and champions of spoken word events such as HBO Def Poetry, BET's Lyric Cafe, LEAF Festival, World Poetry Slam, and the Southern Fried Poetry Slam.
The poets hail from different states though all spoke the narrative of the struggles and triumphs faced in life done in a manner which was engaging to watch and disarmingly vulnerable.
Personal biographies and individual websites for the poets can be found at www.RingTheBellManagement.com.
The artists were brought together by agent Mike Pavlov, head of Ring the Bell Management, which is based in South Florida and coordinates regional and national showcases for artists to perform. Ring the Bell Management's roster has included national champions and Emmy-winning poets.
Pavlov, a Miami Lakes native and FIU graduate, has worked with household names such as Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, Carlos Mencia, and George Carlin. He is currently working on a project for South Florida high schools spawned from the work done on Louder than a Bomb, an award winning spoken word documentary featuring teenage poet powerhouses The Steinmenauts, Nova Venerable, Nate Marshall, and Adam Gottlieb.
"I think it's going to be a massive event once it takes off," said Pavlov.
Pavlov hopes to have 10 South Florida high schools participate for the 2014-2015 Louder than a Bomb project which will bring together teenage poets for spoken word performances. The project will continue to pave the way in establishing South Florida as a hotbed of powerful and diverse poetry.
Though still in the early stages, recruiting for the project is underway. Miami Lakes high schools are eligible to participate and are encouraged to contact Mike Pavlov at Ring the Bell Management for further information either by telephone at 305-450-5221 or by e-mail at pavdogent@aol.com.
More information on the Louder than a Bomb documentary can be found at www.louderthanabombfilm.com.