Poetry Out Loud is a national initiative that encourages highschool students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The program is designed to help participants master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary histroy and contemporary life.
The regional level of the competition will be administered in Northeast Louisiana by the NELA Arts Council this Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts. The community is invited to this free event and experience the talents of our local students.
In early January, participants were selected by local highschools that hosted their own competitions between fellow students in Language Arts classes. The top three winners from each school will be the ones competing in this weekend's competition.
At the regional tournament, participants are expected to have memorized two poems from an approved list and then recite them in a creative, compelling fashion. Judges will then select the top three students for the national championship.
Scott Bell, the competition organizer, says it is all about the delivery, "They [students] are judged not just how well they memorized the poem but how well they deliver it and if they can convey its meaning with the right of amount of action and tone of voice."
To find out more about Poetry Out Loud, click here.