Capital Slam 2011 Finals

Jessey is a writer, digital communications strategist, and the founder of Local Tourist Ottawa.

I’m not sure that when people think of the Nation’s Capital, they often think of poetry.

Well, they should. In 2010, Ottawa won its second-consecutive national slam poetry title, and on Friday night the city’s 2011 team was decided. If the passion-filled show these inspirational poets put on was any indication, their competitors sure have a challenge ahead.

Ottawa’s 2011 slam team is:

1. Sense-Say
2. Loh El
3. Bruce Narbaitz
4. Sean O’Gorman
5. PrufRock 

The city’s 2011 champion was Sense-Say – and he really blew the audience away.

Check it:

Rusty Priske was one of my favourite poets of the night. Unfortunately he didn’t make the team this year, but I absolutely loved his performance.

I also really enjoyed Poetic Speed, who wasn’t in the running for the evening but instead acted as the “Sacrificial Poet” – a performance to set the barometer of the randomly selected judges.

All of the poets were amazing, and I was really inspired by the bravery in all of them to stand up on that stage and bare their souls so beautifully.

Trust me, the quality of the videos above and any of the other clips you’ll find online do not do their performances justice, so please do watch for the Capital Slam 2011 CD that will be released soon – and get out to Ottawa’s local slam events!

Capital Slam is the second longest running slam series in Canada, and every year from September to June local poets compete to win their chance to represent the city at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. To learn more about Capital Slam, visit www.capitalslam.com.