15th Annual Poetry Slam! to feature 35 performances over two nights

Creative expression.

School pride.

Stirring messages.

Poignant odes.

The next two nights are guaranteed to provide all of that -- and a heck of a lot more -- during the 15th Annual DC SCORES Poetry Slam!. A record 35 DC SCORES teams featuring 1,050 students will compete during the District's largest youth slam, which will be held Wednesday at Columbia Heights Education Campus and Thursday at H.D. Woodson High School.

See the list below of participating schools.

The Poetry Slam! is the culminating event of the fall DC SCORES season. Since mid-September, students throughout the District have learned how to express their inner feelings on paper; how to create effective prose; and, finally, how to turn that sheet of paper into compelling performances. Each school has gotten the chance to work on a mini stage at Starbucks readings thanks to the generosity of our long-time partner.

But tomorrow and Thursday, they'll take their acts to the grand stage, reciting their 5-minute performances in front of hundreds of people comprised of other schools, family, community members, DC SCORES donors and others. Last year, the brand-new Woodson auditorium was packed and loud for the second night of the Slam!. With even more schools taking the stage both nights this year, students' proud, powerful voices will be heard by capacity audiences.

Each performance will feature group poems as well as an individual performance. At the end of each night, trophies will be awarded to the top teams and the outstanding individuals who stood out -- who shined -- on stage.

At DC SCORES, winning is never the most important thing -- just don't tell that to the schools whose passion on stage is incredible and whose pride in their communities is insurmountable.

We hope you can join us for one or both nights of the Slam!. If you can't, follow the performances on Twitter (@DCSCORES) and read the blog recaps the morning after each night at dcscores.blogspot.com.

Enjoy the show!

Wednesday's performing order
(Show begins at 5:15pm)
Seaton Elementary School
MacFarland Middle School
Capital City Public Charter School
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School (elementary)
Lincoln Middle School
Thomson Elementary School
Bancroft Elementary School
H.D. Cooke Elementary School
Tubman Elementary School
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School
Brightwood Education Campus
Raymond Education Campus
Paul Public Charter School
Truesdell Education Campus
E.L. Haynes Pulic Charter School (middle)
Marie Reed Elementary School
Chavez Prep Public Charter Middle School for Public Policy -- Chavez Prep
Noyes Education Campus

Thursday's performing order
(Show begins at 5:15pm)
Wheatley Education Campus
Garfield Elementary School
Hart Middle School
Anne Beers Elementary School
Burrville Elementary School
C.W. Harris Elementary School
JC Nalle Elementary School
Kelly Miller Middle School
M.C. Terrell/McGogney Elementary School
Arts and Technology Academy
Jefferson Middle School
Aiton Elementary School
Perry Street Preparatory Public Charter School
Johnson Middle School
Davis Elementary School
Orr Elementary School
Cesar Chavez Public Charter Middle School for Public Policy -- Parkside Campus