Poet-tree En Motion

Spring Performance Series!

Wednesdays April 3^rd, May 1^st
(& SAVE THE DATE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT ON Saturday June 29^th)!

A FREE community event (but donations are always appreciated)!

This ongoing seasonal event series features a variety of dance/movement/theater mediums, live electronic/acoustic music, vocalists & poetry/spoken-word presentations, circus/fire/flow arts performances, community art creations & VJ projections… Plus an open stage/open mic!

(Doors Open @ 7pm/Sign up Begins)

Featured acts include:

APRIL
Paying Homage to the Spoken Word of Poet-Tree!

• 
  Apiary Magazine-showcasing diverse talents from across the Philadelphia Region (apiarymagazine.com), featuring contributors Mydera-Speek Me Free (speakmefree.com), Celeste-The Sophisticated Poet (twitter.com/Sophistic_Poet)!

• 
  Elliott Levin- World Music, Jazz & Experimental Musician & Beat Poet (facebook.com/elliott.levin.9)!

• 
  Kelly Writers House- a center for writers of all kinds in the Philadelphia region (writing.upenn.edu), represented by Rosa Escandon-Event organizer for the  “Speakeasy” @ KWH (facebook.com/Speakeasy)!

• 
  Lili Bita- World Famous Greek Poetess, Musician & Actress (lilibita.com)!

• 
  Moonstone Arts Center- promoting creative exchange through diverse cultural programs (moonstoneartscenter.org), represented by Dave Worrell-host of New Poetry Series @ Fergie's Pub facebook.com/dave.worrell!

• 
  Plum Dragoness & The Elements (Jan Jefferies, Ali Richardson & Elliott Levin)-Dances with Spoken Word & Live Music (www.plumdragoness.com)!

Plus many more awesome presenters during the Open Stage/Open Mic portion closing the night!

To keep Updated on Coming Events …

Join the Facebook Group for Poet-tree En Motion (facebook.com/groups/116980678334215) & join the Event Invite here @ this Link for April 3rd, 2013!

Bios of performers:

MYDERA SPEAKMEFREE
Born and raised in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Mydera SpeakMeFree Robinson is a poet, writer, artist, motivational speaker, educator, and entrepreneur. Mydera SpeakMeFree has been writing since childhood. Growing up she was influenced by the work Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Sonia Sanchez, and Lauryn Hill. In 2010 Mydera SpeakMeFree began attending poetry events and sharing her own poetry for the first time. Her love for the craft of poetry has grown enormously since hitting the stage and giving her words through performing. In 2012 she released her debut spoken word album “Confessions of a Caterpillar”. Mydera SpeakMeFree continues to perform locally and abroad. She has made it her mission to help others find their voice. You can often find her teaching workshops, hosting youth poetry slams, and volunteering in her local arts community. For more information on Mydera SpeakMeFree or for booking please visit her official website www.SpeakMeFree.com

CELESTE N. PRESTON - THE SOPHISTICATED POET
Celeste N. Preston is a native of the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia. She is a groundskeeper/landscaper by day and performing poet by night. She was introduced to African American poetry while competing in oratorical contests at Lotus Academy. At the age of 13, the death of someone very dear to her provoked her to start writing and has been writing ever since. She started performing her poetry 3 years ago at Panoramic Poetry and has developed a passion for poetry and spoken word. God blessed her with this gift and she found the purpose to minister to others through her own life experiences and inspirations. Poetry has been and will always be her therapy. Celeste has performed and featured at various venues including Panoramic Poetry, Jus Words, Soul Connection Philly, Art of Conversation Philly/Baltimore, Prophetic Presentations: Word Feast events, Poet-ify and more. “Poetry is an outward expression of my innermost emotions”, says Celeste. In January 2013 she was the finalist for the “Fuze Poetry Presents: Women of the World” poetry slam. Her poetry has also taken her to the stage in a different way as she held an acting role in a choreopoetic stage-play called “He Calls Me Rib” in January 2013. In November 2011 she was a featured poet in the stage-play “Whose Body Is It?”. Both plays were written by Parenthysis Errica G. Her debut spoken word album, “My Poetry Is Just Me” was released digitally and on cd on September 2011. She has also served as a mentor working with young ladies at the Mothers in Charge after school program. Stay tuned as she makes her way as God leads her every step of the way.

ELLIOTT LEVIN - compositions & performances through flutes, saxophones, words. Born and based in Phila., Pa. pursuing early studies with Michael Guerra (legendary saxist/clarinetist of Phila. Orchestra under Stokowski); and composer/flutist Claire Polin (collaborator with flute innovater William Kincaid).  Studied music and creative writing at the U. of Oregon. Later studies with masters- pianist/improvisor/composer Cecil Taylor; and later with saxophonist/improviser/composer Odean Pope- led to long time relationships of performing and recording with their ensembles. A member of many groups in Phila/NYC area over the past 30 years (since the early '70's), he has continued to work with his own ensembles as well including INTERPLAY Ensemble, NEW GHOST, The PHILADELPHIA PHENOMENA to name a few...(collaborating with artists such as Rick Iannacone,  Ed Watkins, Ron Howerton, Keno Speller, Marshall Allen, Tyrone Hill, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Calvin Weston,  and many others). RECORDINGS include: OLDUVAI- "Baubo" on Tiwa Records (original poetry & music). ILTAR- "Iltar" on Tiwa Records (original poetry & music). THE MOTION OF EMOTION;  SOUL-ETUDE;  A FINE INTENSITY;  OPPORTUNITIES & ADVANTAGES ("ON IN ON-ON-DAGA!")- on CIMP Recordings (as a leader)... THE LIGHT OF CORONA;  also-  ALMEDA- on FMP (w/ Cecil Taylor Ensemble)... THE SOUND VISION ORCHESTRA- on Eremite (w/ Alan Silva)... ODEAN POPE'S SAXOPHONE CHOIR- "Locked & Loaded"(w/Michael Brecker; James Carter, & Joe Lovano), LEVIN/CARTER/BALGOCHIAN/KRALL/SHURDUT Ensemble;  a solo Poetry & Music CD, Bobby Zankel's WARRIORS OF THE WONDERFUL SOUND-"Ceremonies Of Forgiveness"., SECRET VOICES "No Time For Silence" (1KRecordings) w/ Ursula Rucker, Rich Medina, etc. (International poetry & music compilation). NEW GHOST -"Live Upstairs @ Nick's" on ESP (original poetry & music). INTERPLAY- "Apology  to the Atonists/Tritone Suite)" on Porter Re3cords (original poetry & music), SEESAW ENSEMBLE- "Elliott Levin Meets the Seesaw Ensemble" on Porter Records (original poetry & Music). His book of poetry "does it swing...?" is published by Heat Press (LA). for more info:   www.radical3over2.com/elliott/levin.html, http://www.myspace.com/elliottlevin

LILI BITA
A native of the island of Zante, she graduated both from the Greek Conservatory of Music and the Athens School of Drama, and holds an M.A. in Drama from the University of Miami. After a notable career in Greece performing classical and contemporary roles for leading directors, she settled in the United States. In this country she has appeared widely on stage, television and radio, and held appointments at several universities. She tours extensively with her one woman shows,"The Greek Woman Through the Ages"," Body Light" and "Freedom or Death." Lili Bita has published ten books and chapbooks of poetry, two books of short fiction, a novella, two volumes of translation, and several plays. Her work has been translated into English, French, Spanish, German, and Bengali.

DAVE WORRELL
Dave Worrell’s first chapbook titled “We Who Were Bound” was published in August 2012 by Casa de Cinco Hermanas Press.  His poems have appeared in U.S. 1 Worksheets, Mad Poets Review, Exit 13, Wild River Review, Fox Chase Review and Adanna.  He has performed his music-backed poems at Chris’ Jazz Café in Philadelphia and The Cornelia Street Café in New York.

PLUM DRAGONESS
Plum Dragoness (Gabrielle de Burke ) is a Performer/Poet/Theater Artist. She has been an artist in residence  at The Rotunda since 2007 with the performance series she organizes & hosts, called, “Poet-tree En Motion”. This ongoing free community fall/spring performance event has led to collaborating w/ various artists in the Philly underground art scenes. She performs her sung-spoken words regularly for the series, working with VJ artists for visual projections & musicians & dancers & so on… Her work as an artist has led to touring shows in a verity of arrangements varying from solo/duo presentations to  an ensemble of venues & has been presented by the Rossport Gathering (June, 2009/County Mayo, Ire), the Winter Solstice Nexus event (December, 2009/Toronto, ON, CA), The OM Reunion Project Festival (June, 2010/Northern Ontario, CA), the PEX Fest Summer Festival (Darlington, MD. 2009/2010/2011), the Gaian Mind Festival (Artimus, PA. 2007/2008), the Coalesce Fest (Darlington, MD 2009/2010), the Desiderata Festival (July, 2009/Upstate, NY), Alex Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (NY, NY) & the Times Square Performing Arts Center (NYC, NY) & in local west Philly venues such as the Rotunda, The Community Education Center & at The World Cafe Live (December 2010) & more.