Acentos Bronx Poetry Showcase

[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Acentos Bronx Poetry Showcase Anniversary Celebration

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Acentos Bronx Poetry Showcase Anniversary Celebration
New York, NY - (February 25, 2005) The Acentos Bronx Poetry Showcase
celebrates it's two year anniversary Tuesday, March 22nd with both a
select group of regular readers on the open mic and musical guests
Maya Azucena and the debut of the Mona Passage ushering in a new year
of poetic excellence.

Acentos takes place at 7:30pm, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
at Blue Ox Bar, corner of 3rd Ave and 138th St, 1 block from the 6
Train 138th Street station in the Bronx, NYC. Admission is free, with a $5
suggested donation. In the South Bronx's burgeoning art scene, Acentos
has become the premiere venue for poetry in the Bronx. "Acentos always
has a headliner but the meat of the evening was the open-mic session,
where more than a score of poets read and performed before a friendly,
encouraging crowd," reports New York Times journalist, Seth Kugel
(Arts section, Jan 30, 2004).

In addition to providing an open space for poets of all backgrounds
and styles to share their work, Acentos has also brought a diverse
group of nationally renowned writers to the heart of the Bronx. In
their first two years, Acentos featured Latino poets with the aim of
giving Latino poetry a renewed spotlight outside the venues of
downtown New York, including Miguel Algarin, Louis Reyes Rivera,
Willie Perdomo, Mahina Movement, NYFA Fellow-Edward Garcia, authors
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez & Bonafide Rojas, Cave Canem Fellows-Raina Leon
& Aracelis Girmay, Jack Agueros, Dr. Nancy Mercado, Jose Angel
Figueroa, National Teen Poetry Champion-Jorge Monterossa, and
Smithsonian Institution Latina/o Studies Fellow- Reina Prado. "They
were kicking something fierce, reminding me of back in the 70s- when
we would find any place we could and turn it into THE jam for poetry.
These youngsters are doing the same exact thing today," explains Louis
Reyes Rivera.

Leading the cultural renaissance in the Bronx, Acentos was founded in
March 2003 as a showcase for Latino voices. In one year, it has become
a benchmark for all Bronx poetry and aspires to become a staple of the
New York poetry scene. Acentos is run by a group of dedicated young
poets, Oscar Bermeo, Jessica Torres, Fish Vargas and Rich Villar; and
thrives with the support of the Bronx Council on the Arts' Bronx
Writers' Center and the louderARTS Project,Inc. "While in New York, I
was fortunate enough to read in poetry venues whose reputation
preceded them and I was received warmly. However, I found that the
highlight of my New York experience was in the Bronx, at a place I had
never heard of before; Acentos. It is beautiful to be accepted by
strangers, but it is still more beautiful to be accepted by your
family," comments Teen Poetry Slam Champion, Jorge Monterossa.

www.louderarts.com/acentos

Tuesday, March 22nd @ 7:00pm
ACENTOS
Blue Ox Bar
Corner of Third Ave & East 139 Street

Acentos- 2nd Anniversary Celebration
featuring the music of Maya Azucena
plus the debut of The Mona Passage
& The Uptown's Best Open Mic

6 Train to 138th Street Station
Hosted by the Acentos Crew
FREE! ($5 Suggested Donation)
http://www.louderarts.com/acentos

*The Blue Ox Bar is a short one block walk from the 6
train's 138th Street/Third Ave station. If coming from
Manhattan, please use the exit closest to the last car
on the 6. For any additional directions, please call
the Blue Ox Bar at (718)402-1045.