Since 2007 Ebb and Flow: The Next Generation of Poets Speak has been featured at the National Black Arts Festival as both a performance opportunity for young poets, aged 14-18 as well as an institute for poets to learn from top poets in the country. Ebb and Flow returns this year as a performance component of First Glance.  This component of the First Glance competition is open to an International body of students aged 14-18. Poetry/Spoken Word submissions are judged on artistic excellence, verse, flow and performance.  Work must integrate the theme “Connect, Inspire, Transform”.

Specifications & How to Submit:

• Each participant may submit 1 performance piece via YouTube.
• Submissions must be no longer than 4 minutes.  Submissions that extend beyond 4 minutes will be disqualified.
• When uploading performance video to YouTube, title the short in the following format: “NBAF First Glance – (title of piece)”.  Enter the YouTube link where required on the First Glance Application Form and submit by the April 15, 2012 deadline.
• Please note that any explicit language and explicit content will not be accepted in this competition. You must adhere to the rules and regulations for YouTube and the mission and purpose of NBAF.

Finalists will be selected by a juried panel of professionals in the literary and spoken word fields as well as members of the artistic community at large. All finalists will be notified as poets advance to the final rounds. Finalists will be perform at the FIRST GLANCE FINALS in July 2012.