Poetry Slam Directed by Regie Gibson Performance poetry, also called slam poetry, is the art of spoken word. These original poems often address edgy and vulnerable topics, and are performed using no props, no costumes, and no instruments. The range of styles can span from hip-hop to prose, comedy to monologue. During the Five-Week program students enrolled in the Performance Poetry Class covered the basics of the trade: professional stage presence, fearless communication, and thoughtful poetic craft. All the poems you’ll hear tonight are the students’ original compositions.