Andrea Thompson is a poet and spoken word artist currently living in Toronto. Over the past twelve years, she has performed her work at festivals and events across North America. Andrea re-creates mythological themes in a contemporary milieu, offering her audience an invitation to return to the roots of the oral tradition through the elevation of spoken word to its ancient role as public ritual.
Andrea has co-hosted CiTr radio's spoken word show Hearsay, produced live poetry events and has facilitated writing workshops for adults and youth. As the executive director of the Edgewise Electrolit Centre, she produced Telepoetics, a video-conferenced live poetry event, and Teen-Telepoetics workshops.
Andrea has performed her work in the feature film Slam Nation, on Bravo TV's Planet Poetry, TVO's Imprint, Book Television's Heart of a Poet, Carolyn Weaver's BioLibrary and on numerous CBC radio programs. Her video-poem, Juicy (produced by Seth-Adrian Harris) has been screened at the Vancouver Videopoem Festival and Toronto's Iced in Black Festival. Andrea's work has been studied at the University of Toronto and at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Canadian Urban Music Award nominee (spoken word section), 2005, One (CD).
Vancouver International Spoken Word Festival, Vancouver BC, 2005
Calgary International Spoken Word Festival, Calgary AB, 2005
Toronto International Dub Poetry Festival, Toronto ON, 2004
Short Fuse Anthology Book Launch, New York NY, 2002
Scream in High Park Festival, Toronto ON, 2001
Seattle Poetry Festival, Seattle WA, 1998
National Poetry Slam Championship, Oregon WA, 1996
Mary of Canada, The Virgin Mary in Canadian Culture (Banff Centre Press, 2003)
Bluesprint: Black British Columbian Literature & Orature (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2001)
Short Fuse: A Global Anthology of New Fusion Poetry (Rattapallax Press, 2002)
Poetry Nation: The North American Anthology of Fusion Poetry (Vehicule Press, 1998)
Vintage '95: The League of Canadian Poet's Annual Anthology, (Quarry Press, 1999)
Thompson, Andrea, Eating the Seed (Ekstasis Editions, 2000) ISBN 1-896860-53-2
Thompson, Andrea, One (Andrea Thompson, 2004) ISBN 0-9736868-0-4
Contact: andithompson@hotmail.com
(Ontario)
e-mail: andithompson@hotmail.com
Andrea Thompson has been conducting workshops and readings for youth in Ontario and BC for over eight years. After each visit, she asks the students to write her a review. Here's what some of them had to say:
"Very riveting and moving- she brings poetry to life."
"I always thought poetry was boring and lifeless, but after this presentation poetry seems intense, fascinating ..."
"Andrea really grabbed my attention with her energy and the rhythms of her work."
"Her topics made me reflect on my life ... issues that I have been through and am going through."
"Andrea makes words explode with energy."
"She has inspired me to express myself in a similar way."
"Very inspiring- come back again!"
Grade Levels: 7 - OAC
Fees: Fees are negotiable (and in some cases waived) for some inner-city schools in Toronto. No charge for schools in Northern Ontario (see program guidelines for details). Standard fees: for performance presentations and class discussions. Higher rate for workshop sessions.
Classroom Approach: Andrea's approach focuses on bringing poetry alive: from the page to the stage. Dynamic, engaging, and non-traditional, Andrea invokes elements of theatre and performance to infuse students with an enthusiasm for poetry and the spoken word. School visits vary according to educators needs, and are suitable for both multi-class and smaller groups. Presentations can in incorporate recorded music ranging from hip-hop to reggae to jazz, as well as videos of poets working in the 'Slam' tradition, and 'videopoems' that combine literary and visual arts.
Workshop sessions take students from blank page to finished poem; with a focus on helping them find their poetic voice, and write with passion about topics that are relevant to their own lives. Andrea helps students tap into their inner muse, banish writer's block, and learn the art of public speaking and performing their piece.