Precision Poetry Drill Teams

Take Over ORRJHS

On May 25th thirty-one teams of students from Mr. Andree’s 8th grade English class participated in a precision poetry drill team performance. “It’s a cross between a cheer leading squad, a poetry recital, and drill team,” Mr. Andree said.  Over the course of two weeks teams chose poems then created arrangements incorporating solos, unison lines, body strikes, choreography, dynamics, and tempo changes. “They transformed their poems into performance pieces,” Mr. Andree said. “Don’t mistake this for a poetry reading. It’s more like a concert: loud, energized teams performing poetry with a focus on the sound and rhythm of the poetry.”

            There were many notable performances. One was an arrangement of E.E. Cummings “next to of course god america i” by HipHop-o-potto-pi (Dylan Zell, Gabriel Richards, Isaiah Kidney, and Dylan Gallipeau) dealing with the idea of patriotism. And closing the performance an arrangement of Lucille Clifton’s “Homage To My Hips” by The HipNoTizers (Jentelle Rioux, Madison Miedzionoski, and Christina Sebastio) that confronted the idea of how our culture judges beauty.

            Aside from the teams of performers, team teachers and administrators also performed. The precision poetry drill team project gave participants a different idea of what poetry is, and can be. Mr. Andree said, “Sometimes we kill poetry. We dissect and analyze it to death. Poetry should be shared, and shouted, and heard, and played with, and celebrated.” 

Poetica Dramatica (video part 3)

The Sloth / Yes / Effort at Speech Between Two People / Puskin's Russian Bedtime Story

Poetica Dramatica (video part 4)

Survivor Man / Bilingual - Bilingue / One Art / Song of Powers / Alone

Poetica Dramatica (video part 7)

The Road Not Taken / Notes from a non-existent Himalayan expedition / I Am In Need Of Music / How To Kill A Living Thing / The Door / Birthday Cake / Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Poetica Dramatica (video part 8)

Deliberate / Motto / I am the Song / Black Boys Play The Classics / My Nose

For daily lesson plans and resources for the Precision Poetry Drill Team project visit my lesson plan page:

Poetica Dramatica Lessons