The energetic cadences of her rendition, the way she uses her hands to liven up her performance, and the dazzling smile that lights up her face captivate and mesmerize, and you’re left silently wishing there were a few lines more when she gets to the end of her poem. Or that she would continue with another poem and not break the trance you are already in.[break]
You can’t decide whether it’s the words or the performance that has managed to grip you. It may also be the enigmatic and fresh-faced lady. Perhaps, it’s the combination of all three.
Sarah began performing when she was fourteen years old though she’s been writing ever since she can remember, and now less than a decade later, she’s already a narration force to reckon with.
Sarah Kay performs at Nava Prabhat School, Pulchowk, Lalitpur on Wednesday. The audience comprising students from grade seven to 10 and their teachers watched in rapt attention as she animatedly performed three of her poems. Photo: Bijay Gajmer
In 2004, Sarah founded Project V.O.I.C.E. (Vocal Outreach Into Creative Expression) and has been conducting workshops on Spoken Word Poetry all over the world from the United Kingdom, France, South Africa, to India.
She’s currently in Nepal conducting workshops in various schools within the Valley along with the Word Warriors, a local slam poetry group.
Sarah was a featured speaker at the 2011 TED conference. Her first book, B, which is actually one poem with illustrations – a sort of a children’s book more than a poetry book by Sarah’s own admittance – was ranked the number one bestselling poetry book on Amazon.
Her first performance in Nepal was at Nava Prabhat School at Pulchowk, Lalitpur. The audience comprising students from grade seven to 10 were absorbed in her words. They laughed with her, smiled at her, nodded at lines they could relate to –and there were plenty of those! – and asked for more when she was done.
Her schedule was tight. She had to rush off to Thames College for a workshop for aspiring slam poets, but she complied. She even made time to answer a few of their questions and signed autographs and clicked pictures – not just with the students but teachers as well! And she did it all with a smile and no hint of a rush.
Sarah is lovely – both on stage and offstage!
Her effervescent persona and her candor and command of the stage are a delight, and it’s exceedingly refreshing to hear her speak and watch her perform. Her performances take your breath away and you just can’t ever get enough of Sarah, and that’s because her poems are spectacular and elegant – just the way she is!
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