THE COMBINE: literary decathlon 2025 *Prelim Competition*

Words Beats & Life present THE COMBINE

The Combine is an all ages, DMV wide annual decathlon of specific wordsmithing and performance events giving participants the chance to test their skills in various areas such as writing, freestyle ability and public speaking which will be evaluated by peers, mentors and coaches. Events will allow contenders to not only accumulate cash prizes & points, but to showcase talent, and build community.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE wblinc.org/combine

DATE Saturday, March 15th 2025

DOORS @ 11:00am

COMPETITIONS START @ 12:00pm (Schedule below)

COMPETITOR REGISTRATION FEE: $ 20 per event (slots are limited)

TO REGISTER: select the free registration ticket at checkout and add-on each competition you want to compete in. Each event has a $20 fee to compete.

PRELIMINARIES LOCATION

Words Beats & Life Headquarters at 1525 Newton Street, NW, WDC 20010

(inside St Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church)

ALL PRELIM EVENTS WILL BE IN THE AUDITORIUM

FINALS WILL TAKE PLACE during our annual Word Power Festival happening April 3 & 4, 2025 at various Busboys And Poets locations in Washington DC. Stay tuned for more details.

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Age Categories - ALL EVENTS ARE ALL AGES

Info: TEST YOUR WRITING SKILLS - Create your best three line poems in a 5-7-5 syllable format. You can make them Funny, Sad or Profound…Bring out ten of your hottest, bite-sized stanzas - the more you have, the better!

Info: TEST YOUR MEMORY - Participants are challenged to either A) recite a famous monologue, poem or song lyric from memory, or B) remix a famous monologue into a rap, song, or poetic performance & recite it from memory

Info: TEST YOUR SKILLS - Off the top flows /Topics pulled from a Hat / Engage in a Rhyme Debate…and more!

Info: TEST YOUR IMAGINATION - Bring to poetic life an abstract idea that we present to you, like Joy / Fear / Confusion / Rage, etc

Info: TEST YOUR ORIGINALITY - The goal is to bring your opponent UP, not down - Competitors will be given their opponent's name in advance.

Info: TEST YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE - speak from the heart with poems about romance, family & friends (NO Erotica!)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Words Beats & Life Headquarters (The St Stephens Church), 1525 Newton St NW, Washington, United States