The MultiCultural Center (MCC) will host a celebration of diversity and words Wednesday night with the return of its popular poetry event, Another Type of Groove (ATOG).
The event offers open mics to attendees before and after showcasing a notable poet hired by the MCC; it usually takes place the first Wednesday of every month.
ATOG’s featured artist this month is hip-hop artist Dahlak Brathwaite. Brathwaite’s talents spill over into other mediums besides hip-hop, such as writing and acting in multiple plays, winning the Brave New Voices poetry slam and helping college students become politically involved as a member of iLL-Literacy: a group which has visited hundreds of colleges to provide entertainment as well as guide student activism.
ATOG assistant coordinator and biomedical engineering senior Jose Beltran said Brathwaite’s hip-hop influences set him apart from past featured poets.
“I’m really anticipating a different vibe or a different feel this time,” Beltran said. “This guy — from the stuff that I got to see online — is really good.”
Although Brathwaite has a rap-based approach, Beltran said any form of spoken-word art is welcome during the open mic portion of the night.
“Some people have rapped before,” he said. “Some people have beatboxed. You can sing. You can really do whatever. Whatever you can do on a mic, you can do at Another Type of Groove.”
The open-forum nature of ATOG is one way in which the event furthers the MCC’s goals.
MCC coordinator Joy Harkins said the center’s primary objective is “to celebrate and promote awareness of diversity on campus.”
“We do that by providing different opportunities for dialog, performance (and) discussion about diversity,” Harkins said. “One of our most popular events is Another Type of Groove.”
According to Harkins, approximately 300 to 400 students attend ATOG normally. The MCC is expecting another good turnout on Wednesday.
“I get excited about all the ATOG events because I know that they draw a lot of people,” Harkins said.
Any one of the many attendees may add his or her name to a list to be called up to the mic.
“It’s a really great opportunity for performers, who are primarily students, to express themselves in a safe and creative environment,” Harkins said. “People love it because they love to express themselves.”
Harkins said people also like the event because it inspires camaraderie.
“There’s a real sense of community,” Harkins said. “There’s a lot of support and people pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone.”
Industrial engineering senior and former ATOG coordinator Megan McIntyre said she has learned sensitive things about complete strangers by being a part of the event.
“Slam poetry is like emotional puke,” McIntyre said. “You stand up in front of a group of people and say exactly what you mean.”
McIntyre often performs at ATOG herself.
“Being able to share your point of view is an amazing experience,” she said. “I love getting up on the mic.”
All students are welcome and encouraged to join in the growing trend of coming to the event.
“People should come,” Beltran said. “It’s a really good event. It’ll be amazing, of course. It’s always amazing.”
The free event is from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in Chumash Auditorium. DJ Bubbles will provide music when poetry isn’t being shared.