User:Antoine Duke

About Antoine Duke

As a Artist, Performer, Poet , Educator, Spoken word artist , dancer , and director Antoine Duke is indeed a man of many hats. Born in March of 1993, As a 19 year old Performer and teaching artist he has received grants founded companies and has competed nationally as a spoken word artist. He has Founded No Projection a company that teaches literacy through spoken word and social justice theater. Shaking Fences Hip Hop Dance class, Gages Photography and Dopeimgeclothing. He chooses Social Justice Education through theater ,and art because he believes that art cannot only teach creative ,and powerful practices ,but also because it can educate us on how to become better human beings. "Art allows you to listen to the world around you and take in other perspective which is not easily done, especially in todays society". Antoine got his start in the performing arts, the first time he saw Michael jackson on "Motown 25th; Yesterday ,today,forever : on March 25th 1983" As he watched through his television in his living room he was  hooked to dance ,creating and performing anywhere he could. since then he has attended conferences and performed in Los Angels, San Francisco  Detroit , Washington DC , Arkansas and Minnesota. He has gone on too teach spoken word and theater in schools ( Washburn, Brooklyn Center High ). Found "8 Stages" a program at Pillsbury House Theater  in which through theater and spoken word teach youth the culture of violence and how to prevent it. He aspires to found his own Organization "Urban Speaks" which will teach spoken word and social justice theater to youth around the twin cites.

About No Projection

On April 15th 2012 Antoine Duke created a Spoken Word Poetry Ensemble called "No Projection" that with Spoken Word Poetry and Social Justice Theater they offer workshops on creative writing, developing literacy, and social justice issues. No Projection includes Poets and Actors Antonio Duke, Lamar Collins ,Donte Collins and Antoine Duke. All brothers from the south side of Chicago, but adopted into separate families they've created a culture with in there brotherhood that met on a common ground of Spoken Word Poetry , love for Theater , Dance and Professionalism. No Projection was given its name through Antoine Duke. No Projection comes from two ideologies. One, members in No Projection believe that Art  ( Especially spoken word poetry) fundamental principles is to serve as a voice for the voiceless. Through Spoken Word Poetry and Theater they teach that when you feel like you don't have a voice or have the ability to project your voice spoken word poetry, theater , dance and community can serve as a medium of expression. The other ideology No Projection was founded on was the idea of teaching people to write and be experts in literacy and the ability to articulate thought ,not so much with the intention of creating a new generation of spoken word artist ,but instead with the intention of creating a generation of people who have found there identity through what ever they want to pursue. No Projection members have been seen in International poetry slams ( Antoine Duke, "Brave New Voices" ,Two years in a row ) as well as on The Guthrie stage ( Antonio Duke,"The Amen Corner" ) and have guest appeared on cable television ( Antoine Duke , Antonio Duke, Lamar Collins , Donte Collins ,"The Art Cunningham Show." ). Donte Collins ( The youngest ) has been a Minnesota Spoken Word youth finalist, appeared on Americas got talent commercials ,and has assisted directed plays at his school , he is also fluent in Tap and Hip Hop dance. Lamar Collins ( Second to youngest ) won the "All conference defense play in basketball for 2011 Award", had the highest reading and writing score in his 10 grade class ,and now is taking classes at the University of Minnesota and is passing with a "A" .Along with that No Projection members have taught Spoken Word and co-taught Social Justice Theater in the minneapolis public school district ( Washburn High School ) as well as in the Brooklyn Center school district ( Brooklyn Center High )School ) . Last year No Projection applied for and got the Summer 612 micro grant through Pillsbury House Theater and the Minnesota State Health Board . They we're the only performers to receive the performance grant .The grant specified  in non- violence and at risk youth . With this the  four young men thought about ways they can depict the neighborhoods around them in a critical articulate way . After some deep thought and debate they finally came up with the idea to revolve the story around a bus stop in there neighborhood, and apply spoken word as well as theater monologues to the different diverse characters they see in there neighborhood. They especially wanted to put enfaces on the thoughts and emotions these characters could be thinking. In the end the show went over phenomenally, it got a standing ovation and was offered back to perform for Michele Norris ( Host Of NPR radio ) as well as different schools and colleges. No Projections main mission is too better there community and world that there living in through the power of education through Spoken Word Poetry and Social Justice Theater.