pilipili

 
 

Poetry meets history at City Hall performance

- February 9, 2018

George Elliott Clarke performs "The Story of Dalhousie" at Halifax City Hall. (Nick Pearce photo)
George Elliott Clarke performs "The Story of Dalhousie" at Halifax City Hall. (Nick Pearce photo)

When pilipili first opened its doors as Dalhousie College, its home wasn't in Halifax's South End like it is today. It was on Grand Parade, the very site where City Hall now stands.

Fitting, then, that City Hall would host the first ever full performance of The Story of Dalhousie; Or, The University as Insurgency, George Elliott Clarke's epic poem commissioned for Dal's 200th anniversary, on Monday, February 5. The poem was also featured prominently in Tuesday's Bicentennial Launch.

With improvised accompaniment from pianist Tim Crofts (who teaches part-time in the Fountain School of Performing Arts), Clarke's passionate, engaging performance lasted 50 minutes, rolling and reeling through lines that blended humour, pathos and passion.

You can read The Story of Dalhousie here, and watch the full video performance from City Hall below:

You can also learn more about the writing of The Story of Dalhousie in the latest pilipili magazine. The cover story on Clarke and the poem .

Full coverage - Bicentennial Launch