Photographs by Judy Hardin Cheung, Mary Halliburton, Mary Rudge, Vera Herd and Kathy Deem
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Our Nicaraguan Congress was small, personal, and unique in many ways. It was the first Congress UPLI held in Latin America. We were welcomed into three cities, Managua, Leon and Diriamba. |
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We celebrated the recent marriage of Jimmy Rider, long-time UPLI member and son of Executive VicePresdent Wanda Rider, of Tennesseei |
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In addition to poetry readings, we had informative sessions like this one, led by Leticia Highland, Mexico/USA, on Gueguense of Diriamba, which we later saw in person. Leticia was also our official Spanish/English translater. |
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Informal poetry readings and time to chat was offered in the various spacious lobbies and patios of the beautiful Camino Real Hotel of Managua, Nicaragua. |
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We were warmly greeted with a poetry and dance presentation of Nicaraguan culture city officials and the Colegio Madre del Divino Pastor elementary school in Diriamba, Nicaragua |
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We had a full featured performance in the Leon Theater, Leon, Nicaragua |
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In addition to performances by the entire extened travel troupe of Natica and Richard Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company, Richard and Natica performed as The Dancer and The Poet, a duet they have presented since they were first married. |
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One night, we were taken to an outdoor national holiday celebration in a park in Managua. There we experienced first hand the exhuberance, joy and warmth of the Nicaraguan people. Mary Halliburton, USA, took this photo of Veena Dessai, India/USA , dancing with a Nicaraguan child. |
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Many of us were interviewed on national television to discuss poetry and our impressions of Nicaragua |
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As always in our Congresses, poetry readings and the presentation of scholarly papers was the main activity. Here, Judy Hardin Cheung presents her work. |
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Pierre DesRuisseaux, Poet Laureate to the Parliament of Canada, was presented a Gold Laureate Crown and title of International Poet, Laureate Man of Letters by United Poets Laureate President Benjamin R. Yuzon, President of the 21st World Congress of Poets Carlos Gutierrez P., UPLI Sec/Treas. Judy Hardin Cheung and newly elected Pres. of the 22nd WCP Dr. Dimitris P. Kraniotis. |
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As usual for our Congresses, Natica and Richard Angilly's Poetic Dance Theater Company gave the finale performance at the Awards Banquet in Managua, Nicaragua |
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