Da'shade Moonbeam
Encyclopedia
Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet
, stage combat
performer, and social worker from Austin
, Texas
.
Da'shade has developed a small but growing following in a wide variety of performance venues, including:
team, Da'shade is a 2 time team finalist at the National Poetry Slam
(2003 & 2008), with the team finishing 3rd both years. In 2003, he also made the individual finals at NPS, finishing with a ranking of 9th in the U.S. In 2007, Da'Shade represented Austin at the Individual World Poetry Slam, and took 8th in the nation.
In addition, he has featured at many venues throughout the U.S., including Chicago's Green Mill
, The Nuyorican Poets Café
in New York City
, and throughout central Texas, including the Hip Hop Theater Explosion.
In 2004, a yet to be released documentary was filmed about the National Poetry Slam
in St. Louis. This film featured Da'Shade and other notable members of the national slam scene including Celena Glenn, Tony Jackson, Anis Mojgani
, Zell Miller III, and Andy Buck.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, stage combat
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
performer, and social worker from Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Bio and Achievements
Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged Jeff to develop his artistic nature. Now entering his second decade as a writer, performer and social advocate in his own right, Da'Shade continues to earn awards and notoriety throughout the United States. He also continues to promote positive change in his local community, primarily through the non-profit social services agencies Lifeworks and Southwest Key.Da'shade has developed a small but growing following in a wide variety of performance venues, including:
- as a founding member and 1/2 of the up-and-coming socially conscious hip hop group, Blacklisted Individuals, along with Snyp.
- as a founding member of Austin's Xenogia Spoken Word Collective, along with playwright and poet, Zell Miller III.
- a multiple time member of the Austin Poetry SlamAustin Poetry SlamThe Austin Poetry Slam is one of the longest running poetry venues in Texas. Founded in 1994 by Wammo of the Asylum Street Spankers and helmed for 15 years by former Poetry Slam, Inc. president, Mike Henry, Austin Slam is renowned for memorable and often raucous performances by many of the best...
team, earning the title of grand champion three times- more than any other poet.
- a long time instructor and performer for Austin based, Foundation Stage Combat and UPRISE productions.
- and most recently as the founder and CEO of Cry Havoc Action Choreography, an Austin based stage combat performance troupe.
Blacklisted Individuals
Blacklisted Individuals is a socially conscious rap duo from Austin, TX. Blacklisted was founded in 2003 and consists of Da'shade and fellow Austin rapper Snyp, who have been performing together since 1998. They are most notable for their top 5 finish on Famecast's 2007 hip hop stage, and performed on the finals stage. They also recently released their first album, Rallying the Wolves. Blacklisted Individuals tours regularly throughout Texas and the southwest.Slam Poet
A 5 time member (and 3 time champion) of the Austin Poetry SlamAustin Poetry Slam
The Austin Poetry Slam is one of the longest running poetry venues in Texas. Founded in 1994 by Wammo of the Asylum Street Spankers and helmed for 15 years by former Poetry Slam, Inc. president, Mike Henry, Austin Slam is renowned for memorable and often raucous performances by many of the best...
team, Da'shade is a 2 time team finalist at the National Poetry Slam
National Poetry Slam
The National Poetry Slam is a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and France participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurs in early August every year and takes place in a different US city....
(2003 & 2008), with the team finishing 3rd both years. In 2003, he also made the individual finals at NPS, finishing with a ranking of 9th in the U.S. In 2007, Da'Shade represented Austin at the Individual World Poetry Slam, and took 8th in the nation.
In addition, he has featured at many venues throughout the U.S., including Chicago's Green Mill
Green Mill
Green Mill may refer to:-*The Green Mill Jazz Club, Uptown, Chicago*Green's Mill, Sneinton, a windmill in Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom*De Groene Molen, Joure, a windmill in Friesland, the Netherlands...
, The Nuyorican Poets Café
Nuyorican Poets Café
The Nuyorican Poets Café is a non-profit organization in Alphabet City, Manhattan. It is a bastion of the Nuyorican art movement in New York City, USA, and has become a forum for poetry, music, hip hop, video, visual arts, comedy and theatre.-History:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and throughout central Texas, including the Hip Hop Theater Explosion.
In 2004, a yet to be released documentary was filmed about the National Poetry Slam
National Poetry Slam
The National Poetry Slam is a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and France participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurs in early August every year and takes place in a different US city....
in St. Louis. This film featured Da'Shade and other notable members of the national slam scene including Celena Glenn, Tony Jackson, Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani is a spoken word poet, visual artist and musician based in Portland, Oregon.Mojgani has been characterized as a "geek genius" with "fiercely hopeful word arias"...
, Zell Miller III, and Andy Buck.