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"Bridging the gap, learning to listen" | Sjaan Maria Flikweert | TEDxAmsterdamWomen

927 views · Published 19 December 2018 · 7:13 · Indexed 1 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2018 · Nonprofits & Activism

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The spoken word performance by Sjaan Flikweert, called “the choreography of the poem,” made the audience hold their breath. Sjaan started off quietly, walking up on stage creating a stunning rhythm with her movements and words. With her first poem she wanted to reach out to listeners through her desire to be heard. As she said, bridging the gap is about learning to listen”. In the second poem, called ‘motherhood’, she reflected on the definitions of a mother and the responsibility that comes with it: nurturing. Dancer, poet and theatre-maker Sjaan
Flikweert discovered spoken word poetry
as a creative outlet in 2009. She has since
performed as a spoken word artist in
several countries in- and outside of Europe,
and was recognized nationally when she
won the Dutch spoken word competition
‘SPOKEN’. Her ambition is to contribute
to the development of oral traditions in
the Netherlands via her raw, honest, and
physical spoken word performances. Sjaan
performs her art at diverse settings, from
intimate venues, to crowded festivals, and
large theatre productions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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