Lyrispect

Nina “Lyrispect” Ball is an award-winning writer, poet, actress, host and all around creative mind, whose work has been featured in local and national publications in print and on the web, including the Def Poetry Jam Website. The Baltimore School for the Arts Theater grad and B-more native established strong roots as a Philadelphia resident and is one-fifth of Spoken Soul 215. This artistic collective hosts a monthly open-mic Experience in Philadelphia, The Harvest.

She has performed all around the U.S. (also Canada) as a featured performer/speaker at private, public, community events as well as Colleges/Universities including Amerherst,Howard and Cornell Universities.

Lyrispect has shared billings and stages with Mos Def, Conya Doss, Kenny Lattimore, Eric Benet, Ann Nesby, Fertile Ground, Dwele, Raheem Devaughn, Mums, The Last Poets, Dr. Julius Garvey (son of Marcus Garvey), Maya Azucena and Imani Uzuri.

As a host of the Philadelphia-based production company REELBLACK Lyrispect has interviewed Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union,Regina King, The Brand New Heavies, Zap Mama, Hezikiah, Lalah Hathaway, Simone,Idris Elba, Rain Pryor, Sylvia Rhone, Marsha Ambrosius, Little X, , Raphael Saadiq, Lupe Fiasco and Director Chris Moore.

Notable Performances: The U.S. Coast Guard, The 2006 and 2007 Trumpet Awards, The Kodak Women’s Leadership Conference, The National Black Theater Festival, The Ladies of Hip Hop Festival 2009, The 2009 Black Women’s Arts Festival, The Black Lily Film and Music Festival, The National Serivice Learning Coalition and The Indigenous Service Forum.

Awards: The Sonia Sanchez Women’s Studies Award, The NAACP and Center Stages Young Playwright’s Festival

Film/Television: L.Y.R.I.S.P.E.C.T. Bringing it Off the Page, Ursula Rucker:Poet, HBO series The Wire and The Corner

Schools, Workshops and Community involvement since 1999.