From Words to Worlds: A Unique Translation Slam

Step into the fascinating world of translation with Munir Hachemi, the Cheuse Center Writer-in-Residence and author of Living Things -translated from Spanish by Julia Sanches-; Javier Adrada de la Torre, author of Title_Essay on an Infinite Onion -translated by Orlando Ocampo-; and journalist Katie King, translator of Someone Speaks Your Name by Luis García Montero. In this special event, our panelists will explore what it means to translate - and to be translated - culminating in a Translation Slam with a Twist, where you get to join in! You don’t have to speak Spanish to take part in this challenge, so let yourself be inspired.

Translation is more than a linguistic exercise - it’s a creative act that bridges cultures and ideas. While typical translation slams pit translators against each other, we’re shaking things up: this isn’t about competition but about celebrating storytelling across languages. Together, we’ll explore the art of literary translation through conversation and a playful challenge centered on a passage from Don Quixote. Discover more by being part of this unique experience!

Meet the panel

• Javier Adrada de la Torre - Born in Madrid in 1996, Javier holds a PhD in Translation and Intercultural Mediation from the University of Salamanca. He currently works as a teacher at Rey Juan Carlos University, and his research interests revolve around poetry, translation, and transmedial artforms. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and El Colegio de México. He won the MRA Ediciones Novel Prize (La aurora de los girasoles, 2014), the 22nd International Poetry Prize “Martín García Ramos” (Gasolineras, 2024) and the 24th International Poetry Prize “Emilio Prados” (título_ensayo sobre una cebolla infinita, 2024). He is also the author of Luis Cernuda y Friedrich Hölderlin: traducción, poesía y representación and Espejismo de un dios, and he has published his poetry in magazines such as Zéjel, Casapaís, El coloquio de los perros and other literary anthologies.

• Munir Hachemi - Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1989, Munir's first stories appeared in fanzines, published by the collective Los Escritores Bárbaros. Later on, he published his first novel, Los pistoleros del eclipse, and the second, 废墟. In 2018 he published Cosas vivas and in 2021 he was selected by Granta as one of the "25 best Spanish novelists under 35". In 2023 he published a poetry collection that received the Ojo Crítico prize and El árbol viene, a science-fiction novel. Cosas vivas will be published next year in English by Fitzcarraldo (UK) and Coach House (US) and an excerpt will appear soon in Paris Review.

• Katie King - After a distinguished career as a correspondent and news editor in Spain and Latin America, Dr. King transitioned to literary translation, driven by a passion for sharing essential stories. Her translation of Someone Speaks Your Name (Swan Isle Press, 2023) is listed by the University of Chicago Press as a book to read for Hispanic Heritage Month this year. Her translation of Clavícula by Marta Sanz will be published by Unnamed Press in 2025.

About the translators

• Orlando Ocampo, translator of Title_Essay on an Infinite Onion - Orlando Ocampo holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the National University of Tucumán, Argentina, and received his Master's in Comparative Literature and Romance Languages from the University of Chicago. He is Professor Emeritus at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, where he taught in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures until his retirement in 2022. His academic interests encompass both the literature, history, and culture of Spain and Latin America. In translation, he has primarily focused on Spanish poets, particularly the poetry of Aurora Luque.

• Julia Sanches, translator of Living Things - Julia Sanches is a literary translator specializing in Portuguese, Spanish, and Catalan. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, she has lived in various countries, enriching her understanding of the languages and cultures she translates. A founding member of Cedilla & Co., a collective promoting international voices in English, she also chairs the Translators Group of the Authors Guild. Julia holds a BA in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh and an MA in Comparative Literature and Literary Translation from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. Previously, she worked as an assistant and agent for authors worldwide but now focuses on translation and advocating for the works she loves. Recent translations include Boulder by Eva Baltasar, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023.

Important Information (please read carefully)

• A reservation on Eventbrite is mandatory, printed tickets are not required.
• Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Doors open 20 minutes before posted showtime.
• Ticket holders will have access to the event while space is available. A reservation does not guarantee admission.
• Ticket holders should arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start to guarantee seats.
• No Late Seating, ticket holders may not be allowed to enter 15 minutes after posted showtime.
• Right of admission reserved.
• If you need special assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

How to get there:

The best way to arrive is by public transportation. The closest Metro station is Columbia Heights (Green and Yellow line). Limited metered and two-hour zoned parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. Public parking garage is available at DC USA Shopping Mall (Columbia Heights Metro Station).

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