Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506020026
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BREEA WILLINGHAM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Complete with rap music, R&B, country, gospel and dancing, the "Talent of Living Color" show is bursting with talent.
Sponsored by the Roanoke City Office on Youth, the June 10 talent show gives junior and high school students a chance to strut their stuff down the runway in the modeling competition, exercise their vocal chords in the singing competition or jam to the latest hit songs in the dance competition.
"The show gives kids an opportunity to showcase their talent. A lot of them are very talented, but there's not enough going on in the community to let them showcase their talents," said Mollie DeBerry, coordinator of the show.
The first talent show debuted two years ago at the Roanoke Civic Center and, because it was such a success, DeBerry said the office on youth decided to do it again.
"We had close to 200 people attend the last show, and we're hoping that many or more will come this year. The last one was very successful, and I believe this one will be also," DeBerry said.
Forty contestants from Roanoke Valley middle and high schools will compete in this year's show.
At a recent rehearsal, the contestants gathered at the old gym at the Jefferson Center to practice that tricky dance step one more time or rehearse the runway walk.
Twelve-year-olds Danika Woody and Stephanie Pearcey, aka "Oreo," kicked off the singing competition performing "Can't You See" by the group "Total." The James Madison Middle School seventh-graders said they want to sing professionally one day.
It was "One of Dem Days" for the group "Ruff 'Em Up" who danced to "Monica's" hit song. The group includes five William Ruffner Middle School students: 13-year-olds Taren Taylor, Joana Lacayor, Deidre Watson and Mitsy Mitchell; and 12-year-old Cathy Hall. The girls said they've been dancing together since the sixth grade; they're now in the seventh and eighth grades, and it's "just something they do for fun."
The performers will be judged by members of the community on a scale of 1 to 10, based on costumes, eye contact, creativity and vocal ability. The models will also be judged on poise, gracefulness and evening wear.
From the looks of the rehearsal, the competition at the show will be tough and, unfortunately, not everyone will win a prize. But, DeBerry reminded the teens that they don't have to win a prize to be a winner.
"A person who's a winner is someone who can walk away a loser but also a winner. Everyone's a winner as far as I'm concerned."
The performers said they're not worrying about whether they win or lose, they just want to perform.
"We're just in the show for fun," Woody and Pearcey said.
"I'll be OK if I don't win," Woody said.
The "Ruff 'Em Up" members said they didn't want to win; they just wanted to show off.
"I don't think I'll have a problem with them being sad," DeBerry said.
The show is at 7 p.m. June 10 at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibition Hall.
Tickets are $5 in advance for adults, $3 for students; at the door, they will be $7 for adults and $5 for students.
by CNB