Pupils set sights on the Big Apple
Performers off to New York for competition
AHANDFUL of Eastern Cape pupils are set to jet off to New York in July for the Talent America Competition, after they showcased their skills at the recently held Talent Africa National Competition to secure their spots.
The annual Southern Cape national competition was held at DF Malherbe High School, where more than 950 acts showed off talents varying from dancing and singing to acting and instrumentals.
Talent competition founder Melanie Ashcroft said judges were impressed with the level of talent and diversity presented at this year’s competition, which saw representation from the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape.
The rest of the country will compete and audition in a separate competition later this month.
“The competition continues to grow annually since it began 14 years ago. In fact, growth figures range between 25-30% annually, making the competition more intense and raising the calibre of the performances,” Ashcroft said.
“At this stage I can confirm that 15 performers from among the 951 items from the Southern Cape national competition will be competing in New
York. I know there are a handful of pupils from the Eastern Cape who qualified, but the final numbers will only be available later this month.”
The self-funded trip to New York will set performers back about R50 000 each, but Ashcroft said the rewards and exposure were well worth the price tag.
“At the Talent America competition, the performers showcase their talent in front of a room full of Broadway and other production scouts. And should they catch their attention, it can become a life-changing opportunity.”
Performers have to compete at provincial level, then on a national level, with the final event being the international competition. There is no age limit on performers.
One such performer, is Port Elizabeth resident Leanka Laubscher, owner of Leanka Laubscher School of Dance, who together with four other dancers from her school will be competing in New York.
“We are a total of five dancers, who will be competing overseas. Two of them are still in high school. And from the moment we were notified, it’s all we have been talking about,” Laubscher said.
“The excitement and anxiety is overwhelming because we all know the life-altering potential this trip holds.
“Being able to perform on an international platform for agencies and scouts from around the world is very exciting. We have been training for gold and are ready to claim it come July.”