Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Shayna da Cruz, 18, of Presque Isle is proof that Maine’s got talent after winning the Maine’s Got Talent preliminary held on Dec. 5 at the Loring Job Corps Center (LJCC) Ballroom in Limestone.
This was the first year that a preliminary for Maine’s Got Talent has been held in northern Maine; competition organizer Erin Buck came across an opportunity to showcase some of the talent in Aroostook County and decided to undertake the preliminary.
“Taking on this project was fun but challenging,” she said. “While attending the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant last year, I noticed how there was no representation from the northern region of the state. When I heard about the Maine’s Got Talent program, I knew that I had to bring it to northern Maine,” she added. “It’s time to show the state what we have to offer.”
Da Cruz was chosen by the judges Sherrill Campbell, Paul Hanson and Danielle Atcheson to represent the talented county after she performed a self-choreographed lyrical dance to the song “Stand in the Rain” by Superchick.
Also performing during the competition included Kevin Turcotte, 17, of Caribou who sang “Putting on the Ritz” as performed by Fred Astaire; Robbie Kiehn, 16, of Caribou who sang the Jim Croce song “Working at the Carwash Blues” acappella; Kelsie Washington, 11, of Woodland who performed a self-choreographed dance to “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” as performed by Jordan Sparks and Arielle Sinclair, Jamille Berry, Junior Douyon, Athen Jackson, Tyiesha Collins, Kayla Antion and Jose Kery of the Diverse Steppers, who performed a self-choreographed dance to no music, using only their bodies for rhythm. The Diverse Steppers are a step team consisting of students from the LJCC.
“The contestants did a fantastic job,” Buck said, adding how great it was to have a variety of talents being showcased through the event. “How many people knew that we had a group up in northern Maine that could do stepping?” she asked.
A testament to the talent exuded by the performers, the judges’ scorings were all very close.
Da Cruz will now go on to compete at the state level on April 10, 2010 for the title of Maine’s Got Talent, a chance to win $500 and an audition with Dolphin Entertainment.
An assistant instructor at the MoonDance Studios in Presque Isle, da Cruz pieced together her performance in only five days.
Despite winning the preliminary and having an opportunity to compete at the state level, da Cruze dances more for recreational enjoyment than a prospective career.
Stating how dance, song and other creative talents of northern Maine residents have benefited from competitions such as Aroostook Idol and Kounty Kids Got Talent, “I’m really hoping that in the years to come, this contest will grow more and we’ll have more contestants next year,” Buck said.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Shayna da Cruz, 18, of Presque Isle, won the Maine’s Got Talent competition on Dec. 5, which was coordinated by Caribou High School senior Erin Buck. Paul Hanson, originally from Caribou, who serves on the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant board of directors, was a special guest judge for the competition.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
There were 12 performers, four competition entries, and two entertaining acts during the inaugural Maine’s Got Talent northern preliminary competition, held Dec. 5 at the Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone. Talented youths included, from left, front row: Kevin Turcotte, vocalist; Robbie Kiehn, vocalist; Kelsie Washington, dancer; competition winner Shayna da Cruz, dancer; Arielle Sinclair, Diverse Steppers dancer; Jamille Berry, Diverse Steppers dancer and Junior Douyon Diverse Steppers dancer. Back row: Erin Buck, vocalist, mistress of ceremonies and event coordinator; Athen Jackson, Diverse Steppers dancer; Tyiesha Collins, Diverse Steppers dancer; Kayla Antion, Diverse Steppers dancer and Jose Kery, Diverse Steppers dancer.
