Gary Moskowitz
HILLSIDE DISTRICT -- The fear of getting booed off the stage during
the talent show did not stop Armine Dabayan from stepping into the
spotlight and giving the best performance she could.
"I just try to have the best time when I go onstage. It's like
watching a movie, but I'm in the movie," said Dabayan, 12, a
seventh-grade student at John Muir Middle School.
Dabayan, who sang her rendition of "Fallin"' by Alicia Keys, joined
more than 20 other students who performed at Muir's talent show Wednesday
evening in the school's auditorium.
"I don't keep my feelings inside. I let my voice come out, and I feel
good about it," said Dabayan, dressed for her performance in suede pants
and a red shirt colored with bright flames.
But there were no boos for Dabayan or any of the performers. On the
contrary, the roughly 450 people who attended the show clapped and
cheered for every act, at times encouraging performers to ham it up.
Backstage, while cheerleaders rehearsed jumps and violinists practiced
plucking, 11-year-old Mitchell Burns adjusted his wig and dress for the
show's finale, 12-year-old Mandie Teenley put on her black beret for a
reading of her own short story, "Dream or Reality," and 11-year-old
Alicia Kim adjusted her hand-held fans and o7 hanbokf7 , a traditional
Korean costume she helped make for Wednesday's performance.
More than 40 students from Muir's sixth, seventh and eighth grades
participated in the show.
Kathy Gallego, coordinator of Muir's talent show, said it gives
students a chance to be in the spotlight.
"It's great to see students take that risk, and everyone appreciates
it," said Gallego, an eighth-grade history teacher and associated student
body advisor at Muir.
A dance trio made up of Shannon Carodine, De'Jau Autman and Brittany
Durphey won the first-place prize of $100. Julie Adams and Mark Lewin
received a $75 second-place prize for their solo performances. Crystal
Rachal received the $50 third-place prize for her Hawaiian dance
performance.
