Marabella, Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The semi-final round of Talent Expression, the leading performance art talent competition in the South, organised by the Southern Marines Steelband Foundation has set the stage for a tremendous final night.
Eighteen performers faced the judges on Sunday 2nd November 2014 and twelve will face the judges at the Grand Final on Sunday November 16th at 7:30 pm at the Southern Marines Pan Palais in Marabella.
Four teenaged and pre-teen pan performances will appear in the Final headed by Rachel Dieffenthaller, who closely followed the tied front runners. Other pan performances include Terrique Granger, primary school student Akeem Cyrus and the duet of Terrique and Tyeesha Alexander.
The brilliant teenaged dancer Aaliyah Lewis maintained the pole position she achieved in the preliminary round, but this time she was joined by the thrilling vocalist Jerelle Hurdle who let it all hang out in a stunning performance. The only other dancer in the fray is Akilah Lewis.
Vocalists Dilenna Flemings and veteran participant Deryck Hinds are certainly well poised for a late run at the finish line as are calypsonians Caleb Hinds and Clint “Baby Blue” Davis. The surprise packet in the Final will be Kerron Ford who thrilled the audience with his sublime ball control skills choreographed to music.
Talent Expression is being staged for the fourteenth consecutive year by Southern Marines Steelband Foundation and is in keeping with its mission to foster creative talent by providing performance space and incentives to performance artistes. More than TT$36,000 in prize money is at stake with a first prize of TT$5,000. All finalists receive money prizes and there are category prizes.
Past winners of the Talent Expression competition are: Sammantha Flores, La Donna Rouse/La Toya Vincent, Denicia Smith and Damini Soogrim (dancers); Keisha Codrington, Junior “Wiggy” Hinds and Richarde Bereaux (panists); Mark Eastman, Megan Waldron; Melissa Phillip; Nigel O’Connor/Khadijah Jeremiah (vocalists) and Lucy Regis (dramatic performer), Neptune School of the Arts (drumology).
Entrance fee for the finals is TT$75.00 payable at the door.
For further information contact Carolyn Callender at (868) 371-3041 or Gerry Kangalee at (868) 785 7637.
From the Newsdesk of Southern Marines Steelband Foundation