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AND THE FINALISTS ARE!
NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2009
Statewide – When the curtain rises at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Victoria Theater on May 22nd at 7 PM, representatives from Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will take the stage in one of the most highly acclaimed talent search competitions in the tri-state area.
The talented hopefuls will test their vocal chords, dance moves and instrumental training in nine Categories. Two winners will be selected in each category for solo dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists. One winner in the duo category and one winner in group competition will be selected as champions. They will be competing for $500 scholarships in honor of the King of Latin Music, Tito Puente: the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, international dance star, Beatriz Rodriguez and the king of partner dancing, Cuban Pete.
It took months of screening numerous applications, videotapes and auditions to select this talented cavalcade of young stars. On this one night, 16 winners will go home with scholarships to pursue their dreams, a free trip to Six Flags Great Adventure and much more.
NJN will air a television special honoring the Showcase champions during the summer of 2009. The television broadcast, as well as this year’s competition at NJPAC, will be dedicated to the great Broadway Star Chita Rivera and Tina Ramirez, founder and artistic director of the world famous Ballet Hispanico. In addition, the Showcase will serve as a spring board for a campaign promoting teen safety on the road. Honored on stage will be the parents of Rebeka Verea, a talented teenager who died in a car crash four hours after her high school graduation in 2005. Since then over 10,000 teenagers have heard Rebeka’s parents’ message to protect themselves and care for each other on the road.
The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase is the longest running Latino children’s program on a PBS station. It has received an Emmy Award and multiple Emmy nominations. The national Arts Council Co-op has selected the program as one of the top six children’s programs in the nation. Past and present participants have appeared in Hollywood movies, Broadway, Star Search, American idol, the Apollo, “Sabado Gigante” and international commercials.
In the 2009, seventeen year old Grammy Award nominee, Karin Pasian will be honored with the Joseph F. Unanue Outstanding Showcase Alumni Award presented by Goya Foods Inc. The show opens with a surprise performance by recent national dance participants representing New Jersey’s County College of Morris.
The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2009 is made possible by the following sponsors: The New Jersey State Council on the Arts; Public Service Electric & Gas; Goya Foods, Inc.
NJN HISPANIC YOUTH SHOWCASE 2009 FINALISTS
(In order of appearance at NJPAC)
KIDS’ DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 4 to 7)
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award
JAELEEN ASTUQUILCA Age 7 Newark, NJ Heritage: El Salvador / Peru
“What worries most in this world is the life of poor kids”
JENNIFER CURI Age 7 Kearny, NJ Heritage: Peru
“I am very happy to be in the finals. My heart is pumping fast.”
KIMBERLY OTAYZA Age 7 Kearny, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico/Peru
“My performance is dedicated to my grandparents.”
RICHARD J. QUISPE Age 4 Bloomfield, NJ Heritage: Peru
“I want to dance professionally”
WALTER VILLA Age 7 Ridgewood, New York Heritage: Peru
“I want to be a champion on NJN and become a professional dancer”
TEEN GROUP DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 13 to 17)
Rita Moreno Scholarship Award
AMARILY’S ACADEMY OF DANCE ARTS West New York, NJ
Tape “Sing Sing Sing”
DANCE FUSION Cliffside Park, NJ
“Samba De Janeiro-Jazz”
IMAGENES Y TRADICIONES DE PERU Paterson, NJ
Folk Dance “Caporales”
PASSAIC COUNTY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Passaic, NJ
Modern “Company Store”
YOLANDA’S ACADEMY OF DANCE ARTS Union City, NJ
Latin Jazz – “Pegate”
JUNIOR INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY, Ages 8 to 12
Tito Puente Scholarship Award
KASSANDRA PARDO Age 9 West New York, NJ Heritage: Cuba
“I am following in my mother’s footsteps. She won the Showcase contest.”
OLVER SAN JUAN Age 11 West New York, NJ Heritage: Spain
“My dream is to become a billionaire.”
MICHAEL JOHN SANTANA Age 12 Elizabeth, NJ Heritage: Cuba
“My mom’s piano students have participated and won. I would be proud to do the same.”
MATHEW VERYCKEN Age 8 Bogota, New Jersey Heritage: Cuba
“When I grow up, maybe I can be President of the United States.”
TEEN DANCE DUO / TRIO CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Cuban Pete Scholarship Award
LAUREN GARCIA Age 16 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Cuba
& GISELLE FLORES Age 14 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Cuba / Puerto Rico
BIANCA HERNANDEZ Age 16 Fairview, NJ Heritage: Brazil/Puerto Rico
& CRYSTAL VAZQUEZ Age 15, Union City, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic
KEVIN MALDONADO Age 16 Vineland, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
& TAMARA TORRES Age 18 Pennsauken, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
ALEXANDER MORZAN Age 14 Paterson, NJ Heritage: Peru
& LINDSEY OQUENDO Age 14 Fairlawn, NJ Heritage: Peru /Puerto Rico
ZUANNETTE SERRANO Age 15 Elizabeth, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
& KAYLA TORRES Age 15 Passaic, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
JUNIOR VOCAL CATEGORY (Ages 8 to 12)
Celia Cruz Scholarship Award
AUTUMN GONZALEZ Age 12, Vineland, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
“I want to become a doctor so I can help children like myself who suffer from Asthma. ”
THAMYRUS ALMEIDA Age 12, Newark, NJ Heritage: Brazil
“The Showcase is my next step into following my dream.”
PRISCILLA AREVALO Age 12. Union City, NJ Heritage: Ecuador
“My dream in life is to become a musician with a master in music and arts.”
DANIELA GARCIA Age 7, North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Spain & Colombia
“I dedicated to my performance to mom and dad.”
YARIZA LOPEZ Age 12, Elizabeth, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic / Puerto Rico
“I was inspired by Selena”
TEEN DANCE SOLO CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award
EMILY E. AZCA Age 16 Harrison, NJ Heritage: Peru
“I want to open my own dance school that cultivates other cultures from around the world”
OMARYS CASADO Age 14 West New York, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic
“I want to become known for my dance skills.’
MICHELLE GONZALEZ Age 16 West New York, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic
“I want to be successful and live a happy and healthy life.’
DIANA OSORIO Age 17 Belleville, NJ Heritage: Colombian / Puerto Rican
“My dream is to fine true happiness and teach children dance and its history.”
JOANN PENA Age 16 West New York, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic
“ I dedicate my performance to my mother and all those who support me.”
IVY VEGA Age 16 West Orange, NJ Heritage: Colombia
“I just want to be happy with whoever or wherever I am.”
TEEN VOCAL CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Celia Cruz Scholarship Award
LORENA AGUILAR Age 16 Philadelphia, Penn. Heritage: Costa Rica/Puerto Rico
“I dedicate my performance to my family and friends who motivate me to sing.”
VICTORIA ANDERSON Age 16 Prospect Park, NJ Heritage: Argentina/England
“I dedicate my performance to my brother who has lived his whole life with Autism.”
JUSTIN BARROSO Age 13 Cliffside Park, NJ Heritage: Cuba/Puerto Rico
“I want to be as successful as I can be”
OKSANA PASIAN Age 13 New York, New York Heritage: Dominican Republic
“My dream in life is to be a successful celebrity.”
AMANDA ROMAN Age 15 Jersey City, NJ, Heritage: Ecuador/Puerto Rico
“I dedicate my performance to greener earth, a safer world, peace and harmony.”
TERESA TORRES Age 17 Haskell, NJ Heritage: Costa Rica/USA
‘I want to become a famous bilingual singer.”
JUNIOR DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 8 to 12)
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award
ANGELA ANDRIANOPOULOS Age 9 Elizabeth, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic
“This Showcase means everything in the world to me.”
SARAH BOTERO Age 11 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Colombia
“My hard work and dedication helps me grow as a dancer.”
GIANNA MAXINE DIAZ Age 10 Heritage: Dominican Republic
“I dedicate my performance to my family and dance teacher.”
JAELA GARCIA Age 9 West New York, NJ Heritage: Honduras
“I want to dance all over the world.”
GABRIELA LINO Age 11 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Ecuador
“This is everything I dream off.”
TIANNA MARQUEZ Age 9 Paterson, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rico
“What worries me most in this world is homeless people.”
KAYLA ORTIZ Age 9 West New York, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic/ Puerto Rico
“I want to become a professional dancer.”
NOELIA OTAYZA Age 11 Kearny, NJ Heritage: Peru / Puerto Rico
“Winning this Showcase would be a special gift.”
TEEN INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Tito Puente Scholarship Award
ANNA IRIZARRI Age 15 Elizabeth, NJ Heritage: Brazil / Cuba
“I worry about the growing problem of global pollution.”
VICTORIA MOLLINEDO Age 14 Ridgefield Park, NJ Heritage: Colombia / Guatemala
“I dedicate my performance to my piano teacher who has never given up on me.”
REBECCA RABELO Age 14 Glen Rock, NJ Heritage: Cuba / Puerto Rico
“I want my hard work to be recognized.”
DENISE RAMIREZ Age 16 Teterboro, NJ Heritage: Colombia / Ecuador
“I want to show the world that arts are still an important part of society and culture.”
CASEY JULIANA RAMOS Age 13 Garfield, NJ Heritage: Puerto Rican
“I have the utmost respect for any artist who express themselves through the arts. I dedicate my performance to them.”
BRANDON SEGOVIA Age 16 Brookfield, Illinois Heritage: Puerto Rico
“I want to share my passion and talent and hopefully impact people in a positive way”
MIAN SEO Age 14, Lyndhurst, NJ Heritage: Cuba & Korea
“My performance is dedicated to my family.”
JUNIOR DANCE DUO CATEGORY (Ages 8 to 12 scholarship candidate can dance with partner younger or older not eligible for scholarship award)
Cuban Pete Scholarship Award
SARAH BOTERO Age 11 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Colombia
GENESIS HIDALGO Age 11 West New York, NJ Heritage: Ecuador
& MADELINE NOVAK Age 11 Hoboken, NJ Heritage: USA
SAMANTHA CALDERON Age 11 Paterson, NJ Heritage: Peru
& JOVAN POGGI Age 11 West Paterson, NJ Heritage: Peru
BRIANA DUNCAN Age 11 West New York Heritage: Ecuador
GABRIELLE MUGUERZA Age 13 North Bergen, NJ Heritage: Cuba / Ecuador
& LESLIE PEREZ Age 12 Cliffside Park, NJ Heritage: Cuba/Guatemala
TINO MIRAVAL Age 8 Bloomfield, NJ Heritage: Peru
& MELINA QUISPE Age 7 Wanaque, NJ Heritage: Peru
GINAR M. MENDEZ Age 11 Union City, NJ Heritage: Dominican Republic / PuertoRico
& AILEEN RUIZ Age 11 West New York, NJ Heritage: Cuba/Dominican Republic
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