NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase

2008 finalists have been selected

Photography by Bill Horin

Watch Online: 2007 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase

The 2007 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase competition was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Victoria Theatre on Friday, May 25, 2007.

One of the most highly acclaimed talent search competitions in the tri-state area, the 2007 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase features youngsters from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut who compete for scholarships named after Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Beatriz Rodriguez, Cuban Pete and Rita Moreno. Two winners from each age group are selected from each of three categories: dance, vocals and instrumentals.

The longest-running Latino children’s program on public television, the NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase is an Emmy Award-winning program and has been selected by the National Arts Council Co-op as one of the top six children’s programs in the nation. Past and present participants have appeared in Hollywood films, on Broadway, Star Search, Sabado Gigante, American Idol, at the Apollo Theater and in international commercials. This year marked the 21st annual NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase and the event was dedicated to the memory of baseball’s number 21 – the great Roberto Clemente. His legacy was remembered with a baseball dance tribute and the recognition of Luis Lopez, principal of Roberto Clemente Elementary School in Newark and founder of the Roberto Clemente Little League. Also honored was outstanding music teacher, Berta Iglesias, who for seventeen years, has been teaching piano and referring brilliant pianists to the competition.

Willie Sanchez is executive producer of the 2007 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase.

The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2007 is made possible by PSE&G, PNC Bank, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The United Way of Essex and West Hudson, Goya Foods, Inc., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Don Pepe’s Restaurant.

2007 NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase Winners

KID DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 4-7)
• Tino Miravar, Age 6, Bloomfield, NJ – Peruvian Traditional Dance
• Melina Quispe, Age 5, Kearny, NJ – Peruvian Traditional Dance

TEEN INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY (Ages 13-17)
• Bryan Pasian, Age 16, New York, NY – Classical/Piano
• Timothy Rosales, Age 17, New York, NY – Classical/Piano

JUNIOR DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 8-12)
• Sara Botero, Age 9, North Bergen, NJ – Broadway/I Want to Be A Rockette
• Melody Marti, Age 11, Secaucus, NJ – Broadway/Luck Be A Lady

TEEN VOCALS CATEGORY (Ages 13-17)
• Edward Perry III, Age 14, Cookstown, NJ – Pop/Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Sarah Christian, Age 17, North Bergen, NJ – Pop/I Surrender

DUO/TRIO DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 13-17)
• Dance Crush: Kevin Maldonado (Age 14) and Naimi Mendez (Age 15), Vineland, NJ – Salsa

JUNIOR INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY (Ages 8-12)
• Caitlin Sanchez, Age 11, Fairview, NJ – Latin-Jazz Mix/Piano
• Bianca Toledo, Age 10, Bergenfield, NJ – Classic/Piano

TEEN DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 13-17)
• Marianella Quintanilla, Age 17, North Bergen, NJ – Flamenco
• Kassandra Santiago, Age 13, Piscataway, NJ – Gymnastic Dance

JUNIOR VOCALS CATEGORY (Ages 8-12)
• Carol Pacentrilli, Age 11, Ventor, NJ – Pop/Reflection
• Israel Hernandez, Age 12, Newark, NJ – Jazz/It Don’t Mean A Thing

GROUP DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 13-17)
• J & L Dance Center, North Bergen, NJ – Jazz/Cha Cha Heels

JUNIOR DANCE PARTNER CATEGORY (Ages 8-12)
• Samantha Calderon, Age 9, Paterson, NJ & Jovan Poggi, Age 9, West Paterson, NJ – Peruvian Dance

The Marco Rizo Scholarship Award was given to 18-year-old Jasmine Ramos of East Newark, New Jersey. An outstanding vocalist in both Spanish and English, Jasmine participated in the competition for eight years. Nicole Ortiz of Newark, New Jersey, received the Joseph F. Unanue Award for Outstanding Achievement from Rafael Toro, public relations director for Goya Foods. Nicole is a three-time Showcase winner and a near-finalist on American Idol.