Much hype is being created by the Cellink Kidstage contenders showcasing that Guyanese tots and teens are as equally talented as their senior counterparts. The result is that the organisers are poised to take the event a notch higher.
Quarterfinal competitions started on April 10. The second was tagged on April 17 and the other is carded for April 24.
On April 17, a most memorable quarter final was staged at the Theatre Guild and those who competed in the categories out of Essequibo and Georgetown were most competitive. These 15 contestants are currently awaiting public votes to determine who moves forward to the semi finals.
The judge’s scores make up 80 percent of the total, the studio audience and the public have 10 percent each to contribute to their favourite contestant. Members of the public have every Sunday after the programme is broadcast until Thursday night to vote for their favourite performer. To vote, members of the public can text the contestants’ number to 620-kids (5437).
However, patrons in attendance for the live show are required to write the names and contestant number at the back of their tickets and submit these after the show.
Cellink Kidstage, a talented programme for children between the ages of 4 and 14, is aired every Sunday evening at 20:00 h on NCN channel 11.
Performed in the 8 to10 category last Saturday were some exceptional pieces such as Prospective Beauty Queen done by Alliah Corlette, and African Drumming done by Osei Clarke among others.
In the 11 to14 category performances included patriotic presentations like Without the Essequibo, done by Kevon Lewis; Berbician Schemona Trinidad presented After God’s own heart and Essequibian Anuradha Frank presented her interpretation of an Indian song titled Heartbeat.
After the second quarterfinal competition, children from that segment are anxiously awaiting the results. Some have even commenced rehearsals with high hopes of entering the semi finals which starts on May 1, 2010.
The Cellink Kidstage preliminary winners are Teryka Mohabir, Shani Bellamy, Children of Paradise, Shaquille Boyd, The Cambridge Family, Tamara Smith, Alpha Harry, Naomi Alsopp and Carlissa Blair from Linden.
They will each receive $5, 000 and an on stage place for the third quarterfinals on Saturday at the Theatre Guild, Kingston, commencing at 13:00hrs