An Evening Of Talent Expressions Salutes Dr. Maya Angelou
The 35th annual An Evening Of Talent Expressions will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC. Talent Expressions features performers in competition in the areas of comedy, dance, drama, music, and vocal expressions. More than $2,300 cash prizes and trophies will be awarded. The top winner will receive $1500. In addition, there will be category winners and winners in the children’s division.
The theme for this year’s production is “Still I Rise” — a special tribute to Dr. Maya Angelou. Students from Mary H. Wright Elementary — the Dancers of Truth — will perform a special opening to “Still I Rise.” A special performance from the Bucket Jam Drummers, featuring students from Woodland Heights, is a highlight of the evening. The Boys & Girls Choir from Mary H. Wright Elementary School will also perform. Others scheduled to perform include:
• The Davidic Repertoire Dance Theatre
• 2013 Top Winner Brionah Pride
• 2013 Ms. Black Upstate Sierra Simmons
• 2004 Top winner Lia Holman
• Dancers from the Victoria Gardens Apartments Afterschool Program
• Carolina Dance Conservatory
• Vocalists Miranda Powell, Akilah Lewis, King Freeman, Twauneisha Gibson, Keandre Fields, and Setia Means
• Dancers B4L, Soulful Creation, Galactic Creations, Showstoppers, Elizabeth Burnett, Cassidy Young and Blacqberry Molazzess
• A special dramatic performance by Peculiar Praiship, featuring Lee Smith doing an excerpt from his original play "Present & Past Slave”
• Musicians Jeb Lawson and Guadalupe Zuniga.
Talent Expressions is sponsored by the Spartanburg Terrace Tenants Association (STTA), whereas proceeds will benefit the STTA’s children’s activities fund and the Grady Lee Hines Scholarship. The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, the City & County of Spartanburg and their donors, and the National Endowment of the Arts are sponsors of this event.
Brenda Lyles is president of the STTA, and Vernon Beatty is the producer/director of An Evening Of Talent Expressions. Tickets are $15. All seats are on sale at Wingstop Restaurant on Blackstock Road and from any contestant in the Talent Expressions. For more information, contact 864-542-6177 or 864-598-6105.