Bay artists head for US to face top talent scouts
Tremaine van Aardt
SEVEN Port Elizabeth performers will be jetting off to the United States in June to audition in front of some of the world's most influential talent scouts.
The artists were scouted in April last year by the owner of Just-You model and talent management in Johannesburg, Elsubie de Lange, to audition at Monte Casino last October.
There they were picked to participate in the Applause Rising Talent Showcase (Arts) to be held in Orlando, Florida.
Grade 11 St Thomas High School pupil Raquel de Doncker who is one of the dance hopefuls said the biggest challenge the group faced was funding.
"On average it will cost each of us R65000 to go to the auditions, which excludes food. So we are looking at close to half a million for all of us to go. But we will get there one way or another," De Doncker said.
The aspiring artists will leave on June 19 for New York, where they will stay for three days before moving on to Orlando, where they will spend eight days.
There they will audition in front of more than 100 international talent scouts from companies such as VH1, Tyler Perry Productions, Sony BMG, Disney Hollywood Studios and the New York Film Academy.
Training together twice a week in gruelling six-hour sessions, they are determined to make an impression in the States, said Jason Jonkers, one of the dance hopefuls.
"Three of us were selected for dancing, two for modelling, one for acting and the other for singing. We are learning and helping one another as we are expected to perform in all four disciplines while in the US.
The performers – Jonkers, Anele Ngcizela, Owen Louis, Qaqamba Ngwenze, Raquel de Doncker, Gino Lee and Marguerite Curtain – decided to use their opportunity as a platform to motivate others.