Dogwood Elementary School held its annual talent show on April 27, 2023, and it was a night to remember. The gym was transformed into a theater, complete with balloons and a snack bar. Attendees walked along a path lined with stars bearing the performers’ names, and students of all ages showcased their talents in front of a packed audience. The event, named Dogwood's Got Talent, was organized by Karen Teel and Brady Boyd, and the emcees for the evening were fifth-grader Jude Vidal and principal Jessica Woody. Music teacher Joe Smith served as the technical coordinator, while a number of teachers decorated and organized behind the scenes.
"Planning took weeks," director Brady Boyd said. "We recruited teachers and found judges. We had four hours of auditions and three hours of audition workshops. Some of these students had never been on stage before, and we wanted to coach them to make them comfortable."
Directors wanted to make sure they were able to showcase the diverse talents, cultures, ages, and groups that Dogwood has.
Contestants competed in two age categories: kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade. There was a diverse range of performances, including vocal routines, dance routines, piano solos, magic shows, and stand-up comedy. The talent on display was truly impressive, and it was clear that a lot of hard work had gone into preparing for the show.
In the kindergarten through second grade division, Adam Wang won first place with his piano solo. Aditi Gajula came in second place with her Bollywood dance. In the third through fifth grade division, Shreya Sompalli won first place with her vocal performance. Stella Rasmussen and Hannah Taylor came in second place with their contemporary dance routine, and Meda Funston and Addie Scoggin received their second award of the night, taking third place with their cheer dance routine.
Fourth grader Shreya Sompalli said that she chose to sing Rihanna because Don't Stop the Music is one of her favorite songs right now, so that made her comfortable. "But when I got out there, the lights were blinding," Sompalli said. "I tried to make myself look professional and dance. I didn't think about the audience."
Her performance was a hit with the judges. "I am excited because I've never won a first place award for my singing," Sompalli said. "I was nervous, and it was suspenseful, but it was exciting."
In addition to the official awards, there was also a People's Choice award, which went to James Parsons for his magic show. He won by a landslide. The audience clearly loved his performance, and he received a well-deserved round of applause.
Not only was the talent on display impressive, but the event itself was a testament to the strong sense of community at Dogwood Elementary School. The talent show brought together students, teachers, and parents, and the proceeds from the event went towards supporting the school.
Overall, Dogwood's Got Talent was a huge success, and everyone involved should be proud of their hard work and dedication. The event was a wonderful showcase of the amazing talent and creativity of the students at Dogwood Elementary School.
"We have so much interesting talent at Dogwood," Boyd said. "We could not have showcased that without our amazing team of teacher volunteers."