It’s almost time again for TelCell’s Breakthrough competition. The Daily Herald’s Out N’ About caught up with last year’s winners to learn about their experiences with the competition and what they have been doing since capturing the spotlight as local celebrities. The next round of auditions will take place on Saturday, August 19.
Nearly one year ago, Aesha Gibson, Keeshaun Hodge, Diandra Marlin, Kevin Lambert, George Woodley and Leo Alexander demonstrated their talents to organizers TelCell and Xtratight Entertainment, the co-sponsors of this annual talent competition.
The Road to Breakthrough 2017 will interview these young adults to find out how they succeeded and how the next class of performers can step up to the challenge.
Aesha Gibson won praise and a title at last year’s Breakthrough for her dance technique. She says the winning competition helped her believe in her abilities, leading to an overall boost of self-confidence in her life. She will be headed to Sarasota, Fla., soon to study Fine Arts at Ringling College of Art and Design.
Here’s a Q&A with Ms. Gibson, graduate of Learning Unlimited Preparatory School, about her experience with last year’s competition.
What motivated you to sign up for Breakthrough last year?
Aesha: What motivated me to sign up for Breakthrough was seeing the shows from previous years, and always being interested in doing it. I just did not have enough confidence to audition [before]. But since this was my last year in high school and I will be going away for college after summer, this was my last shot at taking part in Breakthrough. So I just went for it and signed up for the auditions and I took it from there.
How much practice and rehearsal went into preparing your talent?
Aesha: I didn't have a set schedule as to when I would rehearse for my number, because I was not going to the studio to do it. It was just me and my best friend over FaceTime creating the dance, because she was in Connecticut at the time and we would FaceTime whenever we could. We would put the dance together, and I would go over it in my free time and in my head, just whenever I had a chance to.
Tell me about that final night. Describe the planning that went into your performance; tell me about what you did on stage. What do you think led to your win?
Aesha: From the beginning I knew exactly the type of style I wanted to do. My specialty is modern, which has a lot of emotion and strength in the style, so I knew exactly where I wanted my dance to be headed. The final night I wasn't nervous; I was just excited because I worked so hard on this dance and it was exactly what I wanted it to be. I was really excited to show it to everyone. What I did on stage was just an expression of passion, not anything specific. What I think led me to my win was the amount of passion I have in my dances. It's like I'm singing the song through motion.
How did it feel winning and what type of impact has the win had on your life? Do you feel like a local celebrity?
Aesha: When I won, it was probably the most self-building-confidence moment I've had in my life. To have the whole theatre chanting your name, even before the host announced the winner of my category; it was like everyone in the room wanted me to win. The impact it had was just a humbling experience and I'll be forever grateful for this opportunity. I don't feel like a local celebrity; I just feel like someone who's going on the right path to where I would like to be in the future.
What advice would you give to teens considering competing in this year’s contest?
Aesha: My advice is simple: just go for it. It's as easy as that. Even if you have doubts during the process, just trust the process and just go and do it. The worst thing is wanting to do something, but being too scared to do it, and then the opportunity passes, and you regret it. Just create a vision, execute the vision and see where it takes you.
How rewarded do you feel by having succeeded at Breakthrough? How would you encourage potential contestants to take the leap?
Aesha: I feel very grateful because this opportunity has been amazing from start to finish. Even before I was even announced as the winner, when I was a participant who just auditioned, it was so fun to be part of something. Many times you need to feel like you're in a competition; you just felt like you were just part of something, and with people who had great talent. Encouragement would be do not be afraid of failure, because even if you do, the experience is absolutely amazing and fun.
What, in your opinion, do performing contests such as these mean for talented young people on the island?
Aesha: On a small island, we're not presented with a lot of big opportunities compared to abroad, so when these opportunities present themselves on this island, all I can say is seize the moment and just go for it. In my experience, it's what counts and it gives you a taste of what you expect anywhere around the world. It may not be exactly the same, but you can say that you've experienced something like it. It's all about wanting it, and competitions like these, if you win them give you a major confidence boost and exposure. You get noticed on the island, you get asked to make appearances for performances, and you get a taste of what exposure is like. You realize the hard work in the studio paid off.
Aesha says she hasn’t yet picked a life-long dream, and that’s okay with her. She says she wants to “be excited to live my life” – with whatever she is doing. She is interested in sports and dance and wants to explore herself as much as she can.
For teens and young adults between 14 and 22, the chance to Breakthrough is coming up, starting with the auditions next month. Interested contestants can apply via the organizers’ Breakthrough Facebook page.
