More than 100 Kids in 64 Acts Perform on the P.S. 89 Stage

SLIDE SHOW Click photo to see more pictures 

Zeyna Tai dances "Bharatanatyam," a form originated in southern India some 2,000 years ago.

Maia Steiner plays "May Song and Allegro."

Kids perform a piece called "Annie Mashup."

Elena Argesanu in a performance of "French Doll and Festival."

Leila Yang performs gymnastics to the sound of "Heroes."

Chazz Rivera showed his DJ-ing skills.

Lucas Fernandez dances to "Good Feeling."

Simran Saboo and Remy Robbins sing and dance to "Roar."

Jake Leath plays a medley on electric guitar that he calls "Jake's Guitar Riffs."

Joshua Joseph recites a dramatic passage from "Oliver Twist."

Colette Mondschein sings "Lips are Movin."

"Lego House" provides the soundtrack for a dance by Madeline Kolodziej, Gemma Hayes, Lily Ching and Elle Tracy.

Emcee Tim Reed introduces an "Annie" act.

Mackenzie and Cameron Finch, Blair Walsh, Madeline Tofias, Ava Buckley, Summer McKnight do some high kicking to "Shake it Off."

Ava Bobb-Willis sings "Annie."

Dancing to the sound of "Roar."

Cyrus Chiang performs tricks on the Chinese yoyo.

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY CARL GLASSMAN

From Chinese yoyo-ing to comedy to soccer tricks—with plenty of singing, dancing and more in between—108 children from pre-K to 5th grade took the stage of P.S. 89 on Saturday, March 21, for the school’s 11th annual talent show, emceed by Tim Reed.

In less than three weeks, the kids went from “auditions” (actually, a chance to introduce the organizers to what they could expect from each young performer) to dress rehearsal and, finally, to four hours of performances in two shows.

Michael Dattoma, who organized the talent extravaganza with Warren Nelson, Gladys Henriquez and Paul Vercesi, said the kids showed improvement each step of the way. “They’re comfortable with the people in the audience and they’re over their initial jitters. It’s one of the great things to see.”

The notes he received from parents after the performance, he said, were a testament to the real success of the show.

“They say how elated their children were and how it was such a phenomenal outlet for them to step out of their comfort zone and do something that they didn’t think they could do—and then they get the reaction from the crowd.”

“For the kid,” he added, “it could be a really defining moment.”