Everyone’s a winner
By SHIRLEY WESTArticle Photos
Each participant in the Dance Talent showcase walked away with a prize this year at the Chautauqua County Fair.
"This is, I believe, the 18th year we've had a talent show here at the fair," said fair board member Becky Mirek. "I and Warren Brown started the showcase because we felt it was a shame that the youth here didn't have a chance to display their talents as they do in other fairs in the state."
Mirek recalled that the show has come a long way since its first year.
"The first year we danced on dirt," Mirek said. "Throughout the years we have made great strides in the Arthur R. Maytum Family Theater, which is now sponsored by DFT Communications."
In the 12 and under category, there were enthusiastic performances from Alicia Will of Fredonia, who won first and third place for her numbers and Rebecca Young of Falconer, who tap danced her way to second place.
Both young ladies are 12 years old and have been dancing for more than half their lives.
In the over 12 category, Kevin Gleason of Clymer took first and second place with his jazz and acrobatic numbers in the single performer category.
As the only group act, Karla Rodriguez and Lindsay Pullan, of Jamestown, took first and second place as well.
"We've been dancing together for almost 15 years, since we were 2," Rodriguez said.
The judges this year were Martha Toolley and Buffalo Jill Laura Francese.
The show was sponsored by Upstate Mill.
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