Young Finalists Selected for the
NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2008

Statewide – When the curtain rises at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Victoria Theater on May 23 at 7 PM, 56 representatives from New Jersey, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania will take the stage as part of the NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase one of the most highly acclaimed talent search competitions in the tri-state area.

The talented hopefuls will test their abilities in several categories: two winners will be selected in each category for solo dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists. One winner in the duo category and one winner in group competition will be selected as champions. They will be competing for $500 scholarships in honor of the King of Latin Music, Tito Puente; the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz; international dance star, Beatriz Rodriguez; and the king of partner dancing, Cuban Pete.

It took months of screening numerous applications, videotapes and auditions to select this talented cavalcade of young stars. On this one night, sixteen winners will go home with scholarships to pursue their dreams, a free trip to Six Flags Great Adventure and much more.

NJN will air a television special honoring the Showcase champions during the summer of 2008. The television broadcast, as well as this year’s competition at NJPAC, will be dedicated to youth and health featuring a statewide campaign leading to a documentary titled: Su Salud Primero/Your Health First! sponsored by Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase is the longest running Latino children’s program on PBS. It has received an Emmy Award and multiple Emmy nominations. The national Arts Council Co-op, in 2000, selected the program as one of the top six children’s programs in the nation. Past and present participants have appeared in Hollywood movies, Broadway, Star Search, American Idol, the Apollo, “Sabado Gigante” and international commercials. For the 2008 competition, our surprise special guests will be past winners of the showcase who have excelled in the world of entertainment.

The NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase 2008 is made possible by PSE&G, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The United Way of Essex and West Hudson, PNC Bank, Goya Foods, Inc., New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Six Flags Great Adventure.

NJN HISPANIC YOUTH SHOWCASE 2008 FINALISTS
(In order of appearance at NJPAC)

KIDS’ DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 4 to 7)
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award

ANTHONY R. BERNAL Age 6, Nutley, NJ
Heritage: Peru
“I will be happy to represent the Peruvian Culture.”

ELYSSA A. CUETO Age 7, Belleville, NJ
Heritage: Colombia & Dominican Republic
“My dream in life is to dance forever.”

STEVE GARCIA Age 6, Hackensack, NJ
Heritage: Colombia
“What worries most about this world is the war.”

JAYMEE MOJICA Age 7, Union City, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico
“Winning the competition is like reaching the stars.”

MISHA SEO Age 7, Lyndhurst, NJ
Heritage: Cuba & Korea
“I want to become an actress and a dancer.”

TEEN GROUP DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 13 to 17)
Rita Moreno Scholarship Award

AMARILY’S ACADEMY OF DANCE ARTS, West New York, NJ
Flamenco – Correleras “DER BETI”

ONEIDA’S DANCE STUDIO, Guttenberg, NJ
Tap – Call The Law

YOLANDA’S ACADEMY OF DANCE ARTS, Union City, NJ
Latin Jazz – Pegate

JUNIOR INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY, Ages 8 to 12
Tito Puente Scholarship Award

GABRIELA M. CIVILETTI, Age 12, Rivervale, NJ
Heritage: Cuba/Italy
“Arts and music will help me get to college.”

KATIE KROIK, Age 12, Elizabeth, NJ
Heritage: Russia/Brazil
“I want to be a music teacher just like my mom.”

GABRIELA LINO, Age 10, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Ecuador
“I worry most abut the kids that are poor and old people.”

OXSANA PASIAN, Age 12, NYC, NY
Heritage: Dominican Republic
“Winning the Showcase would mean a great deal in my life because it is inspiring and encouraging.”

TEEN DANCE DUO / TRIO CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Cuban Pete Scholarship Award

CHRISTINA FRAGOSO, Age 15, Secaucus, NJ
Heritage: Cuba

BIANCA JUNCOSA, Age 14, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Cuba

JOANN K. PENA, Age 15, West New York, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic
“Being in the Showcase is a great experience.”

KRISTAL JIMENEZ, Age 16, Yonkers, NY
Heritage: Dominican Republic

KATHERINE JIMENEZ, Age 10, Yonkers, NY
Heritage: Dominican Republic
“Dancing is our life. Our arms, our feet, our style, they all connect to make us who we are, La Combinacion Perfecta.”

MELANIE MILLAN, Age 16, West Orange, NJ
Heritage: Peru

JOSHUA SANTIAGO, Age 16, West Paterson, NJ,
Heritage: Puerto Rico/Peru
“We can demonstrate the meaning of Peruvian dance

DIANNA OSORIO, Age 16, Newark, NJ
Heritage: Colombia/Puerto Rico

CHRISTIAN VELIZ, Age 19, Elizabeth, NJ,
Heritage: Ecuador
“Our performance is dedicated to the great legends of Latin dance, Cuban Pete and Millie Donay”

ZUANNETTE SERRANO, Age 14, Elizabeth, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rican

KEYLA TORRES, Age 14, Passaic, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rican
“We made it into the competition. WOW! WOW! WOW!”

BRANDON SEGOVIA, Age 15, Brookfield, IL
Heritage: Puerto Rico/USA

SERENA PAV, Age 15, Brookfield, IL
Heritage: USA
“We want to share with the world our passion for the art of dance.”

JUNIOR VOCAL CATEGORY (Ages 8 to 12)
Celia Cruz Scholarship Award

AUTUMN GONZALEZ, Age 11, Vineland, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rico
“I want to become a doctor and also pursue a singing career.”

THAMYRUS ALMEIDA, Age 11, Newark, NJ
Heritage: Brazil
“The Showcase means a lot to me because it is my first step as a singer.”

PRISCILLA AREVALO, Age 11. Union City, NJ
Heritage: Ecuador
“My performance is dedicated to my family.”

ARMEN GHARIBIAN. Age 10, Point Pleasant, NJ
Heritage: Mexico & USA
“Dedicated to my mom who always teaches me about my Mexican roots.”

SELENA GONZALEZ, Age 8, Ridgewood, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rico
“I want to represent Latinos and be proud”

MICHAEL SALAZAR, Age 11, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Colombia
“My performance is dedicated to my family.”

TEEN DANCE SOLO CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award

SHAKIRA BARRERA, Age 17, Englewood, NJ
Heritage: Nicaragua
“I’ve been dancing all my life.”

YAMILE CHAVEZ, Age 16, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic
“I dedicate my performance to my incredible mother.”

VANESSA CONTRERAS, Age 16, Union City, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic
“Without my mother, I’d be nothing. She is my hero.”

NATHALE DELGADO, Age 13, Fort Lee, NJ
Heritage: Cuba/Ecuador
“The Showcase means everything!”

ALEXANDRA MARRERO, Age 13 Cliffside PK, NJ
Heritage: Cuba/Puerto Rico
“My dream in life is to be a pediatrician so that I can make a difference.”

SORANDA QUISPE, Age 14, Wanaque, NJ
Heritage: Peru
“Love the music and dance of Peru.”

ALEXIS TOLEDO, Age 13, Bergenfield, NJ
Heritage: Cuba
“I want to prove that I can do something I love and do it well.”

TEEN VOCAL CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Celia Cruz Scholarship Award

LUCAS ACOSTA, Age 15, New York, NY
Heritage: Dominican Republic /Puerto Rico
“My dream is to be on Broadway in a musical.”

CAROLINA ALVARADO BELTRE, Age 17, E Brunswick, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic/Peru
“Dedicated to my family and my best friends Kunal and Rosie. All of them have supported me 100%. Even when I was thinking of giving up, they helped me realize how stupid I was.”

ERICA MENDEZ, Age 16, Philadelphia, PA
Heritage: Puerto Rico
“I want to promote an appreciation for our cultural diversity.”

KATRINA ARIEL MICHALEWSKI, Age 14, Bloomingdale, NJ
Heritage: Cuba/USA/ Puerto Rico
“I am taking the first step to fulfilling something my heart truly desires.”

ALEXANDRA NICOLE MUNOZ, Age 13, Vineland, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rica
“The Showcase can open doors for me to show my talent.”

LIANA ORTIZ, Age 13, Jersey City, NJ
Heritage: Puerto Rican/Dominican
‘I dedicate my performance to my parents who helped me reach this milestone my life.”

JUNIOR DANCE CATEGORY (Ages 8 to 12)
Beatriz Rodriguez Scholarship Award

NIDIA R. BERNAL, Age 10, Nutley, NJ
Heritage: Peru
“I want to be a good person, a professional and dancer.”

EMMA ROSA BIGELOW, Age 9, West Orange, NJ
Heritage: Cuba & US
“I love dancing.”

CAMILA FERRERA, Age 11, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Argentina & Cuba
“I want to be a professional dancer in ballet.”

JAELA GARCIA, Age 8, West New York, NJ
Heritage: Honduras
“All my work paid off.”

JAZMIN R. MERCADO, Age 10, Moonache, NJ
Heritage: Dom. Republic
“I want to be a good dancer & pediatric doctor.”

EMILY MILLAN , Age 12, West Orange, NJ
Heritage: Peru
“I want to prove that if you work hard in life anything can be achieved.”

TEEN INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY, Ages 13 to 17
Tito Puente Scholarship Award

CRISTINE BASILE, Age 13, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Cuba
“I can show how much passion I have for music and piano.”

GABRIELLLA MARTINEZ, Age 13, Park Ridge, NJ
Heritage: Chile/Peru
“I love my parents and their support., since I’ve been trying to win since I was 7 or 8 years old.”

MARIEL MAYZ, Age 13, Spring Valley, NY
Heritage: USA/Venezuela
“I dedicate my performance to my Lord Jesus.”

DANA RAMIREZ, Age 14, Teterboro, NJ
Heritage: Colombia/Nicaragua
“God gave me the chance to share my gift of music with others.”

DENISE RAMIREZ, Age 15, Teterboro, NJ
Heritage: Colombia/Nicaragua
“I want to become someone who leaves a mark in this world.”

MONIQUE PINEROS, Age 16, Elizabeth, NJ
Heritage: Colombia
“I dedicate my performance to my family and my high school teachers.”

ALAN POSADAS, Age 14, Lodi, NJ
Heritage: Dom. Rep/ Mexico
“I am one step closer to my dream.”

JUNIOR DANCE DUO CATEGORY
(Ages 8 to 12 scholarship candidate can dance with partner younger or older not eligible for scholarship award)
Cuban Pete Scholarship Award

SARAH BOTERO, Age 10, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Colombia

YURI YOO – Age 14, Palisades Park, NJ
Heritage: Korea
“Our goal is to perform on Broadway.”

JENNIFER CHAVEZ, Age 10, West Orange, NJ
Heritage: Peru

JOHNNY CHAVEZ, Age 12, West Orange, NJ
Heritage: Peru
“We dedicate this performance to our parents and our dance school.”

GIANNA DIAZ, Age 9, North Bergen, NJ
Heritage: Dominican Republic

KEYLA ORTIZ, Age 8, Jersey City, NJ
“Dance is what we love to do.”

SANED RAMOS, Age 10, Union City, NJ
Heritage: Dom. Rep./Ecuador

CAMILE RAMOS, Age 10, Union City, NJ
Heritage: Dom. Rep./ Ecuador
“Winning the Showcase for me and my sister would mean the world.”

FELICIA VILLA, Age 9, Manalapan, NJ
Heritage: Mexico

SOPHIA VILLA, Age 10, Manalapan, NJ
Heritage: Mexico
“Dedicated to our teacher and our family.”