Published: April 15, 2008 01:36 pm            

DMS talent

DUNCAN — A few Duncan Middle School students found something more strenuous than performing their talents in front of an audience — performing in front of their friends.

Several DMS students in 14 acts displayed their abilities for the school’s talent show April 8 and Wednesday at the Simmons Center. The first show was for the public and families, whereas the second show was for the middle school students.

Show Coordinator Diana Austin said, “I thought it went great. We had good talent.”

Students auditioned for the talent show before spring break. This gave them time to prepare their talents for an audience.

Austin said she was impressed with the crowd on April 8. And Wednesday morning, the crowd, which was composed of students and teachers, was large again.

“The crowd was good,” she said. “There were a lot of parents and students.”

She said the students worked hard to get ready for the show. And despite the numerous spectators, none of the performers showed any nervousness.

Being well rehearsed didn’t just control their nerves, it also helped the show run smoothly.

“Because the kids are so prepared, it doesn’t take too long,” Austin said.

The students who participated in the talent show said they may not have shown how nervous they were but they certainly felt an increase in nervousness during Wednesday’s show.

Seventh-grader Brittany Toone said she was much more nervous performing for her friends than for the parents.

To deal with the butterflies in her stomach, Toone said she made sure she was prepared for her performance.

“I practiced a lot,” she said.

Eighth-grader Ali Oldright said performing for the students was more difficult than performing for the students because students are more critical. Oldright said her friends gave her the needed support for her act during the April 8 show.

“Yesterday (April 8), I was so nervous,” Oldright said.

“Then I saw some of my friends waving their cell phones in the air.”

Austin said the students always put on a good show.

And the care they put into their acts bring numerous people, including parents, to support the show, and more importantly, support the students.

“We have lots of good parent support,” she said.

        

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