Annual Family and Teen Talent Contest showcases Dyess' best

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Darcie Ibidapo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 7th Force Support Squadron hosted the annual Family and Teen Talent Contest at the Hangar Community Activity Center here, Dec. 17. The contest provides an opportunity for Dyess families and youth to showcase their talents while encouraging family interaction and appreciation of the arts. 

This Air Force-wide competition begins as a variety style contest at base level. The contest is divided into a total of 15 categories. There are both individual and group categories, and contestants can enter more than one category. Each performance is videotaped, and the winner of each category's videotape will be submitted to Air Force level. 

Performances were judged on technical excellence and showmanship. Musical performances were also judged on intonation, tonal quality, harmonic blend, phrasing, diction, articulation, accents and dynamics. Non-musical performances were also judged on projection, body control, precision and enunciation. 

"The show was great," said Carrie Oldfather, manager of the Information, Tickets, and Travel office and a dependant spouse. "My daughter went up spur of the moment to sing a song." Mrs. Oldfather's four-year-old daughter, Ella, was an audience member turned performer who sang a song she learned in her pre-kindergarten class. 

Jessica Womack, a 12-year-old dependant, sang "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross, a last minute change from her original song choice. "I was nervous, a lot," said Jessica "Toward the end, I stopped being nervous. Seeing that people weren't laughing at me helped calm me down." 

Airman 1st Class Xanthea Moore, from the 7th Force Support Squadron, performed a praise dance as a special family performance. "I practice one to two hours a day," said Airman Moore "I practice and make sure everything is perfect." 

This year Dyess had seven entries and three actual performances, which was slightly less than previous year's contests, according to Manzel Mcghee, the Community Activity Center director. 

The Community Activity Center plans on holding next year's event in the fall. With more time to plan and advertise for the event, participation is expected to increase. "This year is geared toward the family," said Mr. Mcghee. "Bringing families together into the Community Activity Center and to events at the base." 

Contestant's videos must be submitted for Air Force- level consideration by Dec. 31. Air Force level results are expected to be released late Jan.