Ranties learner shines in The Sound of Music

ALBERTON – Shenize Bekker (9) a talented, outspoken grade four learner from Laerskool Randhart, plays Brigetta, one of the Von Trapp children in The Sound of Music stage musical production at Montecasino.

Her parents registered her on a talent website, www.performercorner.com, and soon after she was tracked down by The Sound of Music and attending her first audition on September 30, 2013. On December 19, 2013 Shenize’s mom received an email stating that her very talented daughter was chosen from about 50 to 70 children.

It shows. From the very minute you meet Shenize, her warm, bubbly personality is infectious and one cannot help but smile in her presence.

From a very young age she started with drama, singing and dancing (while also playing netball and hockey) although her favourite activities are swimming and drawing.

“At first I was happy but also very scared, because I would miss three weeks of school. I did not believe that I could do so well in school,” said a proud Shenize.

She finished first in her class and fourth in her grade, after her mom had to fetch schoolwork every day and Shenize had to catch up on her work in the evenings.

“My friends are very proud of me, and I like to think that I am an inspiration to them. One of my friends started doing eisteddfod, after I had already been doing it for a long time. I am doing what I have dreamt of doing, I enjoy it so much,” said Shenize.

She will also be going to America in July where she will compete in drama, singing and dancing in the AMTC (Actors, Models and Talent for Christ).

Her sister, Lauren (21) and parents are very proud of her, “I believe that if God has given your child talents it is our responsibility as parents to support him or her 100 per cent with whatever it may be.

“We should make sure that it is a success, even if it means driving back and forth to Montecasino almost every day,” said Shenize’s mom, Ruanne jokingly.

Shenize Bekker is a girl who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it… with the support of her family. She convincingly said, “I want to open my own restaurant and call it Gimsies, with noodles (her favourite food), toasted sandwiches, tacos, steak, egg and chips, burgers and pap lunch on the menu.

“I definitely will not have ribs on my menu, because I believe that it is not good for a person.”

She would also like to pursue her talents by producing dance videos and being on children TV shows.

Shenize will perform on Wednesday May 7 at 20:00, Saturday May 10 at 15:00 and Sunday May 11 at 18:00 among other days up until June 8 at the Teatro at Montecasino.