The significance of a small-town talent competition should never be underestimated.
This was evident during the Lydenburg’s Got Talent audition rounds on November 8 and 10, as well as during the extraordinary gala evening on November 11.
As a result of Brendan McLaren’s choreography and leadership, the recent event will be one to remember for a long time.
Rosemarie Middleton, the director and dance instructor extraordinaire of Rosemarie Middleton Dance Centre, realised in 2018 that Lydenburg had so much more than just dance to offer residents interested in the arts. The first Lydenburg’s Got Talent was hosted that year.
McLaren, a former dancer in the RMDC company while he was still at school in Johannesburg, joined Middleton in 2021 and quickly became a beloved member of the Lydenburg community.
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The compère for the gala evening was Jacques Lombard, a well-known business owner, singer, entertainment personality and resident of Mbombela.
The audience was treated to a show dance at the gala evening by Roy Hoeben from the Netherlands. As the international judge for the gala evening, his dance accolades include being the former world champion of the World Dance Masters.
Cheru Swart was chosen by Franco Burger to receive the recording contract. She didn’t compete this year, because she was the 2022 winner. But, Burger made the decision based on the talent he witnessed during her performance.
He is a professional singer, songwriter, composer, voice teacher, sound engineer and music producer. He only moved to Lydenburg during the last few months, and some of his former clients were winners and finalists of Idols SA, The Voice and Die kontrak.
The results were as follows:
• Creative arts, juniors: Kirsten Roos (winner), Simon Swart (runner-up)
• Creative arts, seniors: Milan Mynardt Sephton (winner) and Nokutendu Mutambanengwe (runner-up)
• Dance solo, juniors: Tahlilah van der Merwe
• Dance solo, seniors: Illezy Spies (winner) and Ilse Roos (runner-up)
• Dance group, juniors: Mexican Dream (Ceane and Zoe Meeser) (winner) and Island Song (RMDC primary modern group) (runner-up)
• Dance group, seniors: All That Jazz (winners), Black and Gold (Illezy Spies and Ilse Roos) (runner-up)
• Vocal, solo: Alana Pieters
• Modelling: Tineka Paterson (Mbombela)
• Choir: Laerskool Lydenburg Jeugkoor
• Drama solo, juniors: Kristen Roos (winner) and Simon Swart (runner-up)
• Drama solo, seniors: Ruben Swart
• Physically challenged: Anke van der Nest
• Other group: Crazy Cowgirls (Golden Line Dancers)
• Personality awards: Tahlilah van der Merwe (winner) and Neeva-Lunthe Betz (runner-up)
• Choreography: Alive, choreographed by Kim Middleton, Illezy Spies (winner)
• Royal: Danelle Cronje (winner), choreographed by Brendan McLaren
• Most promising: Simon Swart (art winner) and Munro Viljoen (runner-up)
• Versatility Award: Kirsten Roos (winner) and Illezy Spies (runner-up)
• Most outstanding on Lydenburg’s Got Talent: Illezy Spies.
Thank you to the sponsors that made the event a huge success.
Photos: Michelle Boshoff
