“People in this town don’t want to be judged on what they are feeling. I’m also hoping this event will help people talk more about their feelings. This is what we are doing — bringing it out into the light. Suicide has been in the dark for so long.”
Thompson’s friend was a talented dancer.
“You could turn on the music and she would dance like she was a professional. That’s what gave me the idea for this talent show. It’s a tribute to her and a way to find talent around Gisborne and the East Coast. The show is a way for people to show what they have.”
Alcohol and drugs are prevalent in this town, especially among youth who do not know what they have, she says.
“I’m trying to pull people away from that negative stuff and pull them into where it’s more positive. I’m trying to help them harness their talent and know there’s more to life than drugs and alcohol.”
Among the finalists is teen solo singer Te Akai Hotu who not only has a mature voice but can perform in any genre from reggae to hip-hop, says Thompson.
Pinky Thatcher sung an Etta James song at her Tolaga Bay audition.
“Oh my gosh! She was into the finals straight away.”
Then there are East Coast krump dancers Casey and Trent Kaiwai.
“We are two humble males looking to showcase our talents on the stage, to maybe encourage others young and old to get down with us to learn and build a movement for the coast again,” say the brothers in a Facebook post.
“New Zealand has a really strong movement within krump and I want our people to be a part of it. This dance has changed my and my brother’s lives for the better. Chur, fam.”
