Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Marjorie Scott-Anderson (left) and the team that represented Jamaica at the Performing Arts Olympics in 2005. - CONTRIBUTED
The 'Entertainment Olympics' is bringing home success for Jamaica. The World Championship of Performing Arts is the official talent Olympics, through which 40 countries compete for a mere 25 gold medals.
Marjorie Scott-Anderson, project coordinator and scout in Jamaica, selects persons throughout the island with exceptional talent., after which, participants compete with the rest of the country with the most gifted going through to the competition held in Hollywood, California.
EXPOSING POTENTIAL
While there, participants are exposed to over a hundred talent agencies in all fields with some especially talented contestants receiving an invitation by scouts to 'go-sees' - private conversations with agencies who believe in their potential.
Scott-Anderson emphasises the potential of the competition stating that "Sometimes you might go in for one thing, for example acting, and they see the potential for you as a dancer. It is about open opportunity".
Jamaica, a youthful competitor launched officially in 2004, has many challenges such as the lack of support and recognition from Jamaicans. Scott-Anderson states that "We need corporate support", and describes the project as "taking our trade to a trade show. Jamaica does not recognise them, these are Olympians in the performing arts".
Compared to other competing Caribbean countries, such as Trinidad, Barbados and Haiti, Jamaica has done the best.
MONEY PROBLEMS
But at a cost, Scott-Anderson confirms, as voice lessons in the United States are US$500 per hour. In Jamaica, it is $1,000.
She describes the plight of a young man in Westmoreland, a gifted singer, who has received a scholarship for the entry cost (an exorbitant US $1,100) but is unable to get money to compete. There are many others just as dynamic in a similar dilemma.
Despite these problems Scott-Anderson is aspiring to produce at least four gold medalists in this year's competition.
The biggest success story is that of Samantha Strachan who scored the principal role of young Josephine Baker alongside Vanessa Williams in the Broadway musical The Josephine Story.
Strachan's manager informed that Strachan received a standing ovation at the audition.
An enthused Scott-Anderson states:" For anyone, especially a child, to go to a Broadway interview and have them give her a standing ovation, speaks volumes to the extent of her talent. Not only that, but because of her talent they worked a third song especially for her. It goes to show that the programme has deliverables".
Other successes rising out of the programme are Jamaica's ESOR dancers who walked away with the 2004 Junior Dance Champion title and was offered a development contract with Fontaine Talent Agency.
Roger Hall from the 2005 team received a partial scholarship to the New York School of Film and Television where he is presently pursing his studies.
Scott-Anderson elaborates, "Hopefully, the success will bring a certain level of persons to audition. Now maybe we can get persons with more formal training. Now that a Jamaican has succeeded through the programme, it will get visibility and creditably."
