Delta Kitson won Rotorua Intermediate's Got Talent. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
Delta Kitson won Rotorua Intermediate's Got Talent. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
Delta Kitson was probably the most surprised person in the school hall when her name was called out as the winner of Rotorua Intermediate's Got Talent.
The 11-year-old performed a contemporary acrobatic fusion dance to take out the title, held at the school at the end of last term on June 29.
It's not a bad win considering she's only been taking dance lessons at Lakes Performing Arts Company for the past two terms. However, she's got a history in gymnastics and circus trapeze skills such as silks, pole and lyra/aerial hoop.
She said the best part about the win was hearing the audience screaming with excitement whenever she did something cool.
She said she really felt the lyrics of the song, Control by Halsey.
Judges (from left) Peri Grant, Ryan Howe, Alayna Powley and Mercia-Dawn Yates present the winning trophy to Delta Kitson. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
The confident youngster's future holds many options - including wanting to get pole made an Olympic sport so she can represent her country.
And while she's clearly talented at dance, she thinks her future lies somewhere among circus performing, being an author, artist and running a wolf sanctuary - that's right, wolves.
She said she attributed her win to trapeze coach Wendy Wood and assistant coach Caitlyn Collier.
"I completely didn't expect to win. I'm my own worst critic and I see so many mistakes."
Rotorua Intermediate's Got Talent second place getter Baedyn Kiore. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
Second was went to Baedyn Kiore singing Rise Up, and third place went to vocal trio Ray-Shaun Ashworth-Maaka, Penina Laupua and Tamehana Withers singing Wade In The Water.
There were three highly commended placings, John Dublin, singing Always With You, Always With Me and playing electric guitar, Morgan Kenyon singing To Make You Feel My Love and Kaitlyn Colle with her highland dancing. The school's music specialist, Rob Powley, said the 2018 event was another highly successful show.
Third place getters Penina Laupua, Ray-Shaun Ashworth-Maaka and Tamehana Withers singing Wade In The Water. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
He said there were 70 auditions held over the previous four weeks with 17 finalists chosen, ranging from solo and group singing, electric guitarists, highland dancing, and modern expressive solo dancing.
He said the event was generously sponsored by Musicworks which gave "musical goodie" packs to every finalist, extra prizes of a set of head phones and a ukulele and music vouchers for the winners.
He said he wanted to specially thank photographer, Michelle Cutelli, who captured the music moments on camera.
Judges were Mercia-Dawn Yates, Ryan Howe, Peri Grant and Alayna Powley.
Judges (from left) Peri Grant, Ryan Howe, Alayna Powley and Mercia-Dawn Yates present the winning trophy to Delta Kitson. Photo/Michelle Cutelli
Yates said it was a special year to judge the awards because they were able to award one of the other talent forms - dance - with a top accolade.
"Delta's dance performance was definitely a crowd favourite and evidently that of the judges too."
She said she particularly loved seeing not only the amazing talent coming through but proud parents and whānau that come along to support their tamariki.
"This event has certainly produced some great stars over the years, seeing Paretoroa Webster-Tarei who won it in 2016 go on to win Matariki Star Search 2017 and consequently go on to star in the 2017 New Years Eve GLOFest."
