Wilmington Idol:
'Tweens and teens learn what it takes to be a star at day camp

At first, they were just a bunch of kids who wanted to be stars. Comedians, actresses, dancers and singers - each of these 'tweens and teens had their own specialties. That's why they attended the Music School of Wilmington's Steps to Stardom Day Camp June 23-27. (A second camp for ages 14 to adult is July 21-25). But these aspiring performers - ages 8-14 - didn't know there was so much to jumping into show business. Elizabeth Montgomery didn't know the camp included a day of MTV-style choreography training, and she wasn't digging it. She's more of a singer and thought this day camp would be more American Idol than American Bandstand. "I really don't like the dancing much because I feel clumsy," the tall 13-year-old said. "I don't really like it, and I'm not good at it." But learning to dance, even a few hip-hop steps, is part of preparing for an audition today, said Linda Larson, the camp's dance teacher. Having danced with professional New York ballet companies and toured with recording artist Ernest Cole, Larson knew just what talent scouts are looking for. "My emphasis is helping them with their stage presence because even if you can fake through a few dance steps, you might get the part in an audition," she said. "I'm just trying to get them to feel comfortable. They shouldn't be afraid to move a little bit." Each day of the camp focused on a different aspect of stardom, including film and television terminology, microphone technique, vocal training, preparing for an audition and how to respond to a callback from a casting company.

Lee Venters, the school's executive director, thought Wilmington was the perfect place for such a camp. "Here we are in Wilmington with the film industry - why not give these kids the opportunity?" Venters said. "I just wanted to teach these kids, look you don't know what you can't do until you try." But even the staunch dance disapprovers like 12-year-old Chris Coakley, a self-professed comedian, got into the groove under Larson's instruction. He kept up with her fast-paced dance sequence set to Will Smith's Switch. And when she asked the dancers to do solos in the middle, Chris whipped out a little ditty he called the worm. His writhing movements and floor spin won cheers from his fellow campers. "I like challenges," said the youngest camper, 8-year-old Saelar Venters. "Let's do that again."

The three-hour dance class was intensive, but the more the group practiced the sequence, the better they got. In one difficult part, Larson instructed with her arms: "Hit it. Hit it. Place it back. Spin. Swivel. Punch it with your hip and elbow." "I got it!" said 13-year-old Meredyth Saieed with her arms raised in triumph. In a way, the camp was a proving ground for the students, Venters said. "Some of these kids are better singers. Some are better dancers. But these kids got the idea that they can't just walk into a situation and get the part. It's a lot of work," he said.

The students spent the last day of camp recording a song of their choice in the school's professional sound studio. At the end of the camp, they get a full portfolio including head shots and a demo video of their dance skills as well as their recorded song. Getting past the giggles in the studio was the first hurdle for Saelar and her 9-year-old friend Kayla Thomas as they prepared to sing Everyday from High School Musical 2.

"Don't laugh while you're Troy," Saelar said. "Don't laugh while you're Gabriella," Kayla added, about singing the duo love song. But after a few takes, the two recorded their song. Next up was Taylor Mugavin, 14, singing Breath by Breaking Benjamin. Shy about her performance, Taylor got to listen to her voice set to the music afterward. Her breathy style was perfect for the alternative song, and as she sang, her emotion intensified and was evident in the finished recording. A singer since age 5, Arden Chaucer felt prepared for her audition of Gotta Go My Own Way from High School Musical 2. But singing in the recording studio is different than singing in her bedroom. "I was really nervous," she told her mother afterward.

"At the beginning of the week, she was worried and self-conscious and didn't think she could do it," said her mom, Jane Chaucer, as she waited for her daughter in the lobby. "By the end of this week, she's jumping out of the car to do it. I think it's given her a little glimpse of what to expect if she does want to do something in acting or be on TV."

Amanda Greene: 353-2365
amanda.greene@starnewsonline.com