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Oak Brook junior high students to show their talent
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Updated: February 18, 2013 1:15AM
OAK BROOK — Eighth-grader Jack Kanzler doesn’t have any special reason for deciding to participate in the Butler Junior High talent show after opting to be a spectator each of the past two years.
Jack will play guitar in the show, which begins at 1:45 p.m. Dec. 22 at the school, 2801 York Road.
“This is my last year here, so I figured I might as well be in it,” Jack said.
This also is last Butler talent show for fellow eighth-grader Ryan Sidler. But Ryan is returning for his third performance, which has him jumping on a pogo stick while skipping rope at the same time.
“I like being in the show,” he said. “Your friends enjoy watching; it’s a thrill. It’s fun to watch the other people performing, too. It’s nice to see some of the talents people have because sometimes they never had a chance to display their talent before.”
Ryan has performed with his pogo stick and jump rope in previous shows, but has added a twist for his final talent show at Butler.
“I have a routine this time,” he said. “Before, I just jumped. I started pogoing a while ago and got good enough to do it without using my hands, so I decided to try adding the jump rope.”
Kathy Ferrell, the school secretary at Butler Junior High, also is the sponsor for the talent show.
“The show is about having an opportunity for kids to do something beyond what we have in our bands here,” she said. “We take any student who wants to perform as long as they’re not doing something that’s inappropriate.”
Ferrell said the type of acts and talent level varies considerably from year to year.
“We’ve had all kinds of acts; one girl put her own floor down and tap danced,” Ferrell said. “Some of the kids have had experience performing before, and for others, this is the first time they’ll be in front of people.”
The talent show is performed in front of the student body, teachers and staff, and community members are welcome to attend, Ferrell said.
Sixth-grader Amelia Effrein said she is both nervous and excited about playing the piano at her first talent show.
“It’s exciting that I get to play, but I am a little nervous,” she said.
Seventh-graders Sophia Gerard, Merra Duggal, and twin sisters Asha and Anya Uppal, developed a dance routine they will perform together in the show.
“Anya suggested it, and it’s fun to do a dance together,” Sophia said. “I’ve performed before, so I don’t get nervous.”
Asha said it’s all about having fun with some friends.
“It will be fun to perform together at the show,” she said.
