Dancer Pops to the Top of 'Monrovia's Got Talent'

A Citrus College student "popped" his way to the top of the podium at Saturday's "Monrovia's Got Talent" show, a fundraiser sponsored by to help raise money for scholarships and local charities.

Citrus College student Daniel Norwood won the judges over with his unique dance style, taking home a large plaque and a $500 check. He said this was his first time competing in the talent show.

“I was just hoping one person would like it. I got a pretty overwhelming response,” said Norwood. “It feels great.”

Held at the on Saturday, the event included live entertainment, food and drink, and a silent auction.

Beating out nine other finalists, Norwood performed a kind of dance called “poppin.'”

“It's a street dance, but it's not spin on your head type stuff. It's like, illusions,” he said. “I just hope people kind of question the reality of what they're seeing.”

Rotary President Tom Hould said the show was just the 4th talent show fundraiser that the Rotary Club has hosted, but that the annual barbeque has been going strong for decades. 

“Typically we give $16,000 in scholarships,” Hould said.

President Elect Julie Roybal said that they also sponsor the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for high school students, and the Team Leadership Camp for students in local middle schools.

About 50 contestants auditioned for this year's talent show, said Denise Harvey, Rotarian and owner of Monrovia Travel.

“It was so hard to pick. It was incredibly difficult,” said , one of the members of the selection committee. “There were so many acts we wish we could have included.”

Domotor also said that the committee was only supposed to pick eight acts, but they decided to expand their selection to ten.

“I'm super excited, especially to share a song that I wrote,” said USC graduate and talent show contestant Monet Bagneris. “My goal is to make the hair on the back of people's necks stand up,” she added.

As the attendees enjoyed a meal provided by , the Nesta Steel Drum Band played Caribbean rhythms and a bartender from poured drinks at the Long Branch Saloon bar at the back of the courtyard. A slide show on either side of the bar showed pictures of Rotarian projects. 

The silent auction contained a wide variety of gift baskets and gift certificates donated by Rotarians and local businesses. There was also a Spin N' Win game, which offered prizes donated by local establishments.

Erykka Ximone, last year's talent winner, opened the show by performing an operatic version of the Star Spangled Banner and a vocal arrangement, “En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor,” from Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto.

Ximone said that her goal was “to inspire everyone competing tonight to do their best.”

Rotarians Karen Lujan, Alex Blackburn, Tim Moore, and Kevin Mercado served on a panel of judges, while Dennis Franklin emceed. Between the acts, Franklin entertained the audience with jokes, and sometimes also made them groan at his puns.

Talent show contestants included 13 year old vocalist NyAira Collins, who sang the Jackson Five's “Who's Loving You;” 14 year old pianist Chase Masters, who played “Moment Musical in E Minor” by Rachmaninoff; 11 and 12 year olds Berlynn Milliken and Isabelle Plazolia,who sang “If Mama Was Married” from the musical Gypsy; Veracruz harpist Angel Quinones, who played a bolero-based piece;   Ryan Camastra, a student at USC's Thornton School of Music, who played a piece for classical guitar; the alternative covers band Uncontested, who played “Sweet Home Alabama”; and a 12-person mariachi group composed of 13 to 15-year-olds, called Mariachi Nuevo Generacion, who performed a ranchera style song called “Herradero.”

Pianist and songwriter Monet Bagneris came in third place after performing an original composition called “Journey With Me.” Bagneris said her song was inspired by the experiences of a fellow USC student who had emigrated from Vietnam on a boat that was captured by pirates.

Although it was Bagneris' first time performing in the talent show, she has also placed in other competitions, such as winning the title of Miss Inglewood in 2010 and Miss Congeniality at the 2011 Miss California Pageant.

Sister and brother duo Mary and John Guyer, performed “Black Horse In A Cherry Tree,” and came in second place. PCC student John Guyer played the guitar and cajon, a Peruvian box drum, while his sister sang the vocals. Mary Guyer attends Arcadia High School and has also won talent awards in Arcadia's Got Talent.