Up & Coming Weekly

Meet Some of Fayetteville’s Finest, The Kidsville Kids by JOY KIRKPATRICK After 12 years of publishing Kidsville News! in Cumberland County, and taking the publication nationwide to 23 states, publisher Bill Bowman thought it was time that there was a group of children that represented and personifi ed the Kidsville News! mission and standards. “Kidsville News! is all about literacy, education and developing good character traits in children — everything that the publication represents is geared to that. “I feel that if a group of young people can demonstrate and represent those traits, not just through song and dance, but through living wholesome lives and by their example, what better impression to make on a young child?” said Bowman. “That is why I put this group together. The other reason is because here in Fayetteville we have many talented young people — singers, dancers, musicians and they work hard developing their craft. However, they do not have the platform to present their craft and it is very hard for a child to stay motivated and to stay entrenched in what they are doing if they never get to showcase their talent. “By putting this group together, not only were we able to provide them the training at levels that they haven’t had access to, but we are also hoping to create a platform where they can present themselves to the community so they can refi ne their talents and get the full exposure of the art itself,” Bowman concluded. Now winding down their fi rst season, the Kidsville Kids have been a success at all of there performances and have had a lot of fun doing it. Their last performances will take place on April 17 at the CoolKidz Expo in Raleigh. “They will be doing a full show, a good variety of music, ragtime to broadway, patri- otic tunes and some rock and roll. A real good variety of things,” explained Joy Cogwell, Snyder Music Academy director and director of the Kidsville Kids. She and international award-winning choreographer Laurie Morrison have been training the 18 youngsters since this summer to prepare them for their debut into the community. “This has been an exciting year. They have a lot of potential and some wonderful op- portunities,” said Cogswell. Adding that the exposure at the CoolKidz Expo is “a wonderful opportunity for them.” “This will be it for this season and then we’ll get started again in the fall, and preparing to do some holiday stuff,” said Cogswell. The group will have auditions for new Kidsville Kids on Monday, May 31st from 6-8 p.m. in the Choir Room at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church. Girls and boys, ages 5-14 may audition.The Kidsville Kids Troupe is trained through The Snyder Music Academy and rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. For tuition information and to reserve an audition time, call 484-1041. Ericka Brockish Age 8, 3rd grade, St. Patrick Catholic School Favorite Subject: Math Hobbies: Singing Madison Alexis Bryant Age 13, 7th grade, Max Abbott Middle School Favorite Subject: Science and Chorus Hobbies: Acting, singing, dancing, basketball Mackenzie Carter Age 8, 2nd grade, Easto- ver Central Elementary Favorite Subject: Reading Hobbies: Watching T.V., singing and dancing Paige Cogswell Age 9. 3rd grade, Village Christian Academy Favorite Subject: Language Hobbies: Baseball, horse riding, swimming Sydney Cote Age 11, 5th grade, Ashley elementary School Favorite Subject: Reading Hobbies: dance, singing, having fun with friends Sylvia Duke Age 9, 4th grade, home- schooled Favorite Subject: math and Science Hobbies: Reading Charlotte Hasty Age, 11, 5th grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Hobbies: Enjoys basket- ball, singing, acting. Lindsey Herring Age 12, 7th grade, John Griffen Middle Favorite Subject: Chorus Hobbies: Singing and playing volleyball Kiera Hogue Age 5, Pre-K, The Fayetteville Academy Favorite Subject: Art Hobbies: I love to dance, sing, read books, paint, play dolls, do crafts Gray Hurley Age 11, 5th grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Favorite Subject: Science Hobbies: Basketball, baseball, acting, singing Tucker Andrew Godwin Age 10, 5th grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Favorite Subject: Math Hobbies: Playing base- ball, basketball, surfi ng, skim boarding, guitar Savannah Jones Age 8, 3rd grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Favorite Subject: Math Hobbies: Golfi ng Jessie Keener Age 13, 7th grade, Fayetteville Academy Favorite Subject: History Hobbies: Singing, dancing, piano, soccer, basketball Sarah Nelson Age 11, 5th grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Favorite subject: Art Hobbies: Crafts, rock collection WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Jaanai Offor Age 12, 6th grade Favorite Subject: Math and Keyboarding Hobbies: singing, acting, dancing, “being me” Jeremiah Packer Age 12, 7th grade, Vil- lage Christian Academy Favorite Subject: Chorus Hobbies: Acting, singing, dancing, modeling Olivia Packer Age 8, 3rd grade, William T. Brown Favorite Subject: Reading Hobbies: Reading, writ- ing, singing, dancing and jump roping Maddie Twedell Age 9, 3rd grade, Van- story Hills Elementary Favorite Subject: Art and science Hobbies: Gymnastics, guitar, singing APRIL 14-20, 2010 UCW 17

• Cover