Page 8 - Dinuba Sentinel 1-31-19 E-edition

A8 | Thursday, January 31, 2019 Back Page The Dinuba Sentinel Sanchez steals the show with dance moves
Talent abounds from top to bottom at Dinuba High School Talent Show
By Rick Curiel
the 2019 DHS Talent Show. “I was just here, basically, to entertain the people. That’s what I like doing, just entertaining.”
Sanchez said that though he had prepared a few variations of his routine, he decided to just trust his instincts when it came time for his performance. “I was like whatever happens, happens,” said Sanchez of his performance. “Whatever I feel is going to come out. And based on the energy I got back, that was basically how I performed.”
His performance was one of 16 talent acts in a talent show themed as ‘Camp Wanahaka’. The stage was set as a campsite; complete with tent, trees, a campfire and even a mounted moose head.
Other campers who earned awards were Michael Pena and Alyiah Rangel, who performed a duet cover of the song ‘Shallow’ by Lady Gaga and Bradly Cooper. Their performance earned them second place at the talent show, and a prize of $100.
Third place went to Bianca Villanueva for her performance on piano. She took home a prize of $75.
And the show also featured a Fan Favorite Award, where attendants could vote for their favorite act by dropping cash in bags with the performers name on them. Saturday night’s Fan Favorite Award went to Daniel Gutierrez.
(Left) Dinuba High teacher Alexander Austin answers questions at Saturday night's talent show. Austin recently returned home after suffering a neck injury in Guatemala.
(Right) Third place finisher Bianca Villanueva performs on piano.
(Far Right) Alyiah Rangel and Michael Pena perform a duet of the song 'Shallow.' They took second place.
Not his first rodeo, Gutierrez recently also performed in a Spanish version of America’s Got Talent, called ‘Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento.’ His talent then earned him a spot on television twice as he reached the quarterfinals of the competition. Saturday he was the fan’s favorite.
Judges for the talent show were Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero, Miss Dinuba Audrey Menard, DHS Principal Roberts and 13-year-old Dinuba professional dancer Alena Garver.
Camp Wanahaka was full of talent Saturday night.
From the campers who participated in the talent show to the counselors (DHS staff) who provided an entertaining evening, the talent at Dinuba High School was evident from start to finish.
Another highlight of the evening was special guest Alexander Austin. The Dinuba High School Chemistry teacher recently returned from a trip to Guatemala after suffering a neck injury that required surgery. He was there for nearly a month while recovering from his injury and surgery.
Asked when he might be returning to his teaching role at Dinuba High School, Austin said hopefully in about three weeks.
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Like any talent show you may have recently seen on television, every performance at Saturday night’s Dinuba High School Talent Show received a judge’s critique. Though most acts rightfully received a complimenting assessment of their performance, only one act left one judge without words.
Instead, after Dinuba High’s Carlos Sanchez brought the decibel levels at Hellbaum Auditorium to its highest level of the night, talent show judge, and DHS Principal, Dr. Michael Roberts stood up and faced Sanchez. He extended his arms and bowed repeatedly.
Sanchez’s dance performance earned him first place at Saturday night’s DHS Talent Show, and a $200 prize. According to his parents, his winning performance has been one in the making since he was just a child.
“He’s been dancing since he was little,” said proud father Carlos Sanchez, Sr.
“We used to call him our little Pinocchio,” his mother added. “He would just dance.”
The young Sanchez took that love of dance and put on a stage before his peers. For him it was about entertainment.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything,” he said after winning
(Above) Dinuba High's Carlos Sanchez impressed the judges and fans with his dance moves during Saturday's Dinuba High School's annual Talent Show. His performance earned him first place and a $200 prize.
(Left) Daniel Gutierrez, who recently performed in a televised Spanish talent competition, was voted by attendants as the Fan Favorite at Saturday night's DHS Talent Show.
Photos by Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
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