Teens Take the Stage in SONG: Stars Of the Next Generation

By Hadley Catalano

A group of 15 teenagers—unsupervised and listening to music—gather inside on a sunny Sunday afternoon in early November. It’s hot inside the old attic space of the Aloha Performing Arts Center LOFT and the kids are sweating. Welcome to a mid-rehearsal break of Kona’s newest and only show choir, Stars of the New Generation (SONG).

One of the older boys, wearing an athletic jersey and shorts, talks loudly, making the group laugh as they gulp drinks of water. Younger girls in jean shorts and Converse sneakers huddle together, giggling, while hip-hop music plays from a small sound system. Others, ranging in age, mingle around, awkwardly affectionate but indisputably friendly.

The scene is seemingly chaotic and outwardly disorganized in the open practice room until suddenly a loud but gentle, female voice announces, “take it from the top, with music!” The teens finish their conversations and flirtatious tickling and group together at one end of the large, empty, wooden dance floor as the music begins.

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring ting tingling too/ Outside it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you. Snapping their fingers and waiting for the two soloists to finish, the performers theatrically take center stage, walking in time to the up-tempo beat of Relient K’s “Sleigh Ride.” Soon they are dipping and nodding, left, right, left in correspondence, and boys and girls smoothly trade positions on the dance floor by sliding gracefully between “body windows” created in formation.

It’s one of many routines the song and dance troupe will perform over the holiday season, adding to the growing list of musical numbers on their young—and growing—repertoire.

A brainstorm of Delaney Ross, 15, and BriAnna Johnson, 18, SONG came together in July of 2009 as a breakout group of Aloha Teen Theater. As already-veteran members of Kona’s performing arts community, the girls, who attend Hawai`i Preparatory Academy and the University of Hawai`i-Hilo wanted to bring something new and inspiring to the community, while telling all that their generation has something to sing and dance about.

“We wanted to show that the performing arts has a great range,” Johnson said about starting the first show choir. “We have so many talented teens that can sing and dance and we want to show those abilities.”

The girls were inspired to launch their performance plan after watching the Fox television series Glee. While the popular, musical comedy-drama TV show has brought show choir back to center stage, so to speak, the notion of combining song and motion centered on a theme or story began in the mid-1960s. Known as ‘swing choirs,’ Up With People and The Young Americans first championed the show choir movement. Performing and touring throughout the country, they are the catalyst—along with the popularization of show performance through Internet and television—for many smaller high school and extracurricular clubs.

The young veteran theater buffs had no problem acquiring participants. Roughly 20 teenagers, ranging in talent levels and ages (13-19) heeded Ross and Johnson’s call. Many are no strangers to the stage, having performed in Aloha Theater plays and or school musicals. Others sing in professional and/or school choirs and take dance classes and lessons.

As a SONG rule, all interested parties must audition. Students are invited to show up to any one of the Sunday practices held at the Aloha Theater or LOFT.

“We ask the person to join in on our practice to see how quickly they can learn and how well they work together with the group,” Johnson explained. “We also ask them to sing.”

During the two-hour, bimonthly rehearsals (every other Sunday) the troupe will run through acts for upcoming shows and begin learning steps and lyrics for future recitals. There is an even mix of boys and girls, allowing for more dynamic dance moves—think partner dances—and wider vocal capabilities.

We’re excited about sharing our experiences,” Ross noted. “We are passionate and we all like to perform, dance and sing.” After practicing for only a few short months, SONG began performing in the Kona area, with appearances at an Aloha Theater event, the Arts of Kona Young Artists’ Showcase and the Kona Outdoor Circle’s (KOC) Orchid Show.

Each time they succeeded in capturing the audience with their performances. At the latter two events, the opening song and dance number was a three-part harmony version to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” First, the group moved through simple head, arm and body gestures while soloists sang and vocal instrumentals hummed softly in the background. As the song’s tempo escalated, the boys and girls, dressed in tuxedo colors and blue dresses, picked up the pace and incorporated position changes and more complicated movements into their routine.

Following the rock band’s song, the group jazzed up the stage with a lively dance number to “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” by Queen. Swinging and dipping partners, the boys and girls spun around each other energetically while remaining in sync and focused. As a finale, the number-one boy leaped over the shoulders of another, sparking a loud round of applause.

That was a great show. You guys are really good,” KOC’s Master of Ceremonies Sherry Bracken said of the performance. “We are delighted to showcase the talents of young people. We are lucky to have this type of talent fostered in this community.”

Self-composed and self-directed, SONG is under the sole direction of Ross, musical director and Johnson, choreographer. The brains behind the three-part harmonies, Ross breaks down popular songs to showcase the a capella talents of her soprano, alto and tenor peers while Johnson, the backbone behind the group’s choreography, likes to change up the acts.

“We like to mix it up,” Johnson said, explaining the duo’s dance and choral coordination. The girls like to sample a variety of musical genres, pleasing both their counterparts and audience members.

“The first number we performed was “Jai Ho” (the Pussycat Dolls version of the song from the movie Slumdog Millionaire), we’ve done Broadway, partners/swing dance and hip-hop. People really enjoy it,” she said, explaining the discipline it takes to both sing and dance simultaneously. “It’s a whole new level. It takes a high level of dedication and passion. But we can do it.”

The affirmation is correct. The boys and girls are a highly committed, talented group. “People genuinely want to be here,” Jacquelynn Collier, a 15-year-old at Kealakehe High School said. “It’s cool to see so many kids dedicated. We are all super musically talented. We want to show that we can do this on our own. We can work together with other teens.”

While the teen group is absent of adult ‘interference,’ Aloha Teen Theater Adult Advisor Alex Logan does drop in to check on their progress.

“I come occasionally to check them out and make sure they are okay,” Logan explained. “They are fully developed and self-led. It’s great to see and they like it that way.”

He continued explaining that the benefits of Aloha Teen Theater are two-fold, not only allowing the teens to become motivated self-directors, seeing a show develop and take shape before their eyes, but it also creates a safe, welcoming environment for those who are seeking extramural activity.

“It gives kids that don’t have other social groups or don’t participate in athletics an outlet,” he said. “And it’s built up and grown. Not by adults making it happen but because these kids made it happen.”

Between Johnson’s patience and strong direction, Ross’ ability to find smooth harmonies and highlight acapella sound, to the dedicated, passionate, motivated teens, SONG has unquestionable talent, generational influence and is a welcomed addition to Kona’s theatrical community. ❖

SONG Members
Alec Lugo—15 Konawaena
Dylan Ressler—17 WHEA
Delaney Ross—HPA
Jaquelynn Collier—15 KHS
Bowen Ressler—Hualalai Academy
Joshua Yong—19 West Hawaii Comm. College
Alexander Miyashiro—14 Kona
Mele Makanui—16 Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama
Billy Baker—13 Hualalai Academy
Malia Davis—14 Hualalai Academy
BriAnna Johnson—18 UH Hilo
Raisa Klyne—14 KHS
Amanda Madigan—13 Makua Lani
Amanda Nelson—14 KHS
Tiffany Kutsunai—19
Jonathan Kutsunai—15 KHS
Elliott Jacobson—14 KHS