Young performers take center stage at Sarasota Rising: A Celebration of Youth

By Ian Swaby
| 9:30 a.m. November 19, 2024

Evelyn Lyman, 21 and Brian Guerrero, 24, from Sarasota Cuban Ballet School perform a scene from "The Nutcracker."

Sarasota
Neighbors

Much of Sarasota's talent in the realm arts and entertainment involves young or rising performers found in the local area.

However, it had not been showcased in an event until now, said Jeffery Kin, executive director of Sarasota Rising, during Sarasota Rising: A Celebration of Youth on Nov. 17.

The grand finale of the organization's inaugural Living Arts Festival, the event brought together organizations as varied as The Sarasota Ballet, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Sarasota Contemporary Dance as it packed the auditorium of the Circus Arts Conservatory.

Offering musical accompaniment were performers from organizations including Sarasota Rising Orchestra, Riverview High School, Sarasota Young Voices, Sarasota Music Conservatory, Sarasota Youth Opera, Key Chorale and Venice Symphony Youth Orchestra.

"It was magical. I just think it was so much fun," said Evelyn Lyman, 21, of Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. "The audience was wonderful, and all of the other performers were just amazing, and it was so wonderful to be able to collaborate with everybody and appreciate the diversity and hard work of all the performers."

Recognition for the show's best performance went to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

"When you consider the level of talent that was here, it was just a really great surprise," said Jim Weaver, the organization's education director. "It's just very, very humbling."

The cast of "Grease" with Rise Above Performing Arts performs "Tell Me More," with Lara Cramer-Ekeberg, as Sandy, at the microphone.

Scotti Horowitz, a graduate of Sarasota High School and a broadcasting Communication Arts major at San Francisco State University, served as an announcer at the event.

Ben Hannum and Riley Putnal of Sarasota Ballet Studio Company perform a selection from "When Icicles Hang."

Amillia Samuels, 19, performs with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

Abril Sanchez, 10 (center) sings a song from "The Hobbit" with the Sarasota Youth Opera.

Students from the Sailor Circus perfom aerial acts during a performance of "Walking in the Air."

William Hahn of Rise Above Performing Arts, who plays Danny in "Grease," announces a performance of "Time Warp" from "The Rocky Horror Show."

Sarasota Contemporary Dance offers a performance of "Baiao Destemperado."

Jacque Slayton portrayed a living statue as guests entered the event.

Pedro Reis, Founder and CEO of Circus Arts Conservatory, introduces the event.

The event welcomed various musical performers.

Evelyn Lyman, 21 and Brian Guerrero, 24, from Sarasota Cuban Ballet School perform a scene from "The Nutcracker."

Students at Rise Above Performing Arts perform "Time Warp" from "The Rocky Horror Show."

Sailor Circus students (top to bottom) Jasmine Wizenberg, 10, Charity Overholt, 17 and Caleb Overholt, 18, walk the high wire.

Keegan Belvin, 11, performs with Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe performed "Take Me Higher" and "This is Me," which was honored as the show's best act. "It's a great community for theater, Sarasota area," said Amillia Samuels, 19. "I think it's just continuing exposure for youth, because today was about youth, so it's getting us out there, and not just on our stage, but getting us on different stages too."

Violin soloist Nicholas Hammel was featured during a performance of "Zigeunerweisen" by Pablo de Sarasate.

Sarasota Contemporary Dance returns to the stage for a final bow. Earlier in the event, the dancers performed "Baiao Destemperado."

Performers from Sarasota Ballet Studio Company offer a final bow.

Alice Hafner performs in the lyra to "Alice's Theme" from "Alice in Wonderland."

Zaylie Ellis, 18, of Sailor Circus, walks the tightrope.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.