by Yuri Narula
It was a whiel in the making, and for a long time I thought it was a joke, but in the end the K-gawa massive held their first talent show. The original idea came from tube tops and dance routines and quickly spread to include a variety of talent.
Since it was our first attempt, we decided to combine the talent show with a night at Club Pure. Let's face it ... no one wants to be at Pure all night with nothing to do but drink ... we'd done that before, and it wasn't pretty. Also, we weren't sure if we'd get enough performers to fill up a whole night. Combining the two seemed to be the perfect solution.
As with any major entertainment production/contest there are likely to be challenges and tension ... you know how performers are! In the days coming up to the show, the judges were carefully selected and prizes obtained. Performers were practicing, and getting their costumes ready. Nisah and Pat went so far as to create a secret routine and took heat from their posse who thought they might be having a little affair. I received mails from performers all asking me to polish off the winning trophy, and there were even reports of Tonya Hardingesque attempts at sabotage.
The first performance was the Electric Jack Project - an epic, one-man show. Jack debuted some of his original works to start the show off with a bang.
We also had Hula dancing! I had never actually seen Hula dancing before, but as Angie danced, a calm that is probably only felt after the bar crowd leaves and the doors close for the night, seemed to fall on Club Pure. I wished I were actually in Hawaii. Sigh.
Next up was a threesome ... well, three sexy ladies getting down ... some. The dance floor was like ice as Marian, Reiko and Shirelle pulled off each move as skillfully as Midori Ito doing a triple axel in teh 1989 Worlds in Paris. Floor work, costume changes, mesh - it was all there.
Then there was a bunch of high school students (who let them in the club?) that kept breaking into song and dance. I think the best part was the wigs. This crew had us in stitches, wondering which hip-hop video they got their moves from. Rumor has it that the members of the Ktown Funky Fresh Dance Machine All Stars (Alex, Pat, Nisah, Alexis, Miriam, and Ryan) have started attending dance lessons in anticipation of next year's talent show!
That little place called Pure has probably never been graced before by a professional flutist, but it was graceful indeed and Antoine brought a certain amount of dignity to the first Kanagawa talent show.
Last, we had the "secret" performance. Pat's comedy routine. My favourite part was the joke about the hooker. Something about burning sensations. Good one. Nisah and Pat make such a good team that you're almost left wondering if there was a little something on the side ... just kidding!
People from other prefectures are always a little surprised that we can pull off more than a night of pure drinking. So... thanks to everyone who came out, and of course to the performers. As for the MC? I think she needs to learn that drinking and MC-ing don't mix. She will remember that when she is the MC in her friend's wedding in September. Live long and prosper.
