Video: Skyview Hosts Multicultural Talent Show

For anyone who didn't know it, Queens definitely 'got talent,' and the Skyview Mall in Flushing held a special multicultural show to prove it.

Saturday afternoon, contestants from as far away as New Jersey descended on the area to show off a wide range of unique talents and performing prowess.

Some guaranteed-to-please crowd favorites included Jazz music, traditional Chinese ethnic dancing, original poetry set to newly composed music, karate demonstrations, hip-hop dancing, a few pop acts as well as a magnificent opera performance.

"This is the third year we [NYTV8] have hosted this show and each year the competition gets better," said Kit Lee, a producer for NYTV8, who helped put this year's competition together.

An event Lee stressed was one of New York City’s most successful multicultural talent competitions, this year's auditions for the New York Talent Contest, which was co-hosted by the Skyview Mall and NYTV8, boasted over 65 performances. 

Most everyone there at the mall on Saturday agreed the competition was fierce.

"Everyone performing seems so wonderful. I'd hate to be one of these judges because it's not going to be easy picking a winner." said Lopin Wang, who was particularly impressed with the performances by the New York City Chinese Cultural Center's Student Dancers.

"They were wonderful," she said.

Other crowd pleasers on Saturday were Derrick Lee, a young hip-hop dancer who showed he had some smooth moves, and Di Zhoa who impressed the audience and judges with her beautiful voice.

"It's very exciting to see such diversity among the performers," said Katya Gorokhovsky, a professional ballroom dancer who was one of five judges at this year's competition. "I think it's really great for the community and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here," she added.

And Gorokhovsky wasn't the only that was excited to be apart of Saturday's talent search.

"Our main focus is to have fun of course, but we also want to show the world what we can do," said an elated Francisco Diaz of the Flushing YMCA's Break Dancing team.

Saturday's auditions for the New York talent competition was the first of four rounds for this years talent show, which runs until August 28, when one lucky winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.

Other awards include free domestic round trip tickets to anywhere USA, a free Canada tour package, over $1,000 worth of French skin Care product as well as a host of gift cards to many of the vendors inside the Skyview Mall.  

However, for the contestants the real prize was getting a chance to perform in front of a live audience.

"I'm really looking forward to being on that stage,"  said Christina Chow, a student a Queens Borough Community College who couldn't wait to captivate the audience with her rendition of the Dai Zu Dance.

"I love dancing," Chow said, adding, "To get a chance to share this with so many is an honor."

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