International Tutors' Magazine February 2019 | Page 11

top photo on this page by Marcus Bennevall, all others by Gabriel Franchi
Counterclockwise from top:
Performer Lily belts out a Chinese
pop song; the balloon drop
announcing the winners; dancing
duo Ivy and Doris perform a Latin
pop dance number.
Opposite page: Everyone celebrates
a truly fantastic night.
Finally, the moment of absolute
anticipation. The dance was paused while
the audience was called to the stage to
witness the announcement of the Top
Three. After much suspense, they were
revealed; Lily, Cao Rui and Wan Xin
Yan, and the dance quartet! Live voting
commenced as the final winner was left up
to audience voting. Called under the very
inconspicuous and completely not obvious
balloon drop, the winner was announced…
the dance quartet! Amid the drifting
balloons and the beaming applause, our
winners embraced their fellow contestants
and supporters, bringing the night and
weeks of effort to a satisfying end. Everyone,
performers and audience, went home
smiling and full of the joy of the experience.
Working on this event gave me valuable
insights into the workings of an international
society and made me appreciate the larger
culture of acceptance and tolerance found
in Hong Kong, as well as the celebration
of all talents. We learnt that everyone had
something impressive and valuable to share
with each other. Talent is so diverse, and
everyone and their culture is as relevant and
beautiful as the next. I am so glad that this
Talent Show embodied diversity so well. And
I am proud to have been able to shape this
event into such a memorable experience. v
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