After four total hours of choreographing, mixing music and rehearsing, Ella Smith of Oakland, California, and Abi Paterniti of Clarksville, Maryland, were ready for their latest performance: Cherubs Got Talent.
“Even if it’s a show with thousands of people or a talent show with 90 cherubs, it’s thrilling either way,” Ella Smith said.
Cherubs Got Talent showcased 13 different acts on the last Sunday of the program. Performances ranged from Bollywood dancing and a Hamilton sing-along to a cartwheel marathon and a cherub-themed rap.
The community and academic associates announced the talent show in the early afternoon of July 19 and hosted the event at 10 p.m. on July 20. With just more than a day to prepare, participating cherubs managed a looming story deadline and weekend classes on top of practicing for the talent show.
Hailey Lloyd of Houston and Logan Kreisberg of Stamford, Connecticut, said they spent 10 minutes rehearsing before performing “Love Is an Open Door” from the movie “Frozen.”
But Savannah Smith of San Carlos, California, said she and her friends spent 35 minutes before the show writing a script, making a Google Slides presentation, and creating six different sock puppets to represent each of the four CAAs, program director Roger Boye and fellow cherub Kai Shah of Burlingame, California.
“While we lacked the typical singing, dancing and musical talent skills, we knew we did have that storytelling factor,” Savannah Smith said.
While cherubs had little time to prepare, each act received applause and cheers. Some even earned a standing ovation.
“I think the talent show is really a moment for all the cherubs to come together and support each other in the different talents we have,” Cara Huang, of Los Angeles, said.
