ANDERSON — When 15-year-old Elijah Lewis and 16-year-old Tijuan Holloway of Anderson took the stage Thursday night, they hadn’t rehearsed.
The audience was none the wiser.
As the thumps from a fast-paced hip-hop song started, Lewis sprung into action, moving his body in a rhythmic, hypnotizing motion and wove his feet across the station as if he were levitating.
Performing a popular dance known as pop-locking, the Highland High School student had audience members hooting and hollering as his body jerked and twirled to the beats of the music.
When the teen’s dance seemed to pause, he tapped his motionless friend on the shoulder and Holloway’s body came to life, imitating the same dance style, with his own brand of movement.
By the time the two concluded their jaw-dropping dance, the audience’s hands were red and raw from clapping.
Lewis and Holloway were only two of the more than a dozen locals who auditioned Thursday for Anderson’s Got Talent.
They were joined by Tiffany Harless, a 22-year-old full-time student who worked her voice to “Proud Mary.”
“It’s another chance to be heard,” she said before taking the stage. Harless had previously auditioned for “American Idol” but failed to pass through the first round of eliminations in Atlanta, Ga.
Before performing the Jackson Five’s “Who’s loving you,” 15-year-old Layke Jones watched the competition, waiting for his name to be called.
He didn’t try to hide his nerves.
“It’s good to be nervous, I guess.”
Going into his performance, the local teen admitted that he believed he could win the competition. “I have to have that mind-set.”
Those who made it through Thursday’s auditions will compete for prizes at the Downtown Cultural Festival on June 20 at 6 p.m.
Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com
If you go
What: Anderson’s Downtown Cultural Festival
When: June 20, 6 p.m.
Where: Anderson Town Center, 12th and Meridian streets
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Discussion
Anderson's got talent, lots of it
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