Shorewood High School students displayed their talent in Showcase 2007, The Beat Goes On, the only main-stage student-run show and an annual fundraiser for Shorewood’s AFS program. The acts were many and varied, including instrumental, vocal, and dance performances.

The singers demonstrated a wide range of talent, with a variety of pieces which included duets and solos. Senior exchange student Milena Giannullo sang in Italian while accompanying herself on the acoustic guitar and Showcase returnees Angelica Hutchins and Geneva Lerner, both seniors, sang a perfect rendition of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly”.

The show also had an assortment of dances with different styles. Some traditional dances, like ballet, were modified into more modern dances. One such dance was a jazz performance to Vivan Green’s “Emotional Rollercoaster” by Pierrea Wallace, junior. Both Wallace’s dress and the lighting were vibrant red, and all of Wallace’s movements were set to the lyrics of the song. As the singer went on an emotional rollercoaster, Wallace spun rapidly across the stage or did a back roll into the splits.

Wallace also choreographed a group dance to the song “I Refuse” by Aaliyah, which was similar to her solo dance. Six girls, dressed in black hooded sweatshirts and black leggings, did partner dancing to portray a failing relationship. To display blindness, the girls covered their eyes, and when the singer described falling to the floor, the dancers all dropped to the floor.

The cultural aspect of the show was highlighted through songs and dances from other cultures. Riana Mardila, a senior exchange student from Indonesia, led three other girls in a traditional dance with Indonesian instruments. Yunsun Jin, freshman, played a song with her traditional Korean instrument.

With seniors Harry Hanson and Noelle White’s “Poor Taste” and the fashion design club’s “What the Fashion” fashion shows, audience members could see that at Shorewood, you won’t view an archetypal talent show. Both shows included runway models, though the styles varied. While “What the Fashion” displayed clothes that were more practical, “Poor Taste” consisted of clothes made out of items from the Dollar Tree, such as rubber gloves and trash bags.

Another act out of the ordinary was the DJ, Brock Teter, senior. Although Teter only spun to Girl Talk (the mash-up artist) during the preview of Showcase, it was still exciting being able to sing along, plus listen to his skills.

Multiple unique bands relaxed the audience with calming music. There was one senior band, Anima Cracker, one junior band, Jam Band, one sophomore band, Charles Avenue, as well as Sandelwood Rose, which had both junior and senior band members.

One of the best aspects of Showcase was its originality and uniqueness. There were many contrasting talents to be seen at this year’s Showcase, from traditional ballerinas such as senior Lily Schultze to hip hop dancers. Freshman Mac Gallagher spun glow balls in the dark and senior Keith Armstrong had a black light for his juggling act.

There were acts that appealed to everyone’s interests, and a wide range of talent. Though there were some acts with similar themes, the show offered a variety of entertainment.