Show and tell extravaganzas

(a.k.a. talent shows)

On several evenings of most sessions we have fantastic talent shows, which are memorable highlights of NBTSC. You are invited to participate! Bring whatever you need (fiddle, pointe shoes…). Almost anything goes—play the piano, tap dance, let the audience give you math problems and solve them in your head, sing, show your artwork, do stand up comedy, turn cartwheels, juggle forks, tell us the wildest thing that ever happened to your family, swallow a sword, read your poetry or a very short story, or just get up and tell what makes you tick. One good approach is to perform or share something related to your workshop.

At Vermont Session 2 we don't necessarily have talent shows in the same format, but we do organize at least one evening of great performances by campers and staff.

Grace’s little sermon: Please be brave and take this opportunity to let it shine—we’re all richer if you share your gifts with us. I know there is a tendency, particularly among young people (but perhaps more among schooled young people) to feel it is narcissistic or egotistical to get up and perform. I feel very strongly that the opposite is true, that we are selfish when we don’t share our unique selves. (I’m fond of something modern dance pioneer Martha Graham said: “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost, the world will not have it.”)

Each act gets up to 4 minutes—occasionally more is okay if you clear it with us ahead of time. Performers need to observe the time limit; after all, there are often 130 of us! And, each person performs just once, unless they’re also assisting with (not starring in) someone else’s act.

Back to Handbook Table of Contents