A talent show at Genesee County Fair seemed like good entertainment for Webster resident Paul Wallach and his date, Jackie.
It was their third time together, as they sat watching various age groups of children to adults take to the stage for some instrumental, dance, comedy and aerial acts.
Wallach didn’t need to see any more after the aerial act, performed by 13-year-old Corinne Rhoads of Le Roy on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s the best act of the day,” he said, after quietly yet audibly judging each performer. “Hard to top that.”
Corinne began with ballet and tap classes around 5, she said, followed by freestyling and hip-hop, finally onto aerial arts — her rest stop for now. She enjoys the movement and believes it’s good exercise.
“It’s something people don’t typically see; I get to teach people new things,” she said just after her performance. “My mom’s a massage therapist and she knows about muscles. She’s told me everything I need to do.”
Her time to shine wasn’t actually on the stage, but on a large hoop suspended in the air by a metal support structure alongside of it. She moved within the circular showpiece, doing a combination of ballet and gymnastics moves. She has won this talent show once before with aerial arts. It’s something the teen wants to continue, she said.
“I would like to pursue a circus camp that goes around the world,” she said.
During her performance, Wallach gave high marks for her flow of movements. He also critiqued one young pianist who jumped off the bench once the song was finished — “She should have held that note” — and complimented another one who held that last note and sat still for a moment before getting up to leave.
The Webster couple wasn’t the only one to travel for the talent show, some fair treats, animal shows, rides and exhibits. Lisa Oberer of Oakfield was with her daughter and granddaughter Natalie, 3, from North Chili, and a mom and son duo in the talent show drove an hour from Buffalo.
Natalie seemed to be enjoying the show — especially the music — as she smiled and clapped to the beat. Valeria Owens had been looking forward to the competition, which featured her son Avantae playing “Cuckoo” as a solo on piano, and later “Lightly Row” as a duet with his mom.
Avantae, 9, has been taking lessons from “Miss Laura” Kauppi of Corfu, the main organizer of the talent show. After performing in some of his teacher’s recitals and scoring a "perfect" during a graded event, mom was encouraged to enter him in the fair show.
“She’s been an amazing teacher for him,” Valeria said. Avantae added that he practices “probably almost every day.”
The show went well, and they walked away with prizes (more on that in a minute), but mom was looking forward to other entertainment as well.
“I want to get on some rides, I want food, I’m a thousand percent excited,” she said with a big smile while pointing east of the yellow-and-white big tent. “I want to get on that Ferris wheel, and the upside-down ride.
“I wanted to support Miss Laura,” she said. “We’ve never been to Genesee County Fair, I’m so excited.”
Fair Committee co-organizer Norm Pimm didn’t have exact numbers just yet but reported good news as of Sunday evening.
“Saturday was our best opening day in years,” he said. “Sunday was very strong as well.”
The fair continues every day through Saturday. Here's the schedule
And the winners were …
Tiny Tot (6 and under):
1st Place was a tie for
- Maisie Kho - piano
- Azalea Sieczkarski - piano
Mini (7-12):
3rd Place was a tie for
- Hiba Waqas - piano
- Kataleaya Slaughter - piano
2nd Place was also a tie for
- Avantae Owens - piano
- Kataleaya Slaughter and Azalea Sieczkarski - dance
1st Place
- Chelsie Kho- piano
Maxi category
3rd Place was a tie for
- Haris Waqas -piano
- Shane Coast- piano
2nd Place
- Corinne Rhoads - aerial arts
1st Place
- Gabriella Zocco - dance
Adult category
1st Place
- C.M. Waide - comedy
2nd Place
- Valeria and Avantae Owens - piano duet
Top photo: Comedian C.M. Waide of Batavia delivers some laughs during the talent show Saturday at Genesee County Fair. Le Roy teen Corinne Rhoads performs aerial arts; Valeria and Avantae Owens of Buffalo perform a duet; Natalie Oberer of North Chili claps to the music with Lisa Oberer of Oakfield; other participants in the show, with piano teacher and event organizer Laura Kauppi behind in black. Photos by Joanne Beck.
