By Shreya Raman
Palo Verde City Reporter
After days filled with elections, Arizona Girls State delegates gathered for an evening dedicated to celebrating another kind of talent: creativity. The annual talent show provided participants with the opportunity to showcase their passions and abilities, resulting in a memorable night filled with music, dance, art, and laughter.
The evening began on a patriotic note as one delegate delivered an amazing rendition of the National Anthem, which was honestly the best version of the song that I’ve heard all week.
Music remained a central theme throughout the night. Another participant captivated Girls Staters with her performance of “Misty” by Ella Fitzgerald, bringing the song to life.
A different performer combined instrumental talent and singing as she accompanied herself on the ukulele while performing “Hey There Delilah,” a song that honestly everybody knows. The performance caused many audience members to mouth along to the words, while people waved their flashlights in the air.
The talent show also highlighted the diversity of artistic expression represented at Girls State. One delegate performed a graceful ballet routine, showcasing years of dedication while reinforcing my belief that ballerinas are the coolest people ever.
Perhaps one of the most unique performances of the evening came from a delegate who created a LEGO stop-motion film.
The short animation followed a dinosaur as it built a LEGO house, combining humor and creativity. Audience members were awed as the story unfolded frame by frame, demonstrating the countless hours of patience required to produce stop-motion animation.
The visual arts were also represented through a presentation by a delegate who shared her mixed-media artwork. Beyond simply displaying her creations, she explained the meaning and symbolism behind each piece, offering insight into how art can be used to communicate personal experiences and political ideas.
Her presentation reminded attendees that creativity can take many forms, especially after multiple musical performances
The talent show served as a celebration of the diverse talents and interests that Girls State delegates bring from communities across Arizona.
Whether through music, dance, film, or visual art, each performer demonstrated the courage required to share something personal with an audience of peers and (former) competitors.