- April 24, 2024
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Rising S.T.A.R.S. pageant performer John Hearn dances while singing "Hound Dog". Photo by Michele Meyers
Shoshana Ravede, Lori Koplin, Special Populations Coordinator for the city of Ormond Beach, and John Hearn open the pageant by singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant participants perform the opening dance. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant Master of Ceremonies Vincent Happel. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sarah Laloo sings "A Whole New World" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Skai Jones asks the crowd if he did a good job after singing "In the End" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Keely Johnson performs with her sister Brie (backbend) during the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brooke Johnson sings "Hey Ya" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brooke Johnson is accompanied by Katherine Horst on the guitar as she sings "Hey Ya" during the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shining S.T.A.R.S. participant Amelia Walker dances and sings to "Dynamite." Photo by Michele Meyers
Kira Lyman sings "Loyal Brave True" from the movie Mulan at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant performer Wesley Ferguson delivers a speech to the audience. Photo by Michele Meyers
Friends Emily Spottiswood and Rilea Jackson sing "You are the Music in Me" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rilea Jackson sings "Without You" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Singing "The Climb" brings tears to Shining S.T.A.R.S. performer Madison LaHue. Photo by Michele Meyers
Beth Tramont does a poetry reading at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Everyone gathers in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center for refreshments after the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pageant performer Paula Stewart sings as she plays "God Bless America" on the piano. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kraven Mayberry sings "Surface Pressure" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Arianna Almo sings "Because of You" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant performer Marina Donadio sings and signs "God Bless America" for the audience. Photo by Michele Meyers
Shoshana Ravede performs "So He's a Fixer Upper" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brandon Debenedictis asks if everyone is ready before he sings "My Girl" at the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant. Photo by Michele Meyers
All participants are crowned at the end of the pageant and get a chance to say thanks to the audience. Photo by Michele Meyers
All participants are crowned at the end of the pageant and get a chance to say thanks to the audience. Photo by Michele Meyers
The excitement was palpable as 19 Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant performers took the stage at the Performing Arts Center for their opening dance number to the song “Descendants Mash-up”. Saturday, Mar. 12 was their first performance back after COVID restrictions were imposed two years ago.
15 year old Shoshana Ravede performed a skit from the Children’s Musical Theater production of the movie “Frozen”. She has been performing in the pageant since she was seven years old and was excited to be back. Her parents, Lisa and Jimmy Ravede—teachers at Pine Trail Elementary, say the stage is her favorite place.
“She is a stage hound,” Lisa said. “She is shooting for Broadway. She’s going to be the first special needs Annie.”
S.T.A.R.S. stands for Special Therapeutic Activities and Recreation Services. Lori Koplin is the Nova Community Center and Special Needs Coordinator for the city of Ormond Beach and has been involved with the pageant for 15 years. She has been the coordinator for 10 of those years. The pageant was the first program canceled due to the pandemic. It happened the day of practice.
“The performers really missed the show,” she said. “I think that’s what made this show so great.”
“The pageant is the only day that their disability is not the focus of who they are. It’s their talent.”
LORI KOPLIN,
Nova Community Center and Special Populations Coordinator
Koplin expressed that one of the best things about the pageant is the emergence of personalities in those that have been participating for a while. For the new performers, it gives parents a chance to see their children from a different perspective.
“The pageant is the only day that their disability is not the focus of who they are,” she said. “It’s their talent.”
Admittedly, Koplin usually experiences stress as the pageant approaches. She counteracts the potential for some of the disabilities having inherent behavioral issues by overplanning. Marc Schwartz, the Performing Arts Center supervisor, offered her sage advice.
“Marc told me that it’s my pageant until they walk in and then it’s theirs,” she said. “It’s my job to make sure they look good and that’s all I have to do then it’s up to them to shine.”
Schwartz has been working at the center for 12 years and stated the Shining S.T.A.R.S. pageant was one of his favorites.
“It’s one of the best things I get to do,” he said. “I really get to do what I like to do which is serve the community. The greatest thing about it for me is I feel it’s making a difference in people’s lives.”
The Ravedes attribute their daughter’s increased balance, muscle development and overall strength to her participation in Koplin’s special populations programs and activities. The act of learning dances alone has benefitted the teen’s ability to process information more quickly translating into her successfully tackling the requirements of becoming a musical theater actor.
“Miss Lori does wonderful things for the special needs community by helping to develop the children and their talents,” Lisa Ravede said. “Shoshana has flourished with all her activities and programs.”
