By Khalida Sarwari
Residents from Saratoga and beyond will come together on stage this month to express their musical and dancing skills for a worthy cause at the Saratoga’s Got Talent show.
The Saratoga Cares Foundation-sponsored annual talent competition returns Aug. 15 at the Joan Pisani Community Center.
The show will feature singers, dancers, magicians, stand-up comics and an acrobatics performance, as well as an entertainment segment that will showcase the talents of people who attend the open mic events the organization holds at the Blue Rock Shoot every month. There will also be a surprise element as well as the recognition of a local 9-year-old who used creative measures to advertise himself as a dog walker this summer.
Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the show to the most talented competitors in the 5-12 and 13-and-older age groups. Five prizes will be awarded in each age group.
The panel of judges includes state Sen. Jim Beall; Saratoga City Councilwoman Jill Hunter; San Jose City Councilman Ash Kalra; Vicki Wyant, a retired Redwood Middle School music director; Jon Jow, music director at Redwood; Jonathan Pwu, associate instrumental music director at Saratoga High School; Paul Robinson, Saratoga High principal; Vandana Kumar, publisher of India Currents magazine; and Nate Mueller, a music director for Musicians Mobile.
Contestant slots are sold out, but Saratoga Cares Foundation founder Rishi Kumar encouraged people to put their name on a waiting list in the event of a cancellation.
The contest is open to everyone, including non-Saratoga residents and past competitors.
The show will be broadcast in three segments on KSAR-TV within a week of the event, culminating with the announcement of the winners, which will be kept a secret until the show airs.
Last year’s event drew more than 500 people and raised about $19,000 for the Saratoga Senior Center and the Saratoga Education Foundation. This year, the organization hopes to generate at least $10,000 in proceeds for the senior center. Addressing the needs of seniors in the community is high on the organization’s priority list, Kumar said.
This year’s event takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. at 19655 Allendale Ave., Saratoga. Dinner, catered by Hong’s Gourmet, will be provided at a cost of $7.95. Dessert trucks will also be available in the parking lot.
General admission tickets are $20 and can be purchased at saratogatalent.com. Saratoga seniors can purchase $10 tickets at the Saratoga Senior Center.
For information about the Saratoga Cares Foundation, visit saratogacares.org or call Kumar at 408.805.5993.
The organization is looking for youth volunteers to help on the day of the event. Volunteers will receive free admission to the show and community service credit. Emailsaratogacares@gmail.com for more information.
Saratoga’s Got Talent, and it will be on display at the Pisani Center
