Once the word was out (mostly social media and word of mouth) the Dream Players was inundated with entries. There were singers, drummers, photographers, painters, pianists and so many more talented people! Auditions began early in January and the entries were whittled down to a final five. It was the toughest thing The Dream Players organizers had to do but the top five finally performed on January 19. Now the February event is being organized and the doors are open to submissions!
The process is the same every month. The final five contestants get a photo shoot and professional ‘Composite Cards’ developed for them. The Comp Card is a professional resume that is submitted to get performing jobs, while the photo shoot gives contestants a chance to glam up and experience the spotlight.
‘When I found out that the finalists got to have a photo shoot a few days before the competition itself, I was thrilled. It was fun, different and inspiring,’ said Rebecca Morrison, the winner of January’s The Dream Players.
The Dream Players event brought with it a lot of excitement for the contestants, judges and organizers. “I was pleasantly surprised to see so much fantastic talent in Abu Dhabi. This is an initiative that should have started a long time ago but I’m glad that the community now has this opportunity to showcase their talent and I’m positive that this is only going to get bigger and better, “said Manar Al Hinai, Dream Players judge, the creative designer behind ‘Lucky Nooni’ and the winner of the prestigious Abu Dhabi’s Arab Woman of the Year awards in 2011.
The audience loved The Dream Players’ unique formula, the solicitation of viewpoints from the audience. ‘I really enjoyed myself at The Dream Players. It is a very innovative idea and has given artists and performers an opportunity to express themselves and widen their horizons. I especially enjoyed the time when the audience were asked to participate in helping choose the winner. A much needed initiative for the community of Abu Dhabi. Keep it up!’ said Sahar Abu Omar, a manager at SEHA.
In the end Morrison, a 16 year old student at the British School Al Khubairat, stole the show by singing an original composition on the piano. “The competition was great! We had sound checks and run-throughs and we were totally prepared and ready to perform for the live audience and judges. Having the live audience was fantastic and I think, even though made me quite nervous, gave me the confidence boost I needed and loved the idea of getting feedback on the spot. To win was just amazing and it has given me so much confidence and opportunities to go forward with my singing and songwriting. I’m really thankful to everyone who made The Dream Players happen and I encourage everyone in Abu Dhabi who has a talent to audition for this wonderful experience because above all else, it was a whole lot of fun.”
Audience speech blurbs:
Hana Makki, audience member and director said, “In all seriousness, The Dream Players was one of the best nights out I’ve had in a very long time. It’s so great to have everyone not afraid to comment on the talent. I can’t wait for the next one and I know this is going to be huge!”
‘What an entertaining evening! Dream Players was a really unique event in Abu Dhabi. Each contestant had something to offer: an original song, a strong voice, skill on the saxophone and piano, and some cool moves. I am definitely coming again,’ said Camille Heaton, an audience member and Senior Environmental Scientist with RTI International
Contestant quotes:
‘I was pleasantly surprised by how warm and welcoming the process was at ‘The Dream Players’. Unlike many talent shows, the emphasis is very much on supporting and nurturing the artist’s career. So you can’t help but feeling part of something wholly positive.’ Laurel Moore, singer, saxophone player and participant.
‘Being a part of The Dreams Players was such a wonderful experience as it was the first time I had ever participated in a talent contest. It was extremely nerve wracking but being able to perform made it totally worth it. I really enjoyed the night of The Dream Players. It was fantastic getting to meet new people and be in a different environment. Overall, it was an amazing, unforgettable experience and watching the other talents inspired me to do more and be better.’ Angela Ching
‘Performing at The Dream Players brought out mixed emotions for me. On one hand I was so nervous that I had to pretend that I was practicing alone in my bedroom just to be able to shake off the jitters. On the other hand, being in front of the judges and live audience helped me boost my confidence. I loved the support I got from them and I know that the feedback was will help me becoming a better performer. Thank you The Dream Players for the wonderful experience!’ Briggett Kylie
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DREAM PLAYERS, AS CONTESTANT OR AUDIENCE MEMBER, GO TO WWW.THEDREAMPLAYERS.COM OR EMAIL CONTACT@THEDREAMPLAYERS.COM.
By Sharon Carvalho
