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Show -N E W S- A12 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 Spanish Fork Covering what matters most Jennifer Lowe Kiera Cook Sonnett Davies Ashlee Copling Jocelyn Waite Sarah Alanis Krista McEntire Whitney Dawe Joy Prior Ashlee Head NaRhea Rucker Jessica Wright Jr. Miss program to be held June 11 The Spanish Fork-Salem Junior Miss Scholarship Program "This Magic Moment", will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at the UVSC Ragan Theater at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the contestants prior to the program and a limited amount will be available at the doors, which will open at 6 p.m. Master of Ceremonies this year will be Salt Lake City's KSFI FM 100.3 Radio Morning Show co-host, Rebecca Cressman. Thirteen young women who are juniors at Spanish Fork High School and the American Leadership Academy will compete for the title of Spanish ForkSalem Junior Miss as well as scholarship money. The local title holders will also compete at the Utah's Junior Miss Program next March in Salt Lake City. The Spanish Fork-Salem Junior Miss "Has Beens" are invited to attend and sit on the front row to "cheer on" the new group. This year's contestants Shelbie Hone are Ashlee Head, daughter of Scott and Kim Head; Joy Marie Prior, daughter of Paul and Eileen Prior; Jocelyn Waite, daughter of Randy Waite and Michelle Waite; Jessica Wright, daughter of Russell and Keeley Wright; Whitney Dawe, daughter of Andy and Becky Dawe; NaRhea Rucker, daughter of David and Andrea Johnson; Krista McEntire, daughter of Merlin and Penny McEntire; Sarah Alanis, daughter of Scott and Janet Alanis; Kiera Cook, daughter of Ron and Kelly Cook; Shelbie Lynn Hone, daughter of Ernie and Malesa Hone; Sonnett Davies, daughter of Ron and Karin Davies; Ashlee Copling, daughter of Todd and Lisa Copling; and Jennifer Lowe, daughter of Gordon and Janice Lowe. The categories in which each contestant is evaluated are Scholastics (20 percent), Interview (25 percent). Talent (25 percent), Fitness (15 percent), and Self-Expression (15 percent). The goal of the Junior Miss Program is to honor young women who excel in these categories and to encourage them to continue on the path of excellence by completing their college educations and assuming roles of leadership in their communities and professions, thereby setting an example for other young women to follow. The scholarship program is made possible by generous donations from the community. All donated money goes directly to scholarships for the contestants. Carol and Mark Tanner, co-directors of The Spanish Fork-Salem Junior Miss Program and the committee would like to sincerely thank the following contributors: Platinum ($300-$700): Keith and Linda Prior, Salem City, Nebo Foundation and Spanish Fork Rotary, Spanish Fork Kiwanis and Key Club, Terry and LeAnn Ficklin, Strawberry Electric Service District, and Dr. Kendall and Judy Barrowes. Gold ($200-$299): Zions Bank of Spanish Fork, Big O Tires, Tender Treasures Photography, Wayne Shelton, PT, Canyon View Medical Group, Rocky's American Car Care Center, Prestige Salon and Spa and Mark and Carol Tanner. Silver ($100-$ 199): Okland Construction, Hales and Warner Constructions, Inc., Robert Nelson Construction, LLC, Kevin and Birdena Birch, Atwood Dental Group, Birdies Sales and Service, Macey's, Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy, LEI Consulting Engineers and Surveyors Inc., Brad and Jan Gor- don, Veronica Michael's Bridal, All Data Resources LLC, Westland Construction and Houghton Plaster, Corporate Chiropractic, Inc., Rick and Jodi Nielsen, Buffo's Termite and Pest Control, Pacific Horizon Credit Union, Dr. Aaron D. Cloward, D.M.D., Esprit de Corpe, Jeff Higginson -Agel, American National Insurance, PEG Development, LLC, Gunnies Sporting Goods/Western Wear, John D. Smiley, Warren and Harriet Peterson, Real Estate Data Exchange, Inc., Airtime Gymnastics, Cleggs Auto Repair, Bank of American Fork, J Mart Printing and Copy Center, Brad's Barber Shop Bronze (Up to $99): Nature's Way, Curves for Women, Dr. Chris J. Trapnell, D.D.S., M.S., Tuckett Insurance Agency, Child's Dancewear, Title West, Western States Insurance, Mel Hanks and Sons, Inc.. Barber Brothers, Westring Oil, Designlt Boutique, Brian and Karen Anderson, Sunroc Corporation, Wil- liam C. Davis - Canyon Dental, Rick B. Ainge, CPA, Pinnacle Hospice, In and Out Emissions and Safety Inspection, MVP Sports, Priority Dairy, LLC, Living Whole Foods, Inc./Handy Pantry, Clyde and Norma Nielsen, Palmer Family Dentistry, Nebo Gymnastics, and Val and Marilyn Cope "In Kind" Donations: Niqole Riding and Tiffany Lovell-Patten of Sorella Dance Company, Clarion Manor Reception Center, Gourmet Swirls (Susan Gardner), Sweetbriar Cove, Hickory Kist Gift and Deli, NuSkin, Steve Ogden's Carpet, Mike Moore and S.L. Peterson and Associates, The Pizza Factory, Dr. Jon and Rebecca Black, 5 Buck Pizza, Craig and Joni Young Photography, Judy Barrowes, Zions Bank of Spanish Fork, 56th West Hair Salon (Cassidy Baum), Gold's Gym, Imageworks Academy, Diamond L Designs, Inc., Brandon and Kathy Nelson, Rebecca Tanner, and Kris Leavitt. us in and out, seeing who looked best together," said Hefa. "And then we went home, and we had to wait to see if we'd get a call." After a week or so of suspense — which Hefa remembers as much longer: "Really? Are you sure it was a week?" he asked his nia to start filming." Hefa and his mom stayed in California to film the Pilot episode of the show, and then returned to Utah for the holidays as the show went through testing and focus groups to see if it was really going to air. After Dance on Sunset was picked up by Nickelodeon, Hefa had to return to California for three months to film the season's twelve episodes. "It was definitely a sacrifice to be away from our family that long," said Carley. "But at the same time, Hefa really loves what he is doing." Hefa is the only dancer on his current show who doesn't have an agent, and who doesn't live in California. "A lot of people think you can't do anything unless you have an agent," said Hefa. "But I just always believed I could do it if I just worked hard enough. That's what my parents always taught me, that I could do anything I dreamed of doing, and I believed them. They told me to stay out of trouble and stay away from drugs, and I could do anything. So I went into the audition just really determined to try my best and bring my 'A' game. And now it's really come true for me, and I'm doing what I always wanted to do." The show Dance on Sunset is a variety show format, which Hefa says he really likes because "it's not a competition. No one has to get voted off. It's just about dancing, enjoying music, and having fun, and that's what dancing should be about in the first place." During each show, Hefa and his fellow dancers, the Nick 6, perform two original dances. Then they teach and demonstrate an original (or "fresh-squeezed") dance to the studio audience. There are celebrity appearances and guest dancers who appear on the show as well. "The point is to teach a dance that everyone can learn," said Hefa. "Then they can have more confidence doing those steps at school dances or wherever, and jazzing them up or personalizing them if they want. And if they want more advanced steps, they can go to the website www. danceonsunset.com and learn some fancier variations on there." Hefa's favorite part of being on Dance on Sunset is his interaction with the audience. "It's so fun, because the audience is right there close to us, and some of the people come back several times, so we get to know them. They love the show, and they become our friends. I love it — I get to talk to them afterwards, and we build relationships. That's what I like best," Hefa said. Hefa cites his musical influences as Usher, Michael Jackson, and Chris Brown. Other influential figures are two of his teachers, Allen Salazar and Tony Testa, Dance on Sunset's choreographer. "Those guys have taught me so much," said Hefa. "Not just about dancing, but also helping reinforce all the things my parents taught me about life. They've been like big brothers to me in a lot of ways." Hefa's little brothers, Tu'inina and Soane, look up to their big brother as well, and both are following in his footsteps so far. "They all love to dance," said Carley. 'They're good boys." Hefa said he can't think of anything that he does not like about being on TV. "I'm doing what I love to do," he said. "I hope I can keep dancing and performing, because it's what I've always dreamed of doing with my life." Hefa Tuita: From DANCE • A l my name, maybe. But when I'm dancing on TV, I don't really think about how many people are watching. I just do it because I love it." When asked by one of the students if he had ever been on stage, Hefa said, "I probably like dancing onstage even better than for movies. I like the feeling of just doing the dance one time, and having to get it right the first time without a chance to do it over." The Rees Elementary students were also interested in Hefa's life as a TV actor. "Do you go to school?" one asked. "I do homeschool because I have to be gone a lot," Hefa said. "I'm actually ahead in my school work right now." Then he told the students, "Did you know that if you want to be in TV or movies, you have to work hard in school and get good grades? You have to get what's called a work permit, and if you don't have good grades, you can't get one." Hefa also told the students how he got interested in dancing in the first place. "I was watching a video of Michael Jackson," he said, "and I thought he was so cool. I thought, 'Someday I want to be able to sing and dance like that!'" Hefa's path to his current job has been improbable in some ways. He found out about auditions for Dance on Sunset through a friend in the industry, and flew to California for an open audition with thousands of dancers from all over the country. "The audition process was so grueling," said his mom, Carley. "We were flying back and forth every weekend for callback after callback." Hefa remembers the auditions as taking "forever." "We had to audition in three areas: dancing, acting, and a special skill. I liked the dancing, and I felt confident about that. And my special skill was playing the ukulele, which is something I do to relax with my family, so that was fine too. But I was so nervous for the acting parts. I was afraid I wasn't experienced enough," Hefa said. "I think I have a lot more confidence in that area now that I've had more experience on the show." Several weeks later, the auditioners were cut down to eleven dancers. "Then they just switched "I'm doing what I love to do. ... it's what I've dreamed of doing all my life." - Hefa Tuita mom. "I thought it was a month or something!" —the call finally came. "The results of the auditions were supposed to be announced on a Tuesday," Carley said, "and we didn't hear anything, so we figured he hadn't gotten the part. But then on Thursday, they called and said he made it!" "I heard my mom screaming in the kitchen," said Hefa, "and then she told me I got the part. So then we had a couple days to pack up our stuff and come out to Califor- * |