Young Brampton talents perform at CNE Rising Star

Some of Brampton’s young up-and-coming performers are taking their first steps towards stardom at the Canadian National Exhibition Rising Star competition.

Returning after a two-year hiatus, Rising Star showcases vocalists, dancers, and performers from across Ontario competing on the CNE stage in front of thousands of spectators.

Six performers from Brampton made the cut to compete during the fair out of hundreds of hopefuls. There are two age groups for the competition. The Junior bracket for 6 to 12 year olds, and the Youth bracket for 13 to 21 year olds.

And while two of Brampton’s entries have already performed and didn’t make it to the semi-final round, there are still four more contenders hoping to light up the crowd.

Marlita Vasilakos, a 14-year-old ballet and hip-hop dancer from Brampton, will be taking centre stage on Saturday to perform in the Youth category.

Vasilakos told inSauga.com she has been dancing since the age of 2 dreams of becoming a professional dancer or instructor.

“I feel like this is a pretty big performance,” said Vasilakos, who will be performing a ballet pointe solo at the competition. “It would mean a lot. Dance is everything to me,” she said of possibly moving on to the finals.

Vasilakos will have to impress a brand new panel of judges at each stage of the competition should she move on to the semifinals and the finals.

Other Brampton Rising Star hopefuls who have yet to perform include 13-year-old dancers Caleigh Best and Isabella Almeida, and 19-year-old singer Janiah Hines Brown. Twelve-year-old dancer Tayjah Parkes and 10-year-old vocalist Zaria Elliott have already performed and did not move on to the semi-finals in the Junior category.

2022 marks the return of the annual 18-day event which was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic and runs until The fair runs until Monday, Sept. 5.

Some of this year’s highlights include midway games, a nightly drone show, and of course food offerings like mac-and-cheese lemonade, ketchup ice cream, and long-standing CNE favourites such as waffle ice cream sandwiches and mini doughnuts.

The Junior finals for Rising Star will be held on Friday, Sept. 3 while the Youth finals will take place on Sunday, Sept. 4.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.theex.com.