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Ukee’s Got Talent winners light up the stage

“My thing about practicing with these gals, it reminds me of when I was 12-years-old.”
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Sarah Hogan, Jacqueline Holliday, Courtney Johnson and Lyvier Rivera sung and danced their way to the $150 prize by winning the first ever Ukee’s Got Talent competition on July 22. (Nora O’Malley / Westerly News)

Courtney Johnson, Jacqueline Holliday, Sarah Hogan, and Lyvier Rivera are no strangers to the spotlight.

Their combined artistic talents include running the community Glee Club, teaching dance lessons, and hosting dinner theatre.

The dance troupe quartet proved their prowess at the inaugural Ukee’s Got Talent competition on July 22 by working the crowd with a vivacious performance of “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga.

Their vocal and dance act (which also included a slight wardrobe malfunction) won over the judges and earned them the cash prize of $150.

“We are going to drink. That will buy us a lot of wine,” laughed Johnson.

Hogan said she would gift her portion of the winnings to her son.

“I promised James that, whatever I won, I would give it to him for putting up with my dance schedule. He will probably put it towards a scooter,” she said.

Hogan told the Westerly News why she loves being part of the dance troupe.

“My thing about practicing with these gals, it reminds me of when I was 12-years-old and we would make up dances in our basement and then perform them in our yards,” she said.

“Usually hyped on sugar, but this time it’s hyped on wine. That’s how it is. I feel like a 12-year-old.”

Johnson said they were missing one member of the squad, director of Ucluelet Parks and Recreation Abby Fortune.

“She’s an excellent dancer,” said Johnson. “She was supposed to dance with us, but got busy with festivities so we will get her a little treat.”

The winning dance troupe, dubbed the “Wine and Glitter Girls,” were one of six contestants to showcase their talents in the new Ukee Days contest.

There were nine entrants in the kids division and Tim Masso won $75 for coming first.

MC of the event was Jamie Osborne of High Tide Collective.

Ucluelet locals Fred Montpetit, Anne Gudbranson, and Sandra Hinder were tasked with judging Ucluelet’s talent.

“It was a wonderful experience with lots of great people and great acts,” Montpetit said.

He thought Ukee’s Got Talent was a welcome addition to the Ukee Days schedule.

“We have amazing talent in this town and it’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase people that have not been active or they are active… It’s just a great opportunity to showcase new talent and show everybody who comes how great the people of Ukee are,” he said. “If the contest runs next year, it will be bigger and better…And, if the ladies who won are an example, there will be glitter pageants next year.”

Barbara Gudbranson, Ukee Days organizer, agreed.

“Yup. It’ll happen again next year,” she said. “It’ll be bigger. It was the first one and the bleachers were full.”