Community Corner
Foglia YMCA Hosts Talent Show — 'Idol' Style
Summer campers participate in the Foglia Idol every year, dancing, singing and playing instruments for their families and friends.
More than 50 day campers entertained their peers, family and friends at the sixth annual Idol on July 29.
“We started holding Foglia Idol a while back, and every year since, the kids ask about it almost immediately,” said Jim Dalbec, youth, teen and family director.
The show began at 10 a.m. in the outdoor pavilion with Dalbec thanking the packed pavilion of people for coming to support the kids and explaining how the entire camp has worked together to make this event happen.
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In true “Idol” fashion, the judges and hosts — Danny Rosas as Randy Jackson, Jazmine Cruz as Jennifer Lopez and Jacob Brodner as Simon Cowell — opened the show with big attitudes. The campers impersonated their famous characters to a tee; Brodner had Cowell’s English accent down, Rosas had Jackson’s gestures down and Cruz had JLo’s sweet disposition.
Campers ages 3 through 14 performed for the crowd — including Vincent and Pat Foglia. The children sang along to their favorite songs like Speak Now by Taylor Swift and Turning Tables by Adele, and danced to Baby by Justin Bieber and Price Tag by Jessie J. Daniel Walker played his snare drum and Carmen Biel played the violin.
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Even camp counselor Randy Wendt performed, playing his guitar and singing Collide by Howie Day.
Campers who didn’t participate sat and enjoyed the hour-long program, which consisted of 20 acts, and clapped and danced along.
The Foglia Idol is put on by and features kids from the summer day camp, which runs from June through August.
The summer day camp includes three age groups: Adventure Camp, kindergarten through second grades; Explorer Camp, third through fifth grades; and Teen Camp, sixth through eighth grades.
“The kids spend countless hours rehearsing their acts for the show,” said Dalbec.
Anyone who would like to participate is welcome; there are no auditions. And each act is not judged like American Idol.
“All the kids had fun and I’m glad they didn’t judge each act because it’s not a competition,” said Jane Wakitsch, mom of camper Rogue Foppe, 7.
“Foglia Idol is my favorite part of camp,” said Foppe. “It’s so much fun.”
Foppe performed with five other girls, dancing to Justin Bieber’s song, Baby.
Longtime Foglia summer campers, Allison Trybula and Erin Sweeney, recalled their experience with Foglia Idol. Both girls were in the teen program this year.
“We’ve been here since the first Foglia Idol and it just keeps getting better and better,” said Trybula.
“It was really cool this year and it’s so much fun to be a part of,” said Sweeney.
After the program, family and friends were invited to join the campers for an outdoor barbecue.
“This is my third time seeing the Foglia Idol and I just love it,” said Vincent Foglia. “It’s a great experience for the kids to get up in front of everyone and perform.”
According to Dalbec, the event went “extremely well” and will be back next year.
“The kids look forward to and always ask about it,” he explained. “This year everyone had a good time, and that’s what matters.”
