Monday, Feb. 11, 2008

Jazzy friends share the spotlight

Best friends — like 10-year-old Janiya Kinard, left, and 9-year-old Cicely Wise, rehearsing before their Feb. 4 performance — do a lot of things together.

That includes facing the bright stage lights while sharing a singing part in Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School’s Black History performance of “We Haz Jazz.”

The production was a showcase of fourth- and fifth-graders singing, dancing, stepping and acting their way through the birth of jazz music.

“Janiya is one of my best friends,” Cicely said. “We play at recess together. We sing together at school. If the teacher says we can, we work together. We have lots of fun together.”

The girls gain courage through their friendship. About singing with Cicely, Janiya says, “‘It’s real cool because she makes me feel real confident.”

Still, Janiya admitted being a little scared facing the dark abyss of the school district auditorium, knowing later it would be filled with people watching.

— Tracy Glantz,

tglantz@thestate.com

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