Tapping, twanging talent in the tent

PALMER — All that was missing from the Borealis Theater at the Alaska State Fair Wednesday was Jerry Springer.

Other than that, Alaska’s version of the television show “America’s Got Talent” — the one with celebrity judge David Hasselhoff, among others — aptly named “Alaska’s Got Talent,” showcased singers, dancers and even a yo-yo dynamo.

The show took place just after ventriloquist Terry Fator, last year’s “America’s Got Talent” winner, wrapped his appearance at the fairgrounds. With three judges, all armed with buzzers ready for the less talented, Alaska’s version of the talent show kept the Borealis Theater buzzing.

This was the first year the Alaska State Fair has put on the talent show and organizers managed to pack the tent to standing room only. One of the three judges for the competition, Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Metiva, said her job was a paradox of being fun and difficult at once.

“It was a lot of fun,” Metiva said, adding there was so much talent it was hard to decide on a winner.

One of the event’s singers, and the night’s second-place finisher, was Gordon Traylor from the Willow area. He brought out his guitar and some music he wrote about marriage. In one song, Traylor sang about loving one’s wife. In another, he sang about how nice it is not having to put the toilet seat down after the wife leaves you.

One particular group of women who got the crowd hopping brought their tapping shoes and cowgirl hats.

The Tanaina Tapping Teachers, a group of 10 educators from Tanaina Elementary School in Wasilla, closed “Alaska’s Got Talent” by tapping through a high-paced country song.

With synchronized moves, matching outfits and smiles on their faces, the teachers, at least for one night, looked a lot like an act from Dollywood Amusement Park in Tennessee.

But this wasn’t the teachers’ first show.

The tapping teachers began their foray into the world of tap dancing when special education teacher Kellie Merrill, a tapper herself, started at Tanaina. The teachers immediately approached her to learn the art of tap dancing, they said. But it wasn’t so pretty at first.

“When we started it was like horse counting,” said literacy coach Debi Barner.

But Barner and her fellow tapping teachers persevered and, at least according to judges for Alaska’s Got Talent, were good enough to be featured in the show’s final competition. They’re also a hit with the kids they teach every day, who have been their practicing audience.

“We just performed for the kids,” said kindergarten and first-grade teacher Robin Ouellett.

Ouellett said during one of the group’s first performances at the school, students were confused because they couldn’t see the teachers’ feet and had no idea where the tapping sound was coming from.

That wasn’t the case during “Alaska’s Got Talent,” where hoots and hollers of appreciation from the crowd followed the performance.

And although the teachers didn’t win Wednesday night, it seemed they couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces.

For Merrill, the tap teacher, it’s the women she dances with that makes performing special.

“We’re a very diverse group,” Merrill said. “We have a lot of fun.”