Pop icon, Alicia Keys, describes New York as the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of… ” and a 12-year-old girl from Bloemfontein will soon experience what it all means. Entle Mlindwa will represent South Africa at The Applause Rising Talent Showcase in Orlando, Florida in the United States of America.
Elsubie Verlinden, the South African agent for the event in Florida, says, “For Entle to have been given this opportunity, she had to attend an audition held in Johannesburg, which brings talent from all nine provinces in South Africa to showcase their talent for an international talent scout, Kim Myers.
Kim saw Entle at this audition and invited her to attend The Rising Talent Showcase.” Even though Mlindwa’s biological family resides in the Eastern Cape, Lizette Henning, who is the promising talent’s caregiver, says she first discovered the child’s talents during her moments of play. She says the young girl enjoyed playing with mirrors and always used to talk to herself through the mirror, pretending to be different characters and people.
Henning says she will be accompanying the young teen to New York to ensure she is safe and doesn’t get exploited. “She is like my own child and I had to pursue this opportunity because, despite my fears about her going there, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her.” Mlindwa, who is far more mature than an average 12-year-old, says she was scouted while playing Annie, the main character in the popular Broadway musical based on the Harold Gray comic strip, Little Orphan Annie.
She says she hopes the experience will be one laced with many changes to amplify her experience. She expects that Entle Mlindwa will soon be jetting off to New York as one of nine child actors to take part in a showcase talent event. Entle Mlindwa and her caregiver, Lizette Henning everything – from the weather to the people – will provide her with a new experience.
Henning and Mlindwa will leave for New York on 28 July 2017 and will be back in South Africa on 10 August 2017. – Pulane Choane
pulane@centralmediagroup.co.za
