Idolizing

The Martin Luther King Center at West End Park was packed Friday afternoon with family members, teachers and area residents in bleachers and folding chairs, and camp counselors and campers lined up on the floor in front of the stage for the New Iberia Recreation Department’s annual camp talent show: NIRD Idol.

Campers practiced for the last two weeks, and the New Iberia Parks and Recreation Department had been planning for months, said Krystal Boyance, camp director.

“All our hard work is showing today,” she said.

Audience member Yolanda Bourgeois did not know any of the children performing, but heard about the event while at City Park swimming pool with her grandchildren, Winston Alexander, 9, and Windashia Alexander, 4.

“I’m excited about the show because I like watching dancing,” said Windashia.

And dancing there was.

The 9- to 10-year-old boys danced to “A Bay Bay” dressed in white T-shirts with sleeves and bottoms that had been cut into identical shreds below the waistline. Jakyll Fomdal, 11, was part of the group and said he was excited about it “because I like to dance.”

One of the counselors’ dances was to the inspirational Christian song “Walking in Authority.”

Four- to 6-year-old boys danced to “Candy Girl,” 7- to 8-year-old girls to “Barbie Girl” and other age groups danced to other songs.

“I never had this much fun before,” said Barbie Girl Savannah Sengsourivong, 8, who stayed home in previous summers.

“It was boring because I didn’t have anyone to play with.”

Kelly Latulas, also an 8-year-old Barbie Girl, said at home “we don’t have anything to do. Over here we do.”

She said her counselor, Ashlyn Thompson, worked hard.

Thompson, 19, surprised her campers by making them pink shirts with Barbie on the front and their names on the back.

“The talent show shows all different kinds of talent,” she said. “I just like to see the kids smile.”

Director of Parks and Recreation Tony Migues said the show is his favorite part of camp.

“It’s the culmination of a lot of teamwork and working together,” he said. “I’m very proud.”

Third-year camper Zoe Gautreaux, 8, said of camp and the show, “It’s really fun because we get to do stuff that we wouldn’t at home or anywhere else.”

Cassandra Archangel had come with family members to watch her daughter, Destiny Archangel, perform as a counselor.

“Even my grandbaby is enjoying it,” said Archangel, pointing to her 1-year-old grandson, dancing to the music. “As soon as he’s old enough, he’s coming.”