Kids in Iberia Parish got their chance to express themselves or just ham it up during the New Iberia Recreation Department’s “N.I.R.D. Idol” summer camp talent show.

Hundreds of audience members cheered and laughed as more than 300 children ranging from ages 4 to 12 performed dance routines and even a little poetry during the show themed “Pop Music Lives” inside the West End recreation center Friday afternoon.

Loreauville resident Charlotte Anthony was present to watch her nine-year-old daughter, Lexie, perform a choreographed group routine to the song “Tik Tok” by pop artist Kesha.

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Anthony said her daughter will miss summer camp when it ends in August.

“She loves it,” Anthony said. “She doesn’t want to miss a day, she absolutely loves it.”

The crowd howled with laughter as a team of seven- and eight-year-old boys adorned with flashy wigs danced with their counselors to pop singer Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It.)”

Tony Migues, superintendent on the New Iberia Parks and Recreation Department, said the campers worked diligently for weeks to gear up for the show’s performance, which was geared toward a showcase rather than a competition.

“They were trying to find places to hide so other people couldn’t see what they were doing, because they wanted to make it a surprise,” Migues said.

Migues said there are 600 children registered for the summer camp, a 40 percent increase from last year.

Before performing, Darryl Davis, 12, of New Iberia, said he was anxious, adding he was a pretty good dancer and his nerves were not getting the better of him. His group performed a theatrical hip hop routine wearing all black and white Phantom of the Opera-esque masks to the songs “OMG” by Usher and “I Can Transform You” by Chris Brown.

Camp Counselors Jason Mouton, 19, and Fallon Louis, 23, said the camps have been as much fun for the instructors and counselors as it has been for the kids.

“They’ve all be really good and fun to work with,” Mouton said. “I’ve enjoyed it all summer.”

Nine-year-old camper Alex Morel, of New Iberia, critiqued the show as he squirmed anxiously on the bleachers inside the recreation center during the 23 performances.

“I didn’t dance,” he said. “It’s fun, but it’s a little boring. But I like the songs.”

He said he opted out of swimming and other camp activities and preferred playing table games. His favorite is air hockey.

Migues said the camp has been going smoothly and he has received positive reactions from camp instructors and parents. The talent show was particularly a big hit, he said.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I’ve gotten very good feedback from everyone. They were pleasantly surprised. We do it so the kids can get out and maybe find some hidden talent and work together as a team. They get to show their parents and their friends what they’ve been doing.”

Summer camp will conclude on Aug. 6, giving children some down time before school starts later in the month.