Bill Riley Talent Search
August 11, 2019
Five talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) and Senior division acts (ages 13-21) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley’s 60th annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on Thursday, August 15, Friday, August 16 or Saturday, August 17.
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the sprouts acts are:
Karissa Young (12) and Abram Decena (10), Chariton/Centerville, Hip Hop Dance Duet
Gracie Banks, 12, Allerton, Lyrical Dance
Kenna Lancaster (9) and Abby Atkinson (8), Moulton/Bloomfield, Jazz Duet
Kalli Tiedt (12) and Ella Maker (12), Waterloo/Jesup, Vocal Duet
Saige Raasch (9), Anna Galvin (11), Marley Boettger (10), Lauryn Muff (12) and Keagan Eischeid (9), Odebolt/Charter Oak/Schleswig/Dow City/Manning, Tap Quintet
The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the senior acts are:
Lydia Fisher, 16, Wapello, Dance: Tap
Dionna Knotts, 19, Burlington, Dance Solo: Open Category
Abby Kate Boeschen, 17, Urbandale, Vocal Solo
Killie Akers, 19, Mediapolis, Tap Acro
Josie Lindle (17) and Chloe Schwab (14), Eldridge, Contemporary Dance Duet
The Bill Riley Talent Search has put Iowa’s young talent on stages across the state each summer since 1960. Nearly 100 local qualifying competitions are held across the state and winners advance to the State Fair competition, where there are seven days of preliminary competition for Sprouts (ages 2-12) and Seniors (ages 13-21), followed by the semi-finals and, ultimately, the selection of one Senior Champion. The Sprouts do not compete beyond the semi-finals, but perform in the Championship Show as Sprout Champions set for Sunday, August 18 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi and media sponsor CW Iowa 23.
More than $17,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined. The Bill Riley Talent Search is presented by Hy-Vee.
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The Iowa State Fair is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country and the single largest event in the state. The Fair began over 160 years ago and is now considered one of the best events in the nation, attracting more than one million Fairgoers every year from all over the world. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University, just off the interstate and minutes from Downtown Des Moines. Nothing Compares to State Fair Favorites: August 8-18, 2019. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.