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Talented UCLan students take to the stage
Move over Leona Lewis!
Talented students at the University of Central Lancashire shone on stage as they trilled, jived and joked their way through a talent show to win a place in the finals of a national search for a star.
UCLan's Got Talent's 10 finalists included singer-songwriters, acoustic musicians, freestyle and ballet dancers, comedians and even frisbee throwers, all vying for a place in the final of Uni's Got Talent, the UK's first nationwide contest for students.
Contestants were subjected to an X Factor-style grilling from a panel of judges, including performing arts company founder Tracey Bell and Tim Lince, artistic director of the Lancashire-based theatre company Pendle Productions.
And, in true X Factor style, the judges didn't hold back, criticising 14-strong dance troupe Ignition as "too 80s" for the pink legwarmers and black leotards they wore during a high-octane disco routine.
Students also voted for their favourite act on the night with polling cards at a voting station.
Alison Hughes, 18, a first year dance, performance and teaching student, said she was thrilled to sing Pink hit Sober to a packed crowd of about 350 students.
She said: "It's an awesome opportunity, especially with all the people who were there."
Chris Squires, 20, a TV production student, who sang Snow Patrol single Chasing Cars, said: "I've been practising a lot and put my all into it.
"I'd like to take singing more seriously than I do now."
Third-year multi-media students organised the two-hour contest as part of their final-year studies.
Project manager Chris Hooper, 21, said: "It's the first ever UCLan-recognised talent search and it's gone really well."
The judges and the audience were won over by the unique talents of film production student John Coxhead. Otherwise known as Frisboy, John attracted a third of all the votes for his freestyle frisbee spinning act and walked away with the first prize of 600.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
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