Music on a mid-summer night in Valley Stream

The music was rocking and many residents were bopping along with the performers at the first of three summer youth concerts sponsored by Strong Side Studios that brought the community to the Band Shell at the Village Green last Saturday.

With many local young stars shining bright and DJ Dennis spinning tunes from 7 to 10 p.m., it was a talent showcase for singers, dancers and drummers. Strong Side Studios owner Darryl Granum, who was a main organizer and show host, enthusiastically introduced and recognized all the performers’ unique abilities. “Hearing all the talent from these kids is great,” he said.

This is the second year that the studio has hosted the event and it featured more than a dozen children and teenagers. The performers included Imani Granum, MarCayla Michel, Isabel Hernandez, Elizabeth Wasek, Alessandra Ansbach, Stefania Cuomo, Stacey Spratley, Dominique Perry, Rebecca Nunez, Anthony Wilmot, Jennifer Kandel, Alexis Muir, Angelo Fiore, Melijah Robinson, Shayna Wheatly and Markel Robinson. Nunez, Wilmot and Wheatly are all instructors at Strong Side Studios.

Eight-year-old Imani Granum, who was the first performer of the night with a dance to Mary J. Blige ‘s “The One,” was no stranger to the stage having performed last year. “I was not nervous,” she said. “I like that you can show your talent.”

Many of the community’s youngsters were able to show off what they can do, which is one of the reasons Granum enjoys the event. “There is so much young talent in Valley Stream and the surrounding towns,” he said. “I felt strongly about giving [an opportunity] to these kids to have a show all about [them]. The joy on their faces and the hard work they put into rehearsing and preparing for this is so rewarding.”

Marie Schultz, 56, was excited to see all the childrens’ hard work pay off. She was particularly ecstatic to see the Grace Thunderettes of Valley Stream, which her niece, Jessica Schultz, is a part of the squad. “I like to see [the] girls because they are all talented,” she said. “Everybody deserves a chance to show what they can do.”