
Taste of Lawrence 2025
Rising Stars
Local Talent Search
Sponsored by J'Danse Studios
TASTE OF LAWRENCE RISING STARS TALENT SEARCH
Sponsored by
Show off your talent at the Taste of Lawrence Rising Stars competition! Open to all ages and performers from across the GTA, this is your chance to take the stage and shine. Whether you sing, dance, or have a unique talent, we want to see it!
The Taste of Lawrence Rising Stars contest will take place on Day 2 of the festival (July 5) on the Family Stage from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Eight finalists will be selected to perform live, with a winner and runner-up announced at the end of the contest. The grand prize winner will earn a Main Stage performance slot on Sunday, plus both winners will receive exciting prizes!
OUR FINALISTS ARE:
Victoria Ferreira - Dance
Jassanni Ramos - Singing & Dancing
Janiah Hines Brown - Singing
Dario Dvon - Singing and playing an instrument
Samer Ajaj - Rapper and drummer
Jainal Bhavsar - Dancing
Prima Babida - Singing
Sarah Amani - Singing
Praying - Dancing
ABOUT SPONSOR:
J’Danse Studio is a boutique-style dance studio that has been offering dance education for 14 seasons. They are a a 2019 to 2024 Top Choice Award Nominee for Top Dance Studio in Toronto, 2020 Readers Choice Diamond Award recipient, and one of the Top 25 Activities in Toronto.
To contact J’Danse Studio:
Address: 2105 Midland Ave, Unit 2, Scarborough, ON M1P 3E3
Telephone: 416 830 5601
Email: jdansestudio@gmail.com
Website: https://www.jdansestudio.com/
Meet Our Finalists
Sarah Amani
Jainal Bhavsar
Dario Dvon
Victoria Ferreira
Jassanni Ramos
Prima Babida
Praying
Samer Ajaj
Janiah Brown
Meet Our Judges
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Councillor Michael Thompson
WARD 21 COUNCILLOR & FESTIVAL FOUNDER
We are proud to welcome Councillor Michael Thompson—the founder of the Taste of Lawrence Street Festival and beloved Councillor for Ward 21 Scarborough Centre—as a guest judge for this year’s Rising Stars talent competition!
Councillor Thompson launched the festival 21 years ago with a vision to create a vibrant space for the community to come together and celebrate culture, food, and connection. What began as a local initiative has grown into one of Scarborough’s most cherished summer festivals.
As a champion for local events and emerging talent, we’re thrilled to have his support in uplifting the next generation of performers!
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Olivia (Eun-Jung) Jon
PRESIDENT SCARBOROUGH MUSIC THEATRE
Olivia (Eun-Jung) Jon is a local singer/actress and has performed in numerous productions throughout the GTHA. You may have seen her most recently in “Avenue Q” at the Medley theatre, or in “The King and I” or “Man of LaMancha” at Scarborough.
She has performed in the Toronto Fringe Festival and also served as a juror for “Best of Fringe” in 2011 and 2012. As part of the original cast of TYT’s production of “Rapunzel”, she proudly directs a new version of the show for Scarborough Music Theatre this July (and is the President of SMT as well).
Most recently, she has received a grant for a new work focusing on comfort women during World War 2 (with Guild Festival Theatre). You can catch her next on stage in “Sweeney Todd” at the Alumnae Theatre in December.
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Meagan Speakman
DANCER, CHOREOGRAPHER & INSTRUCTOR
Meagan Speakman is a Toronto-based dancer, choreographer, and instructor with over 25 years of experience in jazz, tap, lyrical, and dance fitness. Her career began with founding an all-female dance group and evolved into a decade of performing and choreographing for professional cheer and dance teams, including the Toronto Rock and Toronto Wolfpack. She has also worked with the Toronto Arrows and choreographed for the Miss Galaxy Canada Pageant in 2023 and 2024.
Meagan trained at George Brown College’s Commercial Dance Program, Lindsay Ritter’s Scholarship Dance Program, and Shawn Byfield’s Tap Intensive. Her performance credits include MuchMusic, music videos, corporate events, and the holiday drag show Snow Queen.
Now the proud owner of a dance studio in her hometown, Meagan continues to perform, choreograph, and mentor dancers of all ages—empowering them through creativity, versatility, and body positivity.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SELECTION OF THE TOP 8 CONTESTANTS
A selection committee representing the Taste of Lawrence Rising Stars Contest (TOLRSC) shall review all audition submissions by each entrant to determine which entrants will perform at the live show on July 5, 2025.
For the purposes of this Contest and the awarding of prizes, these rules shall govern in all respects and the decision of the TOLRSC representatives shall be final.
The Top 8 Contestants will be informed of the Selection Committee’s decision by Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The Contest is open to anyone over the age of 5 who are residents of Ontario. Any entrants below the age of 18 must have the consent of his/her parent or legal guardian to submit their personal information in order to enter the Contest. In the absence of such parental or legal guardian consent, the entrant will not be able to enter the Contest. The parent/guardian must sign a declaration of compliance with the Contest rules and a release in order to receive the prize components. All information obtained for this Contest will be used only for the purposes of conducting the Contest.
By entering this Contest, you agree to attend a photo shoot and live performance. Note: parents or legal guardians will not be allowed backstage during the live rehearsal or performance.
GENERAL RULES
By participating in this Contest, you agree to abide by the rules and the decisions of the TOLRSC in awarding prizes. Decisions shall be final and binding upon all contestants.
Contestants who have not complied with these rules are subject to disqualification.
TOLRSC reserves the right to modify the rules, before or during the Contest, in its sole discretion, in any way at any time it deems necessary or appropriate without materially affecting the terms and conditions of this Contest. Interpretation of these Contest rules by TOLRSC shall be final.
Personal information collected during the course of this Contest shall be used by TOLRSC and its authorized representatives solely for the purposes of conducting the Contest and awarding prizes and will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose unless required by law.
The Grand Prize is not transferable and not redeemable for cash, and will not be extended under any circumstances and must be accepted as offered without substitution.
Entrants are not eligible to participate in this Contest if they are employees of the TOLRSC, a member on the TOLRSC board of directors, a member of the talent selection committee or a judge.
By participating in this Contest, the Category Finalists and Grand Prize Winner agree that their name may be used in any and all forms of media, without any further compensation by TOLRSC and waives all rights (including moral rights) with respect to printed, broadcast and other forms of publicity.
AUDITION AND LIVE PERFORMANCE
One microphone will be supplied for your performance at the live show together with a PA and lighting. If you have other requirements we must be notified in advance; such as additional microphones or cables for instruments.
Live performance should be between 3 – 5 min long
Participants must provide their own music, instruments, or props.
All music or performance content must be clean, family-friendly, and free of offensive language or gestures.
Recorded music and/or soundtracks must be provided in an MP3 format.
All music files must be saved as: your first and last name. Email your music file to: info@kandymedia.ca by June 26, 2025. Please include in your email: your first and last name (stage name if you have one) phone number, and preferred e-mail address; in case we need to reach you about your track(s).
Your submission video and talent competition track can not contain any lead vocals (we need to hear your voice live).
ATTIRE – REQUIREMENTS
Attire must be respectable and age appropriate.
Entrants are requested to dress to impress
Entrants are required to be camera ready, (hair, makeup and wardrobe).
ADDITIONAL – REQUIREMENTS
Contestants are required to attend sound check (live rehearsal).
Contestants will require final approval by the rising stars organizers.
All recorded music must be submitted for final approval, by June 26, 2025.
Changes to online submissions will not be allowed. Make sure your audition performance is what you will be performing for the live show.
All contestants will be required to sign a photo release and a liability waiver upon live performance.
JUDGING AT LIVE SHOW
Contestants will be judged on the following during show on July 5, 2025.
Overall Performance
Audience Response
Stage Presence
Originality
Adhering to time Limit
Judges decision is final.
PRIZES
There will be one Grand Prize and one Runner up Prize
Grand prize: $1,000 + main stage performance slot + prize from J’Danse Studio
Runner up: $500 + main stage performance slot + prize from J’Danse Studio
All finalists will receive:
Certificate of participation
Voucher redeemable at J’Danse Studio
Prizes are not transferable or convertible to cash and must be accepted as awarded.
TOLRSC is not responsible for incorrect and/or inaccurate entry, registration, entry information or any factor which may affect a person’s ability to participate in the Contest. This includes but is not limited to: human error, lost or misdirected entries for whatever reason, technical malfunctions, lost/delayed/corrupted data transmission, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, line failures of any telephone network, computer equipment, software or any combination thereof, any inability to access the site, or damage to a user’s system occasioned by participating in the Contest, and entries which fail to fully comply with these rules and regulations.