photo by: File

The Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Drive.

Dancers, musicians, even an aerial arts performer will be part of the Lawrence school district’s 10th annual “Ovation!” talent show for middle and high school students this weekend.

The talent show is at 7 p.m. Sunday on the main stage of the Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Drive, and proceeds will benefit the Lawrence Schools Foundation. Adult tickets cost $15 and student tickets cost $5.

Eleven acts are scheduled to perform from schools across the district. Here’s more information about the performers:

photo by: Contributed

Ja’Liana Ayala, junior at Lawrence High School.

• Ja’Liana Ayala, Lawrence High School. Ayala, a vocalist, will be appearing in the show for the second year. She is involved in band, theater and choir; has performed at the Lawrence Schools Foundation breakfast; and aspires to pursue a career in music.

photo by: Contributed

Ava Baranski, 6th grader at Billy Mills Middle School.

• Ava Baranski, Billy Mills Middle School. Baranski will be performing an aerial lyra act. She’s been practicing aerial arts for nearly five years, has done tumbling for almost eight years and is participating in a competitive cheer program for the first time this year. Science is her favorite subject in school, and she hopes to one day operate a veterinary clinic or animal shelter.

photo by: Contributed

Dance Hues Studio’s STAMPP Performance and Competition Company.

• Dance Hues Studio’s STAMPP Performance and Competition Company, various schools. The name STAMPP stands for “Shine Through Adversity, Move Past Prejudice.” The company has several different age groups and levels, and the dancers practice 10 to 20 hours a week.

photo by: Contributed

Aleisha Lohfeld and Amelia Lohfeld, senior and sophomore at Free State High School.

• The Galway Girls, Free State High School. They’re Aleisha and Amelia Lohfeld, and they have been doing competitive Irish dance since the age of 4. As the name suggests, they began their training in Galway, Ireland. They moved to Lawrence seven years ago and compete at the national championship level, traveling throughout the United States for competitions.

photo by: Contrbuted

Lawrence Ballet Theatre

• Lawrence Ballet Theater, various schools. This ballet program was founded to meet the needs of advanced students in the Lawrence Arts Center’s dance programs. It provides more extensive training and performance opportunities to help dancers develop their skills.

photo by: Contributed

Harrison Leiszler, sophomore at Free State High School

• Harrison Leiszler, Free State High School. This is Leiszler’s fifth appearance in the talent show, and he will perform a violin rendition of “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars using a loop pedal to record and layer the music live. During the holiday season, he plays on Massachusetts Street and in the Kansas City area to raise money for Toys for Tots, and he and his brother have raised more than $20,000 over the past 10 years.

photo by: Contributed

Annah Steele, Anders Benson and Owen Börk are seniors at Free State High School

• O&Co. Jazz Trio, Free State High School. The trio consists of Owen Börk on piano, Annah Steele on bass and and Anders Benson on drums. All are seniors at Free State, and they began playing together during their junior year.

photo by: Contributed

Ishaan Rao, sophomore at Free State High School

• Ishann Rao, Free State High School. Rao, a violinist, has been playing since age 7 and currently trains at the Music Academy of Kansas City. He won prizes at the Kansas City Symphony’s Young Artists Competition in 2024 and the KC Music Teachers Association concerto competition in 2023 and has been featured on Kansas Public Radio.

photo by: Contributed

Elizaveta Smirnov, 8th grader at Lawrence Virtual School

• Elizaveta Smirnov, Lawrence Virtual School. Smirnov will perform a ballet routine. She has been taking classes at Kansas Ballet Academy since age 2. She also enjoys painting, pottery and singing and is a member of the Kansas Youth Chorale in Topeka.

photo by: Contributed

Sarah Song, 7th grader at West Middle School

• Sarah Song, West Middle School. Song will be performing in a Chinese dance style called Dunhuang dance. She has danced since age 5 in various styles, including tap, jazz and ballet in addition to Chinese dance. She has performed in several Lawrence Arts Center shows and also takes part in the center’s annual Choreographer’s Showcase.

photo by: Contributed

Alexus Walker, sophomore at Free State High School

• Alexus Walker, Free State High School. Walker will be singing in the talent show. She has been in every school theater production since sixth grade and has been involved in music since age 3, beginning with piano and later playing the flute. She is currently rehearsing for the lead role Free State High’s production of “Silent Sky” and performs with the Free State Choir, Honors Band and Meadowlark Flute Choir.