Young dancers taking steps toward stardom
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FARCON FAMILY Jaryd Farcon, 10, and Cara Abaya-Campos, 9, compete for the championship on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" May 13.

WOODBRIDGE - Ten-year-old Jaryd Farcon and 8-year-old Cara Abaya-Campos have been Latin ballroom dancing together for only a little over a year, but the young pair has already competed in numerous competitions all over the country.

And, they were one of three pairs to compete for the champion title in the junior segment of "Dancing With the Stars" competition May 13.

Despite not winning the competition, the pair enjoyed the experience, including a trip to Disneyland in California on behalf of "Dancing With the Stars," which, according to the show's Web site, is a series that pairs up celebrities with professional ballroom dance partners in an intense live competition in front of a studio audience and the nation.

"It has been fun and exciting, and it is a good experience meeting all the stars," said Jaryd, a fourth-grader at Our Lady of Peace School in Fords.

The two youngsters, who are big fans of ABC's hit show "Dancing With the Stars," appeared on the show for the first time on April 15, dancing the cha-cha to the song "Hey Baby," which was featured in the movie "Dirty Dancing."

They were selected out of 55 youth couples from around the country to compete for the title. Jaryd and Cara won in the category for age 10 and younger, and danced the samba to the song "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants in the final round of the competition on May 13.

Six pairs had competed on April 15, and then three pairs were chosen from the six to compete on May 13. The results were aired on May 20.

Jaryd, who said the paso doble is his favorite dance, said he was just a little bit nervous dancing on the show, but just thought about the dance when he and Cara were about to start their dance.

The pair's dances received praise from the three judges - Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.

"It was sharp, crisp, fabulous leg and hip action … the whole package was fantastic," said Goodman after Jaryd and Cara danced the cha-cha.

Tonioli added that the two could teach some of the professionals.

A pep rally was held at Our Lady of Peace School for Jaryd and Cara in April, and professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy surprised the pair at one of their practices at the Club at Woodbridge before the competition on May 13.

Cara, a second-grader at St. Clare Catholic School in Clifton, said that since being on the show, her life has definitely changed. The pair has met the dancers they admire as well as other celebrities.

"We met the dancers, the 'American Idol' [contestants], ['American Idol' judge] Paula Abdul, Jordin Sparks, Gloria Estefan, Nick and Drew Lachey, Joey Fatone and more," said Jaryd.

The 10-year-old said that this year he was rooting for Kristi Yamaguchi, former Olympic gold-medal figure skater, and her professional dancer partner Mark Ballas Jr. Yamaguchi and Ballas won the "Dancing With the Stars" title.

"I really also like [professional dancer] Cheryl Burke and watching Emmitt Smith [former professional football player] and Mel B [singer for the Spice Girls] perform," he said.

Jaryd and Cara have been dancing together competitively for the past 14 months under the direction and coaching of Spencer Nyemchek, and they have already captured the 2007 United States National Title in International Latin in the Preteen Age division.

"They have a fast and accelerated way of learning," Nyemchek said. "Their interest [in ballroom dancing] is very high."

Nyemchek, who traveled with the pair's families on April 15 to see them on the show, said he is extremely proud of the pair.

"They deserve to get the success that they have been given, they have talent, are very driven and hard-working," he said.

Cara's mother, who is also a dancer, said Cara followed in her siblings' footsteps in 2003.

"She would watch her older brother and sister ballroom dance, and one day I asked her if she would like to try, and she said 'yes,' " said Abaya-Campos.

Jaryd began taking tap, jazz sinc, lyrical, gymnastics, and hip-hop at the American Ballet Academy, which is now in Dayton, when he was 3 years old.

The pair also has been featured twice on the "Maury Povich Show," winning Maury's Most Talented Kids contest, and they also appeared on NBC's "Today" show in December.

The pair has been very busy making public appearances and showcasing at various fundraising events and cultural gatherings. They performed at the Phil- US Expo 2008 on May 17 and 18 and at the Philippine Independence Day Cultural Show in New York City on June 1.