An electric energy filled E.P Taylor’s as the first Our Lips Are Synced event took the stage at the Reel Music Festival last week.
The event was a lip synching battle between participants, similar to the Lip Sync Battle on Spike TV. The event was run by Music Business Management (MBM). All proceeds went to charities selected by participating team.
Each team performing in the competition picked a charity in advance of the event. The first place winners won half the money for their charity, while second and third place winners got a quarter each for their non-profit of choice.
OLAS raised more than $800 in total, according to MBM program coordinator Marni Thornton.
In the first round, teams performed songs and routines they chose themselves, while in the second they performed to songs picked for them. The second round often included more elaborate costumes and backup dancers.
Haley Ostapovich was the first team to take the stage with a performance of “Burning Love” by Elvis Presley.
For the second round, she lip-synced to “Maniac”, originally by Michael Sembello, from the movie Flashdance. Her performance included a ballet barre, and 80s leg warmers. The performance was reminiscent of the Flashdance movie.
Ostapovich says she was initially surprised by the song choice, but she then embraced it.
“I am a maniac on the dance floor,” she says.
Ostapovich’s charity of choice was Big Brothers Big Sisters.
She says she had never done anything quite like a lip sync battle before but she was excited to do it.
“It was a new event that one of my close friends and fellow students at Durham College created. And I really wanted to help support them and be a part of something new,” she says.
The second team was made up of Luke Geddes, Nikita Patel and Kirk Sugrue. Their first performance was a last-minute routine to “Burning Up” by the Jonas Brothers.
“We wanted to do a throwback,” says Patel.
Their second performance was well received by the audience. They lip-synced to the classic, “It’s Raining Men”, originally by The Weather Girls. It was a theatrical performance featuring plenty of dancing, lifts, lighting and umbrellas.
Their performance won them the event.
Their charity of choice was Music Counts, a program that provides musical instruments to schools in need.
The third team was last-minute entry Dylan Savoie. His first performance was “Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake where he had everyone’s attention with his stage presence.
His second performance was of “24K Magic” by Bruno Mars. The performance involved choreographed dance and mood lighting.
His charity of choice was Unison Benevolent Fund.
The dance crew was from Dance Kahncepts and included Lauren Johnston, Melissa Aldred and Emma Slater.
Other music at the event was provided by the jazz band, Trac4, from Whitby.
MBM students and the audience hope that the event will become an annual event.
“I think so, from the show up and the money we raised,” says Patel. “I feel like if we keep Music 411 around and Songs Revealed around for years, I feel like this is something new that has the potential to grow into something bigger of the years.”
