National Talent Showcases

Originally each of these showcases were going to be run like traditional contests ending with National finalists getting trophies, metals, etc. just as society has trained us to expect. But then we, at the NHSA, ran across the works of a man by the name of Alfie Kohn. Mr. Kohn very eloquently explains, in his book entitled “No Contest: A Case Against Competition”, that “competition is neither necessary nor desirable” once you really understand the facts. It totally changed our perceptions about competition and collaboration. We, at the NHSA, no longer wanted to help perpetuate the problems caused by competition. Consequently, the NHSA National Talent Showcases have been structured very differently.

As it turned out, however, at least one aspect of “competition” was unavoidable in our showcases. This will be evident in the simple act of having to narrow down the possible choices to the one(s) that are selected to appear in the Showcases during the 7 days of the NHSA Expo and Virtual Expo. We have attempted to minimize the impact of this. It is our intent to inspire the idea of collaboration, where we can, rather than competition and we will find ways, if at all possible, to legitimately acknowledge the positive aspects of the works not selected.

Mr. Kohn demonstrates how collaboration generates far better results. He also shows how people who strive to be the best possible versions of themselves, without comparing themselves or competing with others, are much happier with their lives.

The NHSA wants nothing more than to have its Terra Scholars grow up to lead very happy and fulfilling lives, so the NHSA competitions are now showcases. Please take a few minutes to read this summary of Mr. Kohn’s book. You will be glad you did.

Link: No Contest: A Case Against Competition by Alfie Kohn
http://www.angelfire.com/or/sociologyshop/myths.html

For each of the talent showcases described below (except for the art and writing showcases). participants will submit a video of their performance. A panels of experts, in each area, will select those entries that will appear in each showcase category during the 7 days of the Expo.

Once the selections have been made, a schedule will be created showing when each performance will be available for viewing by the attendees at the Expo.

The full details as to how each showcase will be run, along with the rules, etc., are available by clicking HERE and must be carefully reviewed before submitting an entry. All submissions must be accompanied by a permission slip if the participant is under 18.

Performers are encouraged to film their performances as many times as they want to assure that they can submit the best representation of their ability. We felt this is better than having students work hard for weeks or months only to have something happen to ruin their performance on the day of some kind of live competition.

Participants in the selected performances will each be asked to donate $10, as a participation fee, if possible, to defray the costs of the labor involved in coordinating, reviewing and programming the entries for viewing during the Expo. No entry will however be rejected due to an inability to make the requested contribution.

Film Festival

Terra Scholar filmmakers from across the country will submit "Full Length" and "Short Films" (under 40 minutes) in the following genre's: Action; Animated; Comedy; Documentary; Family; Historical; Mystery; Sci-fi; Adventure; Fantasy; Film-noir; Musical; Biography; Drama; and Romance.

Approximately one week before the start of the Expo a schedule will be posted showing the times and dates when the selected films will be shown.

After the airing of each film at the Expo the respective filmmaker(s) will make themselves available for a live Q & A session over a video call service so that attendees can discuss the films with their creators.

MAD V's (Make-A-Difference Video's)

Many children are very passionate about problems facing the world as a whole. Some even contemplate possible solutions to those problems and a few hit upon ideas that actually have a chance of "making-a-difference". In this showcase individual students, or small groups of students, select a problem that makes them "MAD" and then they devise a solution or approach that they feel could really "Make-A-Difference".

They then can then develop a website, create a slide show, power point presentation, animation, public service announcement, video, interactive application or game, or some combination of these, to get across their message or to propose their solution.

To participate in the Expo each individual or team must submit a video, that incorporates what they have created, to show how they would like to make-a difference with regards to their selected problem.

Each completed video (MAD V) will be submitted by April 15th of each year and a schedule will be posted at least one week prior to the beginning of the Expo showing which videos have been selected for the MAD V Showcase and at what time each video can be seen.

Each MAD V will be up to 10 minutes in length. The selected videos will be shown during the Expo in Theater 3. Each video presentation will be followed by a 5 minute live Q&A session, via audio or video call, with the individual or team captain responsible for the submission of the MAD V.

Dance Showcase

NHSA Members who are Dancers are encouraged to submit videos of their dance performances to the HLA for review. The National Dance Showcase will select dances in the categories of Jazz, Tap, Ballet and an "Open" category for any dances that do not fit the other categories.

The submissions can be solo performances, small group performances with seven or fewer team members or large group performances with more than seven participants.

Submissions will also be categorized by the age of the performer or the average age of the dancers in the group. Categories will include: under 7; 7-11, 12-16, and 17+ .

Dancers are encouraged to film their performances as many times as they want to assure that they can submit the best representation of their ability rather than work hard for weeks or months only to have something happen on the day of some kind of competition to ruin the performance.

Those performances selected to be in the National Dance Showcase will be listed on the schedule for Auditorium 1 within 1 week prior to the start of the Expo so that the dancers can know when to tune in to see their performance.

Music Showcase

NHSA Members who are musicians are encouraged to submit videos of their music performances to the NHSA for review. The National Music Showcase will select performances in the categories of any musical instrument that the musician wants to play. Singing performances and performances by bands ("Battle of the Bands") will also be included in the Music Showcase.

The submissions can be solo performances, small group performances with 5 or fewer musicians and large group performances with more than 5 musicians.

Except for the Battle of the Bands, submissions will also be categorized by the age of the performer or the average age of the performers in the group. Categories will include: under 7; 7-11, 12-16, and 17+ .

Musicians, Bands and Singers are encouraged to film their performances as many times as they want to assure that they submit the best representation of their ability.

Those performances selected to be in the National Music Showcase will be listed on the schedule for Auditorium 2 within 1 week prior to the start of the Expo so that the performers can know when to tune in to see their performance.

Note: There will be a separate song writing contest for a Homeschool Anthem song. Submissions can take the form of either written lyrics or audio and/or video files of the anthem being performed. The winning song will have its debut presentation at the Awards Ceremony at the NHSA Expo in May, 2020. Thereafter the song will be showcased on the NHSA website, An audio or video performance does not necessarily have a better chance of winning than the submission of lyrics alone.

Art Showcase

The objective of this Showcase is to encourage NHSA Terra Scholars to dig deep within themselves to awaken the most creative parts of their minds and then demonstrate that creativity and talent through photography, painting , drawing, sculpture, graphic design, the creation of inspirational "Home School Posters" or by making jewelry or other items fashioned out of metals.

Once their work of art has been created they must take pictures of it and submit them to the NHSA Art coordinator. All images will be submitted in digital (jpeg or tiff) format.

Attendees to the Expo will be able to browse through the images, of the works of art that were selected for the Showcase, or they will be able to search for a specific entry by the name of the artist.

Writing Showcase

In this Showcase Terra Scholars will demonstrate their writing talents in the form of non-fiction, general fiction, science fiction, poetry, activist writings, investigative reporting or through the submission of what we call a "Fix-it Essay" that discusses one or more solutions to a problem that the student is interested in fixing.

All entries will be submitted in PDF format. Attendees at the Expo will be able to browse through the documents submitted for the Showcase or they will be able to search for a specific document by the name of the author or the subject of the document itself.