Celebration of Music - Talent Search

Hi! My name is Hanna Bielawa, I'm 14 and in 8th grade. I enjoy singing, playing piano and guitar, dancing, and acting. Since I was 4 years old, I've been performing in musical theatre. I remember always wanting to perform, and when my dad pulled out our home video camera, I'd step right in front of it and sing and dance.

I've appeared in over 20 musical theatre productions since then. Some of my favorite roles include Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Fiona in Shrek, Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Santa Claus in Elf, and Flotsam in The Little Mermaid. Performing is the way I get out feelings that are sometimes trapped inside me, it’s like therapy to me. I get a high whenever I’m on stage.

I remember singing along to my favorite Disney movies since forever, I would try to recreate the scene of Ariel splashing on the rocks in The Little Mermaid. I've been taking voice lessons since I was 7, and I take every opportunity to sing, including in the shower, which really annoys my brothers. I sing when I’m walking home from school, I sing in the car, I sing while doing homework - I pretty much sing 24/7.

Dancing, on the other hand, never came naturally to me. I struggle with flexibility, which is why I've been drawn to tap. Tap often appears in musical theatre, so it has come in handy. I've been dancing since I was 6 and in addition to tap, I also study jazz, hip-hop, and lyrical. I often say “dance my feelings away” because dancing expresses your emotions without having to talk, it’s another way you can express yourself.

Believe it or not, I do other things besides acting, singing, and dancing. I am co-president of my school’s student council and on the yearbook staff. I also watch a lot of YouTube videos in addition to making my own videos. Skiing is the only other sport I do, and it brings me joy to hang out with my cousins and glide down the slopes (when you do theatre, you don’t have time for sports!) I also watch my favorite movie, The Outsiders, all the time. I strongly identify with this book/movie because it’s all about outcasts, and I'm an outcast in many ways. One way is I’m mixed-race, I’m half-Taiwanese and half-Caucasian. I’m proud of who I am.

Performing is something I will always treasure. It’s very close to my heart and I hope that I can keep doing it for eternity. Thank you so much for watching me on Celebration of Music. I'm so grateful for this opportunity. Thanks to my family and friends for getting me here, and to my idols for inspiring me everyday :)