Published: November 16, 2009 12:52 am         

Valley’s Got Talent winner hopes to use contest as springboard

TERRE HAUTE — Bustin’ moves at Seventh and Ohio streets Sunday afternoon, Marcus Tener hopes his talents are hip enough to hop onto the professional dance circuit.

“That’s the goal,” the 29-year-old winner of Friday night’s “Wabash Valley’s Got Talent” contest said of going pro.

The event, sponsored by the Vigo County Federal Credit Union, started with 80 hopefuls and a wide range of talents, all posted online through B102.7 FM.

Friday night at The Indiana Theater featured 12 finalists, out of whom hip-hop dancer Marcus Tener emerged victorious, winning $500.

“I’ve been doing hip-hop for about 10 or 11 years,” Tener said, noting that he teaches ballroom dancing at The Dance Studio part-time when not working for Alorica.

Tener grew up on Terre Haute’s north side, attending Chauncey Rose Middle School and Terre Haute North Vigo High School, and said he’s always liked music with what most consider an African-American influence. Citing Michael Jackson and Usher as early influences, Tener said he started picking up dance moves he saw on television. “I just got into it myself,” he said.

Terre Haute doesn’t have a big student base for hip-hop dancing, which resembles what some used to call “breakdancing,” Tener said, but he does teach some on the side.

Demonstrating the mechanics of Jackson’s famous “moonwalk” on the sidewalk, he said he’d really like to get involved with the professional dance communities in Houston or New York City. Dance crews such as Kaba Modern or the Jabbawockeez host tryouts, and Tener said one has to work their way into those auditions, adding that he has tried out for “So You Think You Can Dance?”

“I’d love to get linked up with those guys,” he said.

In the meantime, money is always an obstacle to relocation. Tener credited his girlfriend Andrea Puckett, mom Monica Tener-Smith and step-dad David Smith as helping him along.

Internet videos are a great place to watch for new dance moves, he said. “There are some really nifty tricks out there.”

Until then, Tener said he hopes to open eyes in Terre Haute to hip-hop dancing, something with which most aren’t that familiar. “I think I did that with this contest,” he said.

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.