If there is one thing that artists consistently complain about, it is that there is limited opportunity in Bermuda to showcase talent.

Singer and teacher Marcelle Clamens aimed to fix that with the annual Talent Explosion at City Hall on Wednesday.

It featured a variety of Bermudian talent from musicians, dancers and poets and even a painter.

A registered charity, it raises money for scholarships so that children with financial challenges can take art, music and dance classes.

The Royal Gazette recently spoke to a handful of the performers on the programme.

Gospel singer Tricray Astwood, 23, said it has always been a dream of his to be in the annual Talent Explosion. Mr. Astwood is rapidly making a name for himself. He has just released his first album, 'Let Judah Reign', and he performed at the Bebe and Cece Winans concert earlier in the summer.

"It was always a dream of mine to be in the Talent Explosion, because you see so many great performers from the Island being a part of the show," he said.

He hoped to take his career overseas when the dust settled on his new album.

"I have had really really great feedback from my album," he said. "I have sold about 800 copies so far. A lot of people thought I was American. They didn't realise I was Bermudian. The quality of the album seems to be surprising people. The music itself is uplifting."

For more information about Mr. Astwood visit www.tricray.com.

For Tiffany Paynter, 25, being introduced to the poetry of Robert Frost as a kid, set her on a different path for life. She often performs her poetry through Chewstick.

"Poetry has saved myself," said Miss Paynter. "I always used to think if I was intelligent and charismatic I could get my way with anything. And that was working at the age of ten or 11. Then a teacher showed me some poems and suggested that I could use my popularity for good. He said 'People are following you, and what are you doing with it other than causing pain? That is not even you.' Then I shifted my perception. That had everything to do with poetry."

She said that reading and writing poetry helped her to become more introspective and analytical. It helped her to look more closely at what was happening to herself and the world around her.

"For me also one of the reasons I haven't been performing as much recently is it is sometimes very difficult to remain true to the content as opposed to making it entertaining. When I am performing I am completely vulnerable. I hope that that like the train wreck that everyone must look at, people will find my poetry captivating enough."

She is currently pursuing a degree at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. She is also an art instructor at the Masterworks Gallery. Her goal is to find a publisher next year.

Adrian Kawaley-Lathan, owner of RockFire Bermuda, literally brought a spark to the Talent Explosion.

"A glow show is a special effects and glow light show," said Mr. Kawaley-Lathan of his performance. "It is all this illusionary stuff."

Mr. Kawaley-Lathan first became interested in fire dancing while doing a masters degree in Austria, where it is popular entertainment. Fire dancing is the art of manipulating fire through a variety of different tools and equipment. He trained for several years with several different companies in the United Kingdom, before returning home and starting his own company.

For more information visit www.rockfirebermuda.com.

Llewellyn Simons of Bermuda Magic has been performing magic for about 12 years, and has been with Bermuda Magic for eight years.

"This is my first time in the Talent Explosion show," the 29-year-old said. "There most definitely needs to be more opportunities for talented young people to perform."

His association with Bermuda Magic began during a chance encounter.

"I would always go to local shows and watch magic shows on television," said Mr. Simons. "I used to travel a lot and go to magic shows. I ran into O'Brien Roberts who runs Bermuda Magic at the airport. I saw he was putting on magic shows. I told him about my interest. They had a show coming up. He said that one was already organised, but I could be in the next one. So for the first show, I helped back stage and performed close-up magic in the lobby. Then I took part in the next show. I have been with Bermuda Magic ever since. I also help with their summer camp programmes for kids in the summer."

Mr. Simons most enjoys close-up magic. He recently graduated from university and works as a bus operator. He also has a photography business Lue Simons photography.

For more information visit Luesimonsphoto.com.