LIFESTYLE - THE International ARTS Talent Showcase has catapulted model and dancer Duran Moodley’s career on to the international stage.
Moodley appeared on the TV show Live Your Dream, broadcast on DStv channel 147, last July. The show strived to find the next generation of South African actors, singers, models, dancers and voice-over artists. It was hosted in partnership with The International ARTS Talent Showcase.
Moodley, 26, won the grand prize and will represent South Africa in New York City at The International Modelling and Talent Convention.
He also won a $60 000 (about R903 000) scholarship to attend Amda College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Moodley, who was born in Durban and now lives in Johannesburg, said he heard about the competition and auditions in a radio advertisement.
After auditioning, he received a callback to perform at the national auditions at Silverstar Casino in September.
“The judging panel consisted of Dhyvann Drummer, a casting director from Tyler Perry Studio; Nate Butler from America's Got Talent and The Voice America; and Blaze Johnson, an American songwriter and a representative from Amda College. I performed a Bollywood dance and acting performance and got a callback to represent South Africa at The International Modelling and Talent Convention.”
He said he was passionate about acting and dancing.
“In high school, I took part in many productions including Lord of the Files, Land Ahoy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Noises Off. I also won best actor over three consecutive years in high school. My dreams of becoming a professional artist could now come true.”
He also featured in an unreleased local Bollywood movie called Memoir. The film was directed by Amit Chade and stars Pinky Mothie and her son, Rajiv.
In 2019, Moodley featured in Kumaran Naidoo's The Good, The Old and The Greedy.
The software engineer, who has a diploma in software development and a bachelor of computer science degree, said his idols were Shah Rukh Khan and Jim Carrey. He said his parents worked hard to give him a good life and he was grateful for their support.
Moodley will be travelling to the US in July.
Elsubie Verlinden, the chairman and CEO of 33 and Me Talent Agency and premiere agent for Amda, said what stood out about Moodley was his energy and authenticity.
“He is in tune with who he is. As an individual, he is comfortable with himself, and he is extremely committed to his craft. His energy is really contagious.”
She said she hoped to help introduce local African talent on an international platform.
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