Young Bermudian Samiyah Hall showcased her talents in dance and miming and earned accolades on an international stage.

She placed second in the Junior Talent Competition at the International General Assembly of the Church of God in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Wesley Hall, Samiyah’s father, said she proudly represented her country and her church, the Heritage Worship Centre, in two categories – solo pantomime and solo expressive/interpretive movement.

Mr Hall added: “Her expressive and heartfelt presentation resonated deeply with the judges and the audience, highlighting her remarkable talent and dedication.

“The audience was captivated by her dancing as numerous people thanked her and were inspired by her ministry. One young man mentioned that the song's words and her movements spoke to his soul and even encouraged him to keep going.”

Although this was her first competition, Samiyah has been moving to rhythms before she could remember.

“I have been dancing since I could walk,” Samiyah said. “When I was only a few months old, I would move to the rhythm every time my dad made a beat.

“I was introduced to dance at 3 or 4 through the In Motion School of Dance, but my mum always teases me, saying, ‘You’ve been dancing ever since the womb.’ I became interested in mime at 9, but started ministering at 10.”

At such a young age, Miss Hall intentionally uses her gifts, talents, and desires to be a vessel through whom the Lord may minister.

Expressing what dance means to her and how her faith and passion for dance impact each other, Samiyah said: “Dance and mime, to me, means telling a story through interpretive movements and expressions.

“My faith and passion for dance impact each other because God gave me a gift to dance. He uses me to encourage, inspire, bless, and show God’s love all at the same time.”

Having this mindset seemed to contribute to her ability to navigate the “competitive atmosphere” of the Junior Talent Competition, as well as having the support of her parents, coaches, and church community to cheer her on.

Speaking on Samiyah’s demeanour during that time, Mr Hall said: “Despite the competitive atmosphere, Samiyah remained refreshingly grounded. She expressed, ‘Whether I win or not, I enjoy ministering to people, and dancing is fun.’ Her words reflect maturity and passion for performing arts that go beyond accolades.”

He added: “It is worth noting that this opportunity was supported directly by Calon Minors, the island youth director for the Church of God in Bermuda, alongside Samiyah’s coaches, Sacara Philips and Shayna Simons, under the leadership of Bishop H David Lambe, the Administrative Bishop of the Church of God in Bermuda.

“Samiyah’s achievement brings immense delight to her community and church in Bermuda. She is also grateful to those whose financial generosity contributed to making this dream come true.

“Her success on this international stage serves as an inspiration to young performers everywhere, demonstrating that dedication, faith, and a love for the arts can lead to extraordinary accomplishments.”

Samiyah hopes to use her gifts to inspire not only those in the audience, where she is called to serve and perform, but also one day to pass on her knowledge and experience to those who desire to learn and do the same.

Samiyah added: “My faith can be explained in one verse, Philippians 4:13, which says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ One of my future goals is to teach others, not just to dance, but to minister through dance.”

Asked if she had any words of encouragement to other young Bermudians, Samiyah said: “Believe in yourself, persevere, love what you do, and have fun achieving your goals.”

• Click on thislink to see a video of Samiyah’s performance in Indianapolis