Carmichaels teen is rising star
E.J. Ferencak is no stranger to performing, but the Carmichaels youth enjoyed his biggest audience yet when he danced before 20,000 people in the opening ceremony for this summer’s International Children’s Games in Cleveland. In addition, E.J. expanded his repertoire to include acting, as he recently finished filming a segment at the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, W.Va., for a Japanese television show. This particular episode of “Amazing News’ features the story of serial killer Donald “Pee Wee’ Gaskins.
While the work may be serious, E.J. is still having a good time.
“These were probably two of the most fun things I’ve ever done,’ he said.
The 18-year-old senior at Carmichaels Area Junior-Senior High School performed in an intensive jazz number as one of 50 dancers at the opening ceremony for the prestigious Children’s Games on July 30 on the mall near the convention center and the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
First organized in 1968 in Europe, the International Children’s Games and Cultural Festival has become the world’s largest international multi-sport youth games and is a recognized member of the International Olympic Committee, according to its Web site.
The 2004 games were held for the first time in the United States and attracted 3,000 athletes between ages 12 and 15 from 15 countries who participated in baseball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo.
The Cleveland ceremony included Olympic champions Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner welcoming the athletes and acting as emcees for the ceremony. The athletes and coaches entered in a procession of flags.
E.J. was then one of four dancers who were put in charge of the International Children’s Games flag and carried it to the stage, where Vanessa Campagna of CBS’ “Star Search’ sang the national anthem.
“People were photographing us. It was an honor,’ Ferencak noted.
The excitement built with the production number – a prelude to headliner Aaron Carter – that featured four Broadway dancers, including Mike Connor and Matthew Kilgore.
Mia Faris, owner of Katy Lyon Dance Studio in Uniontown and E.J.’s teacher, was among E.J.’s family and friends who traveled to Cleveland to watch his performance at the opening ceremony, which was projected on an 80-by-80-foot screen.
“They never stopped. I never saw such formations. It was really amazing to me,” Faris said. “As busy as it was, it was so entertaining and interesting to watch. …I was proud.’
The dance included jazz as well as gymnastics and cheerleading movements. “It was exciting – really cool,’ E.J. noted.
He had plenty of experience going into the show. Dancing since he was 8 at Katy Lyon, E.J. has won numerous awards through regional and national competitions. In 2002, he and partner Erica Highlands won a bronze medal at the International Dance Organization’s danceshow couples competition in Germany.
But the International Children’s Games was a unique experience, made all the better with the support he received from family and friends who traveled to Cleveland. In addition to his parents, Ed and Donna Ferencak, and sisters, Jennifer, 15, and Kaleigh, 12, several aunts and cousins also attended, as did Highlands and other friends.
“That was cool,” said E.J. of their backing. “They’ve always seen me dance here, but I haven’t danced like that in a while. Here, I do a lot of hip-hop and tap. That was fun.’
“We were all choked up,’ said Donna Ferencak, who noted the ceremony ended with a fabulous fireworks display. “I thought, ‘I can’t believe he’s a part of this.’ I had no idea it was going to be this big.’
E.J. learned about the Cleveland show in July through Docherty Talent Agency in Pittsburgh, which represents him. Before he could audition, however, Ryan Stana, executive producer of RWS and Associates in New York City, called and asked E.J., “How would you like to dance in front of 20,000 people?’
“That would be awesome,’ E.J. answered.
Stana had seen E.J. perform at the Impact Dance convention in Pittsburgh last February and hired the youth without an audition. A short time later, E.J. found himself in Cleveland for a week of rehearsals – long, six-hour days as the dancers learned the choreography.
Of course, no matter how much they rehearsed, there were some things they couldn’t control.
“When we were ready to go on, it started to drizzle. By the time the music started, it was pouring sheets of rain,’ said E.J. “But it was a blast. I don’t think the rain affected us. I think it made it more fun. I had to go on the ground and put my hand down and my hand was underwater. When the dancers stomped, the water splashed.’
His mother added, “Here I was praying, ‘Please don’t let it rain,’ but they had a blast.’
On Oct. 11, E.J. tackled a different kind of role: that of a bully at a juvenile detention center for the Japanese television program “Amazing News.’
Michiko Nagai of KEI Inc., the show’s New York production company, explained that “Amazing News’ is an hourlong weekly television show that recreates real stories that have taken place around the globe, such as this segment on Donald “Pee Wee’ Gaskins.
Gaskins, known as South Carolina’s most prolific serial killer, was born around 1935 and was serving life sentences on nine counts of murder and one count of burglary when he killed a fellow inmate in 1982 and was sentenced to die.
After his appeals were exhausted, Gaskins was executed in September 1991. Before his death, he collaborated on a book called “Final Truth’ and claimed to have murdered many more people – one report said more than 100.
For the television show, E.J. portrayed the leader of a gang in a South Carolina reformatory for youths that brutalized Gaskins when he was sent there as a teen-ager.
“That’s so funny because he is so not a juvenile delinquent,’ Faris said of E.J.
Filming took place at the former West Virginia State Penitenary in Moundsville from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., finishing ahead of schedule.
“They directed me in what to do, but you got to say whatever you wanted,’ explained E.J. “They told me, ‘Say what you want, but be mean.’ They choreographed us to be in a circle. The kids walked into the shower room and shoved him into the circle and then I walked in. We pushed him and beat him.’
The prison was not heated and the actors – including actor Willem Dafoe’s nephew, who portrayed Gaskins – felt the cold.
“We were supposed to look like we were getting a shower. The place didn’t have heat. Even in jump suits we were cold,’ said E.J.
The actors put on swim trunks for filming. E.J.’s father, Ed, said the film crew, few of whom spoke English, waited as long as possible to turn on the water, which was cold.
They kept watch over the youths, asking them to signal if they were in trouble.
“They were very nice people,’ said Ed, who also found himself cast as a bar patron in a scene that takes place later in Gaskins’ life when he was trying to pick up women.
“Everybody was pretty cool. We had a great time together, really fun,’ added E.J., who will receive a copy of the program when it is completed. The show will not be aired in the United States.
E.J. hopes to build on this recent work to make a career in entertainment. He’s considering a move to Los Angeles and also plans to attend college.
“I want to be a star someday and perform in front of millions of people,’ he smiled.
“I’d love to be a recording artist. But I wouldn’t mind being a choreographer for Usher or Justin Timberlake. That would be awesome.’