Talent show: kicking it up laowai style

Talent programs on the small screen may be waning in the wake of tighter rules from broadcast regulators, but such shows are making it big among foreign students on university campuses.

"I like music and often perform songs in the dorm with my friend," said Fivaldy Halwa, an Indonesian student of administrative management at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics.

Halwa and his performing partner Ashfa Abid Suyoto won the popularity award at the university's 2012 Laowai Idol for their performance of Jason Mraz's hippie hit I'm Yours.

"I felt awesome on stage. The event allowed me to show my musical passion and boosted my confidence. I'll give it another shot when it runs next time," said Halwa, who was participating in a talent show for the first time.

The event, hosted by the UIBE's School of International Education, turned out to be unadulterated fun as students from countries such as Indonesia, France and the United States pitted their artistic dexterity against one another, wowing a full-house audience with hip hop dance, solo gigs and band performances.

Giang Nguyen, a Vietnamese student and president of the student union's art department, said the show, now in its third year, has become more appealing.

"Previous events were like private parties for international students, but now we have drawn the attention of and gained support from the university's authorities and Chinese students," Nguyen said.

The 2012 event also featured special guests such as Martin Cityzen, a US performer known for his modern rendition of old Chinese songs, and Ding Guangquan, a veteran crosstalk performer who has many foreign students.

About 3,000 international students from 120 countries study at the university, and helping them adapt to campus life is high on the university's agenda, said Zhao Zhongxiu, vice-president of UIBE.