Blind Mason alum to compete on 'Glee Project'

Bonds hope to impress the judges from 'Glee' in order to appear on the show for seven episodes. (Photo courtesy Vinson Young)

George Mason University alum Mario Bonds will begin competing in Oxygen channel’s “The Glee Project” on June 5 in hopes of appearing on FOX’s “Glee.”

“It has always been Mario’s plan A to inspire and to perform,” said Mario’s representative Vinson Young, speaking on behalf of Bonds. “After auditioning and auditioning and getting told no, ’The Glee Project’ was another way for him to finally get into the world where he wanted to be.”

Bonds, who graduated from Mason in 2010, is one of 14 contestants chosen from among 50,000 applicants to appear on “The Glee Project." The contestants will compete in dancing, singing, and acting contests and produce a music video each episode. They will be judged by Glee choreographers, voice coaches and writers, and the winner will act in a seven episode arch on FOX’s “Glee.”

Bonds, born with Morning Glory Syndrome, lost his sight as a child. He hopes his dance skills will set him apart from his competition.

“Never before has America seen a blind person who can actually dance,” Young said. “Mario is a really good dancer and once the show starts, America is going to be able to see that.”

In a recent interview with Oxygen’s Tiffany Smith, Bonds said “The Glee Project” choreographers told him he was one of the best dancers on the show.

According to Young, Bonds believes his time at George Mason helped prepare him for the competition.

“In high school, Mario was the absolute underdog,” Young said. “George Mason was the place where he became a different person and left the underdog days behind him.  George Mason gave him the confidence to improve socially, academically, and professionally,” Young said.

Bonds and his support team want the community at Mason to know about Mario’s efforts.

“We hope that the Mason community supports its very own, Mario, as he works to destroy expectations of what it means to be a blind performer,” Young said. “Mario is an eclectic actor, a relentless dancer, and believes in the power of inspirational performance.”