Children’s workshops stage a little fun

Eric Leake

Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 | 4:16 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

January 29 - 30, 2005

When the children take the stage at the Culture Kids Broadway Workshop, the best part of the show may be how utterly unprofessional they are.

"It's a lot of chaos but a lot of fun to watch," said Darren Uhl, a Clark County Parks and Community Services cultural specialist.

Some children might stand frozen and overwhelmed onstage, some might ham it up and, Uhl said, "Some of them might just love being onstage and do their own thing, you know, twirling around in a circle in the light."

The one-day introductory stage performance workshop -- culminating in a 10-minute performance for parents and friends -- will be held Feb. 5 and is open to children ages 3-9. Teaching those children will be instructors in dance, song and drama.

Drama instructor Sherida Devine said she enjoys working with young children who have very little or no experience onstage.

"Oh, it is fun. It is so fun because you never know what you're going to get. Their little personalities are just amazing," Devine said.

Devine is a former Miss Black Nevada who studied theater and teaches drama regularly at the Winchester Cultural Center in the Arts Train Player Youth Theater Program.

She plans to teach the scene and song "I Won't Grow Up" from the play "Peter Pan." Working with children takes patience, she said, but is refreshing.

"They're actually at that creative age that their spirit is just free," Devine said. "They can display what we try to teach the older people ... They're not afraid to make fools of themselves."

Devine added that the children's fun is not without a developmental benefit.

"Anytime you get onstage, it builds a sense of confidence to be able to present yourself before people," she said.

Devine and the other instructors will teach in sessions. The workshop for children ages 3-6 will be held from 10:15 a.m. to noon, and the workshop for ages 6-9 will be held from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m.

Uhl said the workshop is designed as a fun way for kids to be exposed to performing arts. Instructional sessions will be only 20 minutes long, enough time to experience each aspect, but not so long that the children become bored.

Uhl said parents also like the format because it is a one-day commitment, not months of classes after school and on weekends.

"We had people who would come back year after year and then with generations of kids," he said.

Enrollment is limited and registration is open through the close of business Feb. 3. The workshop will be held at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive, and costs $8 per child.

For more information, call 455-7340. For the calender of future Culture Kids activities and other events, visit www.accessclarkcounty.com.