THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090184
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 94 lines
Laura Robbins had a great idea for the Summer Playtime Program at the community center where she worked: She would use her extensive acting experience to engage her youngsters in creative drama exercises and activities.
``I wanted to use their natural talent to keep them entertained and to creatively channel all their energy,'' said Robbins, a Virginia Beach resident and a 1990 graduate of Princess Anne High School. ``I wanted these children to express themselves in drama.''
Unfortunately, it didn't work.
All the boys at the South Norfolk Community Center in Chesapeake wanted to do was play basketball, Robbins said, and the girls just didn't take to her drama exercises and storytelling sessions.
Undaunted, Robbins decided to adapt her drama methods to something her kids could relate to and understand.
``I'm into drama as therapy, to use drama as a therapeutic tool. I taught theater arts last year at Kemps Landing Magnet School. There I could see teens getting excited by Shakespeare and loving it. I wanted to do the same thing for these South Norfolk kids.''
Knowing the Bard wouldn't strike the same chord with these children, Robbins noticed that the day campers would entertain themselves by doing rhythmic steps and chants. That gave her another idea.
``I saw the kids just messing around in the gym,'' she said. ``They were mixing rhythm with sound and timing.'' LaToya Harrell and LeQuintac Cherry, two high school drill team members, helped her organize the kids, using their own school drill routines. ``Finally, we got the kids to include their own lyrics and words so they would do these chants and steps while telling a story,'' Robbins added.
What she did was an inspiration to all at the center, especially its children, said her supervisor, Bill Fields, a recreation specialist.
``The fact that she recognized the cultural diversity of her world and that of the South Norfolk children was a real plus,'' Fields said. ``She used her own talents and used the talents these kids had instilled in them, talents these kids got from their own community. I think it opened Miss Laura's eyes and she brought dancing and the theater to these kids.''
Fields said what really opened the eyes of the children to Robbins' ability and talent was a videotape of scenes of Robbins' television and film roles she showed the youngsters.
``When I showed them the reel they kept looking at the screen and then back at me,'' Robbins said. ``Finally they asked me, `Miss Laura, are you a star?' I told them, `No, I don't think so.' But I think seeing that made them realize that I had something to offer them. That it wasn't just talk.''
``I think her worth and her ability really rose in the eyes of these children when they saw her video,'' Fields said.
Robbins has been acting ever since she was a 14-year-old taking dramatics classes at the Kempsville Recreation Center. She participated in as many high school drama projects as she could and was able to act in local theater including Old Donation Productions, the Kempsville Playhouse and the Commonwealth Musical Stage. She also appeared in principal roles in several films created by students at the Regent University film school, including ``The Tie That Binds'' and ``Flanagans Exile.''
Now Robbins is a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild and has appeared on television in such shows as ``American Gothic'' and ``Homicide.'' She landed a co-starring role as Andy Griffith's goddaughter in a ``Matlock'' episode and has appeared in principal roles in a USA Network movie of the week, ``Perfect Daughter,'' and a CBS movie of the week, ``A Mother's Instinct.''
But right now she's most proud of instituting the Stomp and Step Program at the South Norfolk center.
``When those kids are on, it flows, and it's snappy, and it feeds your soul,'' she said.
Robbins breaks the children up into several groups, then with the help of Harrell and Cherry each team works up a routine that tells a story using call and re-call chants so familiar to these youngsters.
``This is a fluid program,'' she said. ``It focuses their energy. They have to learn lines. They have to learn how to use their bodies, and they learn choreography routines. I've also tried to get the kids to help and encourage each other. It's been quite an experience. I've fallen in love with these kids.''
When the Summer Playtime program ends Aug. 16, Robbins will grab her suitcase, L.A. Acting Guide and Casting Director's Guide and head off to Hollywood to see if she can make it as a full-time actor.
But she'll carry with her warm memories of this summer.
``At the beginning there was this one cute little girl who was very intimidated by it all. She wanted out,'' Robbins said. ``But we insisted she try it. Then after the session was over she came back. With her fingers in her mouth, she smiled and said, `Miss Laura, I did it!' '' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Laura Robbins of Virginia Beach works with Kristin Morris, 6, at the
South Norfolk Community Center. Robbins, an actress, breaks the
children up into several groups, then helps work up a routine that
tells a story using call and re-call chants familiar to these
youngsters. by CNB