Below are recent articles that appeared in the Wilson Times.

Now its her turn

Susanna Oates made her debut on the big stage last week as a bushy-tailed squirrel in ACT! for Youth's "Willy Wonka." She danced in a circle with the other squirrels and passed along large nuts, just as instructed.

It was a big deal for Susanna, who has Down syndrome.

Jimmy and Susan Oates decided early in their daughter's life that they wanted her to live life to the fullest.

"We wanted to give her, probably, every opportunity," Susan Oates said.

The 9-year-old is main-streamed in a second-grade class at Rock Ridge Elementary School. She takes ballet, tap and tumbling at Studio B, and this weekend, she will be back on the Boykin Center stage for the second week of "Willy Wonka."

It was Susanna's older sister Anna who wanted her to audition. Anna, who plays Grandma Josephine in the show, and her siblings have been part of ACT! for Youth for years, and they wanted to share the fun with their little sister.

Susan Oates knew it would be a lot of work for Susanna to take part in a show. They live 30 minutes from the theater, and Susanna tires easily and doesn't always do what's asked of her. But she talked to director Martha Nida and told her if Susanna were cast, she would make sure someone stayed with her at the theater for rehearsals.

Nida said there's always a "project" in her shows.

"Some have had a special needs child, some have had an extremely shy or emotionally needy child or a physically challenged child," Nida said. "Some plays have had more than one of these 'projects.'

"This is never anything that I make public or discuss with the cast or crew, it is just another aspect of our ACT! for Youth family," she said. "Theater is one of the few areas in life that embraces the differences in people and accepts all."

Choreographer Trish Bradshaw knew right away when she saw Susanna at auditions that it would all work out. She's taught Susanna at Studio B since the child was a preschooler.

"She'll rise to the occasion, and she'll be great," Bradshaw told the show's directors. "This is an amazing opportunity for her to see what her sisters have been doing for years."

The role of a squirrel was perfect for Susanna, Bradshaw said. It's not a pivotal role, and if for one show she decided not to go on stage, then there would just be five squirrels instead of six.

There have been challenges, Bradshaw said, but none she can't handle. Susanna sometimes speaks out of turn and can't always control her volume. "But she's done very well," Bradshaw said, better than in dance, even.

At dance class, Susanna doesn't always answer when the roll is called, but when roll is called at rehearsals, Susanna starts to answer "here" before her name is complete.

"She's just so happy to be there," Bradshaw said.

Her happiness and friendliness almost got her into trouble on stage last weekend. Susanna is an affectionate child and loves to give away hugs. She saw music director Jeremy Tucker in the orchestra pit with his arms raised during a show and thought he wanted a hug. Susanna headed towards him, inching closer and closer to the end of the stage. But actor Caleb Skinner, who plays Willy Wonka, stepped in and carried her back to a safe place, improvising to make it look like it was all part of the script.

Bradshaw said she was sitting on the edge of her seat, afraid Susanna would fall. But she didn't, and the show went on.

"It was a beautiful thing," Bradshaw said.

The children in the show have really taken to Susanna and helped look after her.

"Everybody loves her," Susan Oates said. "They all want hugs; Susanna's pretty lavish and generous with her hugs."

Bradshaw has seen it, too.

"It's great to see how the other children embrace her, take care of her and want her to be part of it," Bradshaw said.

The other little squirrels, who are quite a bit younger than Susanna, also help her stay in place.

"They take the responsibility very seriously," Bradshaw said. "They almost wrestle her down to make sure she's doing it right!"

Susan Oates said her daughter has really learned from the other children.

"Susanna benefits from being with typically developing children," she said. "She learns so much from them."

During one rehearsal, Susan Oates said, Susanna was enthralled and distracted and missed her cue to take the nut from the squirrel at her side, so the child nudged her a little, and Susanna took it. So Susanna then nudged the girl on the other side before passing the nut along. Lesson learned.

"It's important to us that she have great models," Susan Oates said.

Many of those role models come in the form of her seven brothers and sisters. Sister Rachel Oates Johnson picks up Susanna from school around lunchtime each day, looks after her and takes Susanna to dance classes and speech therapy. Susan Oates said Rachel is remarkably patient and focused with Susanna and is her link to sanity.

Susanna seems to have enjoyed her time on stage with "Willy Wonka," even though she covers her ears at the end of the show because she doesn't like the applause. However, she did like it when her school teachers took flowers to her after Saturday's performance.

Bradshaw sees the happiness reflected in Susanna's attitude.

"You see that joy on her face and how proud her family is for her and how much they appreciate it, and it's all worth it.

"Some might hesitate to give her or anyone with special needs a chance because it might be harder or slow them down," she said. "But sometimes the rewards outweigh any challenges we might face."

lisa@wilsontimes.com | 265-7810

 Slugline Wilson-dancers-entertain-at-Liberty-Bowl-in-Memphis--
Publication Wilson Daily Times
Date January 04, 2010
Section(s) Local News
Page
Byline

Nineteen dancers from Wilson's Dance Studio "B" spent the New Year's weekend in Memphis, Tenn., where they danced at the Liberty Bowl.

The troupe unfurled a flag nearly the size of a football field for the opening ceremonies of the game, pitting the East Carolina Pirates against the Arkansas Razorbacks, and performed to a sold-out crowd with entertainer Eddie Money.

The dancers, who rehearsed for two days in Memphis, also participated in the Beale Street Parade on New Year's Day.

Patricia Bradshaw, owner of Studio B, said her dancers have had the opportunity to perform at such events before, but the cost was prohibitive.

But with the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, close to where her sister Debra Bradshaw Powell owns and operates her own dance studio, Bradshaw saw an opportunity. The local dancers were invited to stay in the homes of six of Powell's students, cutting the cost of hotel accommodations.

"All in all, it was an amazing experience," Bradshaw said.

"None of this could have been possible without the help of all the local merchants, friends and family that contributed by participating in our fundraisers with Chick Fil A, Chile's, Moe's Southwestern Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings and Wilson Donut Shop," she said.

"Style Masters Chartered Bus Company provided excellent accommodations, and I can't say enough about their two drivers Jarret Johnson and Marvin Boykin, who went above and beyond to make our 16-hour road trip as much fun as the Bowl itself!"

Bradshaw said it was also quite a thrill that the performance was televised on ESPN's broadcast.

Wilson will be represented at tonight's Orange Bowl in Miami. Dance students from Hunt High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy will be among the dancers performing at halftime.

Family owned and operated since 1941  *  Patricia K. Bradshaw, Director
Copyright © 2011 Dance Studio "B"