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By AUDREY WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
^ Former News 2 reporter Rolanda Watts
? cyeao^hoy godft^or.?
Susan sees a lot in Watts that she would
like to be one day, but the honors graduate
of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School is
already well on her way to establishing a
name for herself in the world of academics
and athletics.
Next fall, Susan may be the youngest
member of her ninth-grade class at Bishop
McGuiness High School, especially since she
only crossed the teen threshold in March.
"Many people think I'm so much older
than what I am because I look older," says
Susan. "I'm 5-5 and a half and most of the
people I hang around are older than me."
Susan is a basketball player, and a good
one, even when her opponent is male.
"... I just like learning. I've been
called weird and asked 'Why?,9 but 1
don't think I am. I just enjoy learning,
that's all."
? Susan Harrison
"It surprises me when I beat guys," she
says. "I beat my sister's 22-year-old
boyfriend, who's an all-something in football
at Winston-Salem State, in a game of
one-on-one."
While playing forward and center for the
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Lady Mustangs, Susan became an athletic
standout by averaging 20 points and 15 rebounds
a game.
In nfftfiUmi68?*haf Umwit prarlg fa*,
.gratissjagAX
"When I was at St. Benedicts (Catholic
School)," says Susan, "they stressed
academics, but they made it fun, too. Then it
went from fun to hard but I didn't really
mind as much.
"1 see a lot of athletes who can't read or
write," she says, "and it gets depressing. 1
r
I Young & Oiffed
thrive off success."
Susan's interests vary from dabbling in the
popular and strenous break dancing to learning
the basic functions of the Apple I computer
she and her sister, Renee, a student at
WSSU, share. Like her godsister, Susan says
she would also like to become a journalist
and if that doesn't work out, a career ir
computer science is her next choice.
During the summer, the former clarinet,
saxaphone, bongas, piano player and occa
sional guitar picker competes on the Bloorr
Park Swim Team.
I
izine Sec
ctor who's danci
By AUDREY L. WILLIAM
Chronicle Staff Writer
At the North Carolina S<
Robinson's dance students
instructor.
It's easy for her to be that
it takes to be good. And sh
should be spent striving fo
knows all too well that if h<
make it, they must be willii
I She.^ag.rifjged,
E|Sg J fS 3 wcre sccondar)rforh8i tmm
"Oh, I was 18 years ol<
45-year-old Robinson, whc
Rv ween the Jamaican Island
BL v "After he proposed, we we
can see you now, going to
Now the yeai
the last production is windi
have come to appreciate th<
in their midst. Moreover, th
means business.
B Michael Cole greets his i
mmmmmm on the cheek, but it wasn't
fair. Miss Robinson is a pre
^avealotrespect for her
Robinson is the way she i
it's like to be among some
tainers.
mLmgV m She was the assistant chc
that Diana Ross made all
dance sequence. She also c
which she says wasn't that
"He (Jackson) is so tale
says. "But he's wonderful
t&jjjT eager to learn."
jSfglV;-Robinson, who teaches
'X*J$ rE^Bi first came to Winston-Sale
Ifl York to work with the Littl
Robinson's professional e:
to l^e school ?f l^e Arts
[' in the School of Dance. S
I on as a permanent staff m
I "One must constantly g
as long as I feel I'm giving
giving me enough, I'll be
"There are a lot of pec
Rosses and the Michael Jt
here at the School of the /
why not be here?"
Born in Savannah, (Ja.
York, with her mother, gr;
she was a child.
Vereda Pearson, a nath
living in New York and a <
urged Robinson to take d
Robinson's grandmother
anyone that her granddauj
"My grandmother knew
put the radio on and I'd b
From then on, she was
support, she says, and not
"You know I'm glad I n
son says, "and then have i
was hard to have both a n
9
iff the court i
An honest lover of academia, Susan says
she has no favorite subject ? school is just a
favorite part of her life, other than basketball.
that's my favorite," she says. "I kind of like
all of them. I guess I just like learning. I've
been called weird and asked 'Why?,' but I
don't think I am. I just enjoy learning, that's
all." I
%
*
The daughtdftof Mr. and Mrs. Robert J
Harrison of New Walkertown Road, Susan
doesn't plan to depend on them much for
her educational financing.
"I hope to get a double scholarship ... in
academics and athletics," she says.
At Bishop McGuiness next year, Susan
will be enrolled in all-honors courses and she
says her only reservations about entering
high school is the age difference.
! However, the athlete, scholar and selfC
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aijrivu uiu.nv.iaii jap siic; s iuumii^ iui wdru
to the challenge. Even though she received
t awards at her graduation ceremony for
; overall academic achievement and for
above-average grades in English and social
\ studies, Susan says she realizes it won't be as
easy to walk away with as many honors in
high school.
4Tm hoping to do just as well or better,
i I'm going to try harder, because I know it's
going to be a lot harder," she says.
tion s
ed with the best
S f "It's still not t
sheepish grin. "I'm
, w . , A graduate of the
chool of the Arts. Mabel ( Am and (he }
know her as a hard-i.ne New Yofk cjty
, , , makes her presence
way, for she knows what
, , . more valuable and
te knows how much time
r r\#?rf#?rtirtn anH ch#? alcr\ cu. 1 l, ,
. Kv..??v.v.. JI1C 11 a> WUIKCU I
er students really want to director and dance
rig to sacrifice. television specials
fnr. marriAt>P , " ^nrrjnr \
i and in love," says the her talent.
>se accent is a cross bets
and Greenich Village. ^id l^e str'P
re talking and he said, '1 says,
dance classes to stay in *~*er movie credii
Counted" and "F
has come to a close and with the multi-tal
ng up, the dance students Streisand. She co
i caliber of woman that's Paula Kelly, who
ey know Mabel Robinson "Night Court," a;
toured with only tl
dance teacher with a kiss which include Alvii
always that way. Graham.
" says Cole, "but she's _ ^ .
... . But she credits t
;tty remarkable woman. I , , r
..... * i . i*i she spent her after
and I wish I could be like , . r , _
basics of dance. S
^ 4 House, a local co
s because she knows what .
r t , modern dance teac
of the world s best enter- ..., ,
I ve always wa
. r . from," she says.'
reographer for the movie
it was her job to see to it Even with that,
the right moves in each perience can't be tc
oached Michael Jackson, for coming to Win
difficult. honest,
nted it's ridiculous," she "They're (Schoc
to work with, always so of black students,
black students neei
mrtriflrn anrl 1177 H'inr'p I?^ 1,
invuvi uiiu jutt uuiivvi IUUK Up IU.
m last summer from New "They want thei
e Theater's Production of it," says Robinson
the show's success and
tperience, she was invited She agrees with
n January as a guest artist laid-back personal
he's been asked to remain propped atop her <
ember and she's accepted. case at au s^e S2
row," says Robinson, "so knee injury,
enough in teaching and it's "I ajwayS ca|j 1
here. says. "I tore two
pie that will be the Diana show."
icksons of tomorrow right Back inside the
Vrts," says Robinson. "So rehearsing, she pu
ment to urge on a
, Robinson moved to New "No, no, no," s
andmother and sister when moment of near p<
son says.
/e of Winston-Salem, now Her motto is to
community center worker, tainment industry,
ance seriously. But it was says. "They must
who knpw Inno hf?fnrp art " cavrc
^ UVI , 'I IV
?hter had talent. "I know I'm a
it," she says. "She would "I have to be. Dar
oogie all day in my crib." kids now, they tel
given the needed family motivates me.
hing else mattered. "I've had a su
ever got married," Robin- done a lot. I've s(
to get divorced, because it lot. I hope that I
larriage and a career. things, but right n
KM M W >
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BBEgiQcaBEnn
Being the youngest person In her class won
making the points and the grades (photo b
(
Dn B
day, June 7, 1984
of 'em
oo late," she says Hashing a
settled now."
famed High School for Performulliard
School of Music, both in
Robinson's professional career
at the School of the Arts all the
appreciated.
:>n Broadway as a choreographer,
r and has appeared in numerous
and films. "Cotton Comes To
he late G o dfrey Cam bridge, Js the
^ Lmr(t) fUmc has showcased
on top of a bale of cotton," she
fs alert inrOllH#* "Qtonrl I In onrl Dd
>u MIJV> 1MVIUUV ULUI1U VJ p awu ut
unny Lady," and she has danced
ented Ben Vereen and Barbara
unts singer, dancer and' actress
now appears on the NBC sitcom
* one her closest friends and has
le best dance companies, some of
n Ailey, Talley Beatty and Martha
he small community center where
noons for providing her with the
ihe now volunteers at the Art-Is
mmunity arts organization, as a
her.
nted to put it back where I got it
all of Robinson's professional ex)ld
in two breaths. But her reasons
ston-Salem are not only noble but
?1 of the Arts) trying to attract a lot
" she says, "and it was felt that
ded someone to identify with and
n to see that someone black made
i, "even with obstacles."
the suggestion that she possesses a
ity. And one might think her feet
desk is proof of it, which is not the
ivs, but rather to comfort an old
Tremonisha' the jinx show," she
cartilages and a ligament in that
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ts the interview on hold for a modancer.
;he says, and then watches for that
?rfection. "Yes, that's it," Robinbe
a "triple threat" in the enterwhich
is what she made it on, she
be able to sing, to dance and to
hard instructor," says Robinson,
icing is hard. It's a discipline. The
1 me they're glad I'm here. That
ccessful career," she says. "I've
ren a lot and I've accomplished a
can go on to bigger and better
ow, it's their turn."
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t stop Susan Harrison from
y James Parker).