RELIGION, B8 THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1991 * * ? *? 1 V ' ? Community News c T?* NCSA senior is high achiever Ballerina wants to see more blacks involved By PATRICIA SMITH-DEERING Community News Editor When Monica Johnson chose ballet as her profession, she knew she had entered an area not overly populated with African-Americans. But, since she was three years old and started training, she has not regretted her choice. Monica enrolled in the Pre-Professional Program at the North Carolina School of the Arts to continue her study of ballet when she started fourth grade. She had previously stud ied at Moore Studio for a year. After four years in the program, she advanced to the school's professional program where for the last six years she has had a mixture of academic and dance classes. The days can be long, she said. "Sometimes I'm in school until six, and with rehearsals, it's nine," she added with only a slight trace of fatigue. _ While her chosen career is a grueling one, it's one that the NCSA senior would like to see mmmamrnaa more African- Americans Photo by LB. Speas Jr. Monica Johnson listens attentively to pointers from world-renowned choreographer, Pearl Primus. involved in. She is one of a few African-American stu dents at NCSA studying ballet. She is working hard to exc^l and set an example. "I want to be one who achieves and let other blacks know it's there," -she explained. She expressed a desire for African-American teachers of ballet at the school. "There is only one black teacher here," she said, noting Mabel Robinson, a renowned choreographer and member of the faculty at NCSA. Monica feels that the lack of more African- Americans at the school may have contribut ed to the reasons some have not remained there. "I've seen a lot of my friends leave the school," she said, "That con cern^me." She questioned some of the school's require ments noting, "Debbie Allen (well-known African-Ameri can actress and dancer) audi tioned and didn't make it because they said she was too short." As for herself, Monica feels that NCSA has provided her with a solid educational background and has allowed her "to grow, learn, and participate in many activities." She has danced in several plays, most notably in the school's annual per formance of "The Nutcracker." , Last year, Monica won first place in the dance competition (ballet category) at the NAACP Talent Show. Her prize was a trip to California to participate in the 1990 National ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Techno logicaTand Scientific Olympics) Competition, also sponsored by the NAACP. She said her experience last year inspired her to practice harder to sharpen her ballet skills even more in preparation for the 1991 competition. Monica's hard work paid off. She has repeated her winning ways this year in the local competition and hopes to obtain sponsors to assist her in her trip to the 1991 National -ACT-SO competition to be held in Houston, Tex., July 5-8. In describing the competition she said, "Students from all over the country participate in this event, and awards are given in several different categories including singing, dancing, speechmaking, and photogra phy." Daughter of Evelyn Johnson, Monica has two brothers: Gilbert Jr. and Jerome. While the love of her life is ballet dancing, she does take time for hobbies including swimming and bicycling. She managed time to work part time to earn money for the Nissan Sentra^he bought herself. Always goal-oriented, she wants a career as a lawyer, as well as a balleri na. At some point in her life, she would like to have a business of her own. Monica looks forward to college once she has completed her studies at NCSA. In her growing resume she describes her main goal: "I hope to accomplish the positive endeavors in life ? to become someone special in my eyes, as well as others', and for people to look at me as someone who has accomplished a lot in life." I've seen a lot of my friends leave the school:1. That concerns me. " ? * t - Monica Johnson Photo by L.B. Speas Jr.. NCSA ballerina, Monica Johnson, Is working hard to prepare for July ACT-SO Competition. . , By PATRICIA SMITH-PEERING Community New:; f ditot ^ , , ? ? The weekend was a time of celebration fc%mm return of two more of Our Folks. ForNavy Fireman Fredricko Delano Fair and Army First Lieutenant Bryan Hampton Blue, it was a homecoming that gave each man a hero's welcome for a job exceeding^Wetf^^ done. - / V - |fp| ft M * Fair Fare* Weil At Post Party ? Rw%!% jf| , love being back home except they won't let me sleep!" said an exhausted Fireman Fredricko jjplllf after a weekend of festivities that began with bis "Wel come Home" party at the American Legion Post #453 : "Saturday night Right up to the last minute, friends and relatives who had gathered there were not certain that the guest of honor would arrive in time. It was a tensel few hours with one of his sisters, Telissa Fair, franti cally checking die airport in Greensboro for the arrival 1 of bis flight ^ - j | Meanwhile, the brief ceremony proceeded with j Fair's father standing in lor hint. Alderman Larry Wombie presented a plaque to Mr. and Mrs. Fair to recognition of their son's valor and service. The PostS Commander, James Wilson, also made brief remarks.?! Quests availed themselves oflhe splendid buffet t^ble ' goodies, and the deejay added spirit to the already- ? charged atmosphere. . Finally* the wait was worth it when the airport taxi drove up, and Fair was virtually,. mobbed by his family and friends. Fair, who had returned from the Rersian s Gulf with the crew of die U.S.S. Wisconsin to Norfolk, ?; Va? a week or so earlier, received the hugs and kiises he had been waiting for from his parents, his sisters Ill pilll . ?: PhotetjyUB.$0ea$Jf* Navy Fireman F redricko 0; Fair admires pttqua his parents, William and Shhley Fair; received wtiffa waiting for his arrival at Satur day celebration* Telfssa and Treba, and his brothers William and Romero, as well as others in the family. He has a sis ter,Lene6r who is in the Navy also. Later, describing his experience overseas, Fair ' i " ' t '? Photo by i%. Speas Jr. ?lotninq Fireman Fradrleko 0. Fair and his parents are (l-r): William McDonald, Poat Service OHicor. TeMssa Fair, sister; and lJ^WUson,Commander o! American Laglon Poat #453. said, "Being over there, it was a hurry^Mp-and-wait sit uation" until the war started. Even though everyone knew it was coming, he said it was hard to believe. "But, everybody Was happy that it did" he added; He was in the cngi nccring department working beneath the ship's water line in the "shaft alleys11 which was not the best location on the ship, given the constant threat of mines in the water. "If we were struck, we would have been in more trouble because we were so low ? already below the water," he recalled. He was not con- . cemed, however, because "the ship was welMwiilt" ?, Fair, who joined the Navy a year after his gradua tion from jRJ, Reynolds High School in 1989, said that the war gave him "a real good sense of how the mili tary works.* He explained, "Regardless of differences,, you tt^huiave with aiotfier&ew But. heha those* 111 'Everyon* oni iS&i m ?1 ssented the few bec__? ? prepared to ^wfa^jn posed to do.* ; < | "s l * J - pL Noting bis pleasure in being/home * I said, "too cbys ag<* 1 was jMcJ* Idays later. I'm standing in die green gras couple wilt leave sometime tMswee* i moon destination and depatturtdrtiftthat making public at this tifne, Spfpi H combat leave until May 6, a^'wfii^tll ; Infantry Ga., for five months.When :y Will career | "Wherever i go, she's going"And Mrs ^i!l HP anXH ?n