THEIR TURN IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Bright lights, challenging scripts, lavish costumes, an empty stage -- a lot of kids like to act, but not everyone gets the opportunity.

VSA arts of Indiana tries to give everyone a chance at being center stage, especially people with disabilities. With flexible weekly classes, which are expanded in the summer, students ages 7 to 75 can get involved in drama, music, pottery and visual arts.

VSA studios operates from the Harrison Center for the Arts in Downtown Indianapolis, where the organization has been located since 2000.

Nathan, 19, India, 12, and Nick Bledsoe, 10, and Henry Miller, 16, have been involved at the center for several years and don't let their physical, emotional or developmental difficulties limit their artistic aspirations.

"I'm a people person, and I like to act," explained Nathan.

"There's nobody who gets turned away," said Julie Kleiman, interpreter for Henry, a North Central freshman. While Henry is mostly nonverbal, has developmental disabilities, and uses a wheelchair, he loves music and has been in the program for three years.

According to Kleiman, Henry appreciates the inclusive atmosphere at VSA arts, especially "being around the other kids and watching them have fun and being able to participate himself and get a reaction from the other kids."

The Bledsoes come from a family of 16 and are home-schooled, so they are used to being around a lot of other kids. However, they enjoy the variety of activities available at VSA arts. While Nick and Nathan love the drama classes, India prefers making pottery.

At VSA arts, participants have access to a pottery wheel, clay, a kiln and loads of art supplies. Course instructors are professional artists. There also is a big stage -- which is where Nick and Nathan like to be.

Drama class starts with stretching exercises, which everyone enjoys, especially Henry. "I think his favorite part of it is when they get warmed up at the beginning of class, and the instructor puts on some music and has them make some physical actions to loosen up. Then everybody gets up and dances and moves around and gets comfortable with themselves, and he really likes that," said Kleiman.

Afterward, the students work on skits. Most are simple, such as acting out a story, but some are more involved and require memorization. This can be difficult for Nathan, who says he is "very forgetful." However, he's learned what all actors know: "I just make up new lines."

Nick also gets nervous and prefers smaller roles, and India does not like to have the spotlight on her: "I like to be with a bunch of people because I get a little nervous," she said.

Kids often find a role for Henry, too. "Some of the other children who are more high-functioning, they actually approach Henry and want to include him in the skit with them," Kleiman said.

The Bledsoes say the drama class has helped them when they create their own skits at home and at their church. "We already liked acting and everything, but it helped us with doing it better than we did," explained Nick.

It also has helped them feel more confident of their abilities. "Usually I just feel really tensed up because everyone's watching you, but when you start doing it and you forget about everyone else, it's better. It's really fun and you just get over it," Nick added.

The program has helped Henry to feel comfortable with people he doesn't know. "It not only lets the people involved express themselves, it builds their confidence and helps them to feel good about themselves, and it teaches them how to get along with other people," Kleiman said.

The program also exposes participants to a wide range of people. Those with disabilities learn they are not alone. And for those without special needs, "it teaches them that (people who do) are just humans like everybody else, and they can have a lot of fun and there's nothing that's scary about it," Kleiman said.

"I think it's real important for a kid, especially like Henry, to have a place like this to come to," added Mary Miller, Henry's mom.

Nick agreed. "I think it's wonderful to act with other people."

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Justin Riley, 17.

REPORTERS: Clare Welch, 12; Renee Wellman, 11.

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Making the arts accessible

Formerly called Very Special Arts of Indiana, VSA arts of Indiana has made the arts accessible to people with disabilities for more than 20 years. With headquarters in Indianapolis at the Harrison Center, it has district offices in eight other communities in Indiana to extend the reach of its programs and services.

VSA arts of Indiana is the Indiana affiliate of VSA arts, an international educational program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a statewide board of directors, and receives funding from the Indiana Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Indiana Arts Commission, among other institutions.

For more information, contact VSA arts at (317) 974-4123, or visit www.vsai.org.

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Who we are

Y-Press is a nonprofit news organization with offices in The Indianapolis Star building. Stories are researched, reported and written by teams of young people ages 10 to 18. For more information, call (317) 444-2010 or send an e-mail to ypress@in.net.

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