Troupe inspires Bucksport youth

BUCKSPORT – They’re young, talented, energetic, and they bring with them a positive message for young people.

They are the Young Americans, a California-based outreach performing arts group that travels the country offering workshops on all aspects of the performing arts as a way to encourage an interest in music and to bolster young people’s faith in their own abilities.

“They’re a very positive group of young people,” said Bob Sinclair, assistant principal at Bucksport High School, where the Young Americans have been working for the past few days. “You spend some time with them, and you can’t help but be impressed with America’s youth and our community’s youth.

“This kind of thing reinforces the belief that kids are wonderful.”

The group generates a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement, according to Morita Tapley of Morita’s School of Dance and Morgan Hill Performing Arts, who helped to arranged the troupe’s visit to the area.

“It can change the life of the students who take the workshop,” Tapley said. “It gives them a chance to do something they haven’t had the chance to do before. They have the opportunity to try something new.”

Young Americans was founded in 1962. Initially a performing group, the organization began its international outreach program 10 years ago and has been traveling to schools throughout the country and around the world.

The group made presentations in 1999 in Newport and Hampden. They stress that the participants, who pay $45 each to attend the three days of workshops, do not need to have any prior experience in singing, dancing or theater to take part.

That was certainly the case for Bucksport sophomore Leona Laue, who hadn’t planned to attend the workshops until she saw how much fun her younger sister was having.

“I never had the chance to do anything like this before,” she said. “I never thought I could do it. It’s great to see that I can do it and remember it the next day.”

That’s the Young Americans’ message, according to Marnie Buckner of Wichita, Kan., one of the 40 performers-teachers traveling this year with the group.

“They can do anything,” Buckner said. “We use music as a way to encourage kids, to build self-confidence and teamwork. Music is a way to get through to kids.”

The workshops expose the youngsters, who range from third-graders to high school seniors, to how powerful a medium music can be, said Adam Simon of Baton Rouge, La., another Young Americans teacher-performer.

“This helps kids to build confidence and learn more about themselves,” he said. “They can learn life lessons here. If they put their heart into it, they can accomplish anything.”

The workshops will culminate in a performance at 7:30 tonight at Bucksport High School. The Young Americans will perform in the first part of the show, and the 125 youngsters who have participated in the workshop will show what they’ve learned in the second part.

Tickets will be available at the door for $6 for adults and $4 for students.

The Young Americans will begin a new series of workshops on Sunday at Hampden Academy, with a performance scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.