European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 28, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Several Slmaa a week Ira make Latoya la Trah formed from american High school student to a punted out dancer for t4jeaua Chr Tat superstar at the state theater in Saa Brucken  dancer Steps out with the pros by Steven scholar Kaiserslautern Bureau \ Ira Mikelatos Waits anxiously backstage As the curtain goes up and the theater fills with a Ghostlike Mist then As a Cross rises from the stage and a 40-piece German orchestra plays a familiar Melody the american teen Ager prepares to go onstage. N Mikelatos is a Sophomore at Ramstein High school in Germany but she s not your Ordinary High school student. Several times weekly the 17-year-old puts on a costume gets her hair spiked and sprayed cd spends hours having her makeup put on just right and then performs in front of hundreds of people. Mikelatos is an aspiring professional dancer appearing in a production of Jesus Christ superstar at the Staat theater in Saa Brucken Germany. Her journey to her superstar role began when she put on her first Ballet slippers As a child. Quot i started dancing Many years ago. At the time i did t know i wanted to become a professional dancer but now i do Quot she said. Quot i have been taking Ballet lessons and preparing for Many  Mikelatos is the daughter of Ursula and it. Col Spiros Mikelatos. Her father is a physician assigned to the Ramstein a clinic. Appearing in 42 performances of the 19703-Era stage show. She joined the show in Luxembourg recently before the musical moved to Saa Brucken. She is paid a set rate for every show and rehearsal and receives additional compensation for Road performances and extra time spent at the theater. Despite the experience Mikelatos does t consider herself a professional dancer. Quot my first goal is to continue my education and graduate from a Good Ballet school Quot she said. Quot dancing is hard work and becoming a professional takes a lot of practice and Effort. But i think i have  apparently that s an opinion others share. Mikelatos Ballet teacher Marlene Herrenleben said the Young dancer is brimming with Talent. Quot i m trying to develop professional dancers in my Ballet class. Ira is very talented and will make an excellent dancer Quot she said. Mikelatos who is continuing with her Ballet lessons was recommended As a dancer for Jesus Christ superstar by her Ballet teacher Quot the audition went Well and i got a part Quot the teen said. Quot it s really a Rush performing in front of people and hearing the applause at the end. I get hyper before performing on  she said that being a dancer and performing requires physical and mental preparation and Good dancing technique. Although this is her first part while living in Germany performing onstage is not new to her. She had parts in West Side Story and the Nutcracker while living in California and Texas. Here As in her earlier stage appearances so of puts m Many hours at rehearsal Quot most of my time is spent at the theater Quot she said. Quot for now i have to put my social life on hold dancing is very important to me and is now my first priority. But i still find time to do my Homework. Mikelatos said she has made a lot of friends in the theater and that helps her Cope. Quot there Are germans americans French and australians performing in Jesus Christ superstar we re like a Large family Quot she explained her parents Hope that All the hard work she has put into her performances will pay off. She wants a speaking part in her next role Quot her Mother said Quot and this will be Good preparation Lor her Quot Mike atos we appear onstage two or three times weekly Unm the musical ends its run on june 19, 1993s&s photos by John Bohme Jesus is beaten and taunted in this scene of  the teen Ager will earn about $4,000 for Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday november 28, 1992