European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 1, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 a the stars and stripes education monday March 1,1093 by Dave Walczak staff writer Ober Wesel Germany a satisfaction for Sara Short came in two words. A they laughed a for three Days Sara hoped they would yet feared they would t. She and her teen age colleagues in a comic acting class had rehearsed their tines so often Over three Days that the 16-year-old Patch High school Junior could almost hear them in her sleep. But the laughter that erupted from thursday night s Audi once was no dream. The chortle were part of the final act of creative connections a four Day annual workshop that attracts about 150 american High school students from throughout Germany for classes in performing and visual arts. The goals of the workshop Are the same today As they were 13 years ago a when Germany Region arts administrators gave birth to the creative connections concept. A we provide professional artists who teach creative techniques that High school students Aren t usually exposed to Quot said Carol Mauch Art and humanities coordinator for department of defense dependents schools in Germany. Mauch one of the founders of the program said creative connections tilts a curriculum void found in traditional secondary education settings. A there s so much emphasis on sports and athletics at that age. But there Are kids who have so much Talent in the arts who often go unrecognized. Arts Are an important part of  that importance was emphasized through the 10 arts classes at Ober Wcisel five each in the performing and visual arts. More than 300 students applied for the 150 slots at the workshop. Classwork teacher recommendations and Brief essays by students explaining Why they want to attend were used to determine who could enrol. Those accepted were excused from their schools for a week. Each student pays 220 Marks $138 to attend creative connections held at a modern youth Hostel overlooking the Rhine River. The Cost includes room and Board. Mauch arranged for instructors four of whom came from the United states to Lead each of the 10 classes. The majority of instructors and assistants Are arts teachers drawn from Dodds schools in Germany. One of the stateside instructors this Holly Smith 17, a senior at Nornberg High school warms up before her dance class performance thursday night creative connections classes offered to High schoo students at the 1993 Creg Tiv connections As workshop a of Dpi performing arts a. A character development Obj i a comic acting j a dance a play it by ear music ensemble a show choir students enrolled in the character development class strike a variety of poses. Vla Ual aria ,. A. A cartooning a computer Art a Mon printing a paper casting a water Cotor printing 4 Sas year is John Carr making his fifth appearance at creative connections the former drama professor at the University of Maryland guided Sara and others through the comic acting class. His concept was to merge dialogue and Short skits into a fast paced routine which he described As a mix of a vaudeville and  his toughest Job was forcing the members of his Young troupe to focus their Energy so that their 25-minute routine would flow avoiding jumps and starts that typify Many High school theater productions. \ a with High school students you often encounter this invisible Wall Quot he said. A the kids deliver their lines and then there Are these great pauses. In a trying to teach these kids to get rid of  or Bas photo 6y div is a Cathe Houston 17, of Patch High school takes a break from classes with her friends Danielle Flahuve 18, who talks with Moira a Vickman 16, right both of Kaiserslautern. Carr s design pointed toward thursday night when his class would perform before the creative connections student body and faculty along with parents and other students. By the time the annual creative connections Windup began at 7 30 p.m., More than 250 people had jammed the youth Hostel auditorium to see what four Days of performing arts curriculum might produce. Anticipation Wasny to limited to the audience. �?o1 kept telling myself i m not nervous a a Sara said following the 90-minute performance shared by the five per forming arts classes. A but when 1 was on stage f looked Down and my hands were sweating and in be got these sewing machine legs that  Stop moving. However the audience was More interested in what she and other cast members said than in her hands and legs. A i did t think it would work Sara said referring to the skits she and her classmates had rehearsed. A i just could not see it until tonight. But then i was out there and they re laughing. Funny he hardest thing. 1 Punk can be funny 1 can do anything