THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 TAG: 9505170047
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONYA WOODS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Happy feet were dancing. Curious faces were smiling. And sparkling eyes were watching at the Hampton University Laboratory School as The South African Peace Train made a stopover on Tuesday.
For many of the youngsters in the audience, the songs and dances meant fun time at school. But for 14-year-old Xolile Khoza of South Africa, this celebration had greater significance.
``Now it is great in South Africa,'' she said when asked about her country under black leadership. ``We can go to school with the white children. It is a great life.''
Through the universal language of music, The South African Peace Train, comprised of 35 singers and dancers from South Africa, is touring the United States in celebration of its homeland's first year of majority rule after nearly 50 years of apartheid. The performers range in age from 10 to 24.
Teaching students how to say good morning in the Zulu language and telling stories about the gold mines of South Africa, the group gave a spirited presentation for the students at the Laboratory School, a non-graded school at Hampton University for children ages 3 to 10.
Five-year-old Tiffany Birts said she enjoyed everything the group shared with her class during their 1 1/2-hour performance, especially the songs.
``It sounded wonderful,'' she said.
The Peace Train's purpose is to let people know everyone can come together in peace, said South African-born Sharon Katz, the group's director. With black, white and East Indian South Africans, The Peace Train is an example of unity.
``We're showing people that we have democracy and that we support democracy,'' she said.
Democracy, Katz said, is one of the main reasons the group decided to bring the show to America.
The South African Peace Train began in 1992 in the city of Durban, which most of the performers call home. About 500 children in 10 choirs were brought together to sing against apartheid, Katz said.
``We went to various sponsors in the city and appealed to them to help us travel through South Africa by train to perform,'' she said. And thus the name was conceived. For about two years, the children traveled South Africa with messages of peace. The group now has been pared to 50 members, and in April 35 began touring the United States.
While teaching others their lesson of hope, the performers also have been learning about themselves. Teresa Lottering and her son Jerrin, 10, have been with the group since its inception. Teresa said traveling with her son has opened her eyes to more of his talents.
``At first I thought he'd have a few problems,'' she said. ``But I'm finding he interacts very well with the American children and he's becoming more independent.''
So far, The Peace Train has performed at Disney World's Epcot Center in Florida, at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and in Cincinnati. The group will end its U.S. tour in June with stops in Washington, Harlem and Philadelphia. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
LAWRENCE JACKSON/Staff
The members of The South African Peace Train project perform before
the students at Hampton University Laboratory School.
Ailene Clotide, 11, of Durban, South Africa, helps Cameron Askew, 3,
with an instrument during one of the singalongs. The group will end
its tour of the United States in June.
by CNB