THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606280206
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER BENNETT, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 84 lines
Small faces with dark hair with pink, white and yellow barrettes, hot curls and ``Egyptian goddess'' braids occupied almost every inch of the living room rug. Some sat with their legs crossed, nibbling at their fingertips. Others chatted among themselves.
A energetic woman rose from an ottoman, clapped her hands and 19 girls straightened their backs and fixed their eyes on her.
Welcome to the home of Johneise Croxton, a 27-year-old Virginia Beach woman who, more than a year ago, founded a dance troupe called Short-n-Sweet. Divided into Jewels (ages 3 to 5), Sparkles (ages 6 to 9) and Diamonds (ages 10 to 15) the young dancers threw their hips, tossed their heads and snapped their fingers for Afr-Am Fest and Harborfest audiences. They also executed jazz, gospel, hip-hop and be-bop routines at area community centers, schools and churches this season.
The program started as an act of love.
Croxton, an administrative assistant, said she used to watch her then 2-year-old daughter, Anameka, boogie around the house day and night. When her husband, Navy Petty Officer Timothy Croxton, prepared for a six-month deployment, Croxton made plans of her own. She distributed fliers and organized an original team of six girls. To get them on stage, she called local event organizers, asking if Short-n-Sweet could perform. All agreed, she said.
``I started it to be with my daughter,'' said Croxton, a mother of four - Tyler and Grant, 7, Anameka, 4, and Timothy Jr., 2. ``Since it blew up like this, I didn't want to stop.''
The road wasn't as easy as it may sound.
Croxton, a native of Memphis, Tenn., had a lot to learn. Although she was a majorette and on the pep squad in high school, she never received formal training in dance and never did choreography before she started this group. Also, she said, last year she ``went broke'' for six months trying to put the team together. She wound up fully supporting the program herself, spending her own money for hall rentals and such. This year was better.
For one thing, her assistant, Norfolk resident Allyson Carthon, also a Navy wife and mother of four, has kept Croxton from carrying the whole burden alone. They discuss the troupe by phone several times a day. Carthon assists in every way possible, Croxton said.
Supportive parents have made a big difference, too. Croxton attributed the team's current success to the involvement of the parents. One woman and her three daughters cut grass to raise money for the team.
``This year's parents are there for everything,'' said Croxton. ``If we just say `boo' they're here.''
Largely from Navy families, both parents and their daughters said there are numerous benefits to the program. One mother drove from Suffolk two to three evenings a week for her daughter to participate. Cynthia Smith, of Suffolk, said it was worth the trip.
At one time, her daughter Adonica, 14, was getting in with the wrong crowd. She wanted to redirect her daughter's attention through the dance troupe, Smith said. Since Adonica joined Short-n-Sweet, both her attitude and her grades have improved.
Other young dancers and parents echoed those sentiments, commenting on the changes they saw in the girls.
``My daughter had low self-esteem,'' said Neicy Holloman of Virginia Beach. ``She went from a medium child to an active confident child and her grades have reflected that.'' Nikki Holloman, 12 and a student at Plaza Middle School, had her own idea of the group's importance.
``This helped me to learn how to be committed to something and not to try to get out of doing things,'' she said. ``And don't hold back.''
Other girls agreed adding that Croxton has a tough, but loving, style of teaching.
Croxton developed a merit system that keeps the girls in line. Dancers lose points by misbehaving. Too many points means no stage performance.
In addition, the program acts as a social outlet for all.
Raised by her father, John W. Lofton, Croxton said she wants to supply the girls with all the motherly attention they need.
``I want them to have enough faith in themselves to know they can accomplish anything,'' Croxton said.
Short-n-Sweet is scheduled for future performances, too. For information, call 631-9432. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Ashley KIng, left, Anameka Croxton and Laquana Montgomery are
members of the dance troupe, Short-n-Sweet, formed by Johneise
Croxton, back right, and assisted by Allyson Carthon. by CNB