Dancers

Joyce Rudolph NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Square dancers will promenade and do-si-do at the 11th annual Square Dance Jamboree benefiting City of Hope Cancer Center from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. More than 800 square dancers and line dancers from throughout California will attend the event, sponsored by the City of Hope's David Saul Heck Chapter on behalf of the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute.

GLENDALE -- Dressed in traditional western wear, hundreds of square dancers from throughout the state did the do-si-do for a good cause Sunday. More than 800 square dancers participated in the 11th Annual Square Dance Jamboree, benefiting the City of Hope Cancer Center. Proceeds from the square dancing festival at the Glendale Civic Auditorium will be used for research and treatment of cancer, diabetes and aids. Organizers said they raised at least $16,000 for the Cancer Center.

Highly pedigreed? You bet. Well-known in the dance world? No question. But Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary have also passed the acid test: As directors of the Los Angeles Ballet, now in its sixth season, they can take a collective bow for their thoroughly sterling production of “Swan Lake.” Just remember, not any old company can stage this icon of classical ballet. Oh, many with lesser artistic resources try. But to put on a show of so fine a caliber normally takes a bigger-than-big budget, dancer bench-depth, masterly and dedicated coaching.

Lanterman Auditorium in La Cañada will be the venue April 19 when Lineage Dance performs "Dancing Through the Ages" as a benefit for the Desi Geestman Foundation. Curtain time is 8 p.m. The foundation was formed in 1999 in memory of the Desi Geestman, a 12-year-old La Crescenta girl who died of neuroblastoma. The foundation has helped cancer patients and their families with support both financially and emotionally. "We work with so many charities throughout the year," said Hilary Thomas, Lineage artistic director.

BYUIncredible costumes and fast-paced footwork created by Ballroom Dance Company. From sleight-of-hand costume changes on stage to magnificent choreography and special effects, the Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company left their sold-out audience spellbound Friday night at the Alex Theatre. "Light Up the Night" showcased 36 of the group's 160 students in the dance program that competes in national and international events, artistic director Lee Wakefield said. The group is the reigning U.S. National Dance champion in formation dance and won 14 of 16 British Formation Championships.

Dancers from the Nairi Dance Group wore colorful costumes with elaborate embroidery and performed for a full house Sunday at the Alex Theatre. The Hamazkayin Armenian Educational Cultural Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the Armenian language, traditions and culture, hosted the event to showcase the talent of dancers, singers and musicians ranging in age from 5 to 25. Youngsters in the group?s ?Munchkins? class took to the stage and performed a traditional Armenian dance, followed by the more advanced dancers.

Fred Ortega Alenoush Ellen Mirzaians began taking dance classes last fall at Glendale Community College and immediately fell in love with the program. So when the UCLA business school graduate realized that the college's dance department was being forced to cancel several classes due to a lack of funding, she decided to spring into action. The result of Mirzaians' efforts is "Heartbeat," a collaboration of dance and live music. The production, which brings together professional and student dancers, choreographers and musicians, will be held Aug. 26, 27 and 28 at the Glendale Community College Auditorium, with all proceeds going to the college's dance program.

Judy Seckler With rich, flowing costumes saturated with color, the Korean Classical Music and Dance Co. brought a taste of culture Friday to the students at Balboa Elementary School. The company, whose members include master of ceremonies Dongsuk Kim, Inja Park and Won Chung, are part of the downtown Music Center's Education Department. The dancers used native Korean music, percussive instruments and brightly painted props to enhance their performance.

Open auditions for the Glendale Community College theater arts department production of Clifford Odet's "Waiting for Lefty" will be held Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 in the Auditorium mainstage theater from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. "Waiting for Lefty" will open Oct. 26 and run for three weekends. There will also be nonspeaking parts for marathon dancers. The dancers do not have to have special skills to participate. To be cast, students have to be enrolled in at least one unit of the theater arts workshop TA 162. Performers must also enroll in either a costume class or a backstage lab class.