BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Senior’s spring dance recital this week

Forty-seven students will perform 14 numbers in many styles of jazz, modern, ballet and hip-hop to the music of artists including Ray Charles, Tina Turner, George Benson, Peggy Lee, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake when the Laguna Beach High School Dance Department presents “Nine,” its senior dance program, at 7:30 tonight and Saturday.

An original piano composition by sophomore Sawyer Pierce will also be part of the eclectic show at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach.

Seven guest choreographers lent their skills to the program, according to Lisa Jay, head of the Dance Department. The guest choreographers include Tracey Bonner, a Broadway transplant, and Erika Fernandez of Kyne Dance Academy.

“When dancers get to work with different choreographers, they learn to dance and move in a different way, and they become more adept at dancing different styles and genres of dance,” Jay said. “Students increase their own dance vocabulary when working with other choreographers, which can help when they have to choreograph on their own.”

Laguna Beach High School is among just 14% of public secondary schools nationally which have dance as part of their daily curriculum. This strong commitment on the part of the district produces dancers who have the technique and stamina to go on to dance in college or professionally in pursuit of their dreams.

Tickets are $8 for students and seniors; $12 for adults and $15 reserved. The box office will be open at (949) 497-7769 from 4 to 6 p.m. daily and at 5 p.m. each evening of the show.

Pacific Symphony free concert Monday

Class Act and the Pacific Symphony will treat El Morro Elementary students and their families to a free concert at 7 p.m. Monday. This event is presented by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, as part of their Class Act partnership with El Morro.

Pacific Symphony’s five-piece string ensemble, featuring bassist Doug Basye, will perform. Basye has been teaching at El Morro since November, provided to the school by Class Act, as a “teaching artist.”

The Family Night concert in the multipurpose room will be relaxed, inter-active, and introduce parents to the same learning tools students enjoyed in class.

The short concert will include music, door prizes, a chance to meet and talk with each musician, and refreshments.

Local club branch celebrates fourth year

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach-TLC Branch will host their Annual “Happy Birthday” party and Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bluebird Park.

All are welcome to help celebrate four years as part of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

Attendees can meet the staff and enjoy breakfast hosted by the Emerald Bay Fire Department. Children can enjoy craft and game tables and bounce house before they open presents that the community has donated based on the club’s “wish list.”

The wish list may be viewed by visiting www.bgclaguna.org.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased on the day of the event or pre-purchased through the club. For more information, call (949) 494-7630 or e-mail [email protected]

Enrollment open for Playhouse classes

Children ages 6 through 18 are invited learn the skills of performing live on stage by enrolling in one of the Laguna Playhouse Spring 2009 Youth Theatre Classes.

Spring acting classes are eight weeks long and are held one evening per week.

End of the class showcases or demonstrations are presented to families and friends. Classes are held at the Laguna Playhouse Production Center in Laguna Hills, taught by Jane Hilary, now in her 16th year as instructor.

Hilary studied at the Royal Theatre Company in England as well as taught and directed both adults and young people. She is a professional actress, stage manager and private coach.

The fee for each eight week class is $140. For more information or to enroll in a class, call Kelly Herman at (949) 497-2787, ext. 230. Additional information can be found on The Laguna Playhouse website at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

Museum hosts ‘Imagination’ events

Laguna Art Museum invites families to be part of the Imagination Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.

The Imagination Celebration is a collaboration with professional arts organizations, cities, schools, libraries, colleges, universities and community venues to offer affordable arts experiences in every Orange County community. This year’s theme is “Ignite the Power of Art.”

Admission is free thanks to a donation from the Arts Council, a support group of Laguna Art Museum.

Arts projects and facilitators:

?Colleen Corbett presents a program called Krazy Fish, where kids can create a spinning mobile to hang from a doorway, light fixture, or wall by decorating a fish cutout using crayons, pencils, and collage on both sides of the fish. Finish it off with googly eyes and a colorful pipe-cleaner hanger.

?Mike Tauber will teach kids how to create a Tribal Totem head of a tribal figure, starting with a cardboard cylinder, adding fringy hair, noodley eyes and mouth, and drawing on face paint for good luck. A feather can also be added for fun.

?Reem Khalil leads a workshop called Sunergy Key Rings, where kids can take a key ring and attach a sun-shaped leather medallion, with colored strings and cloth.

?Suzette Rosenthal will present a workshop called Creative Collage, where kids can select a color of paper and make a design, pattern or picture, then glue on candy wrappers, curly strips, and torn paper pieces.

For more information about the Imagination Celebration, call (949) 494-8971, ext. 207

Grapes for Grads fundraiser is Sunday

The Fourth Annual Grapes for Grads Wine Tasting and Scholarship fundraiser will be noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Tivoli Too!, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

Grapes for Grads raises funds to provide scholarships to continuing education students of Laguna Beach High School and Laguna College of Art and Design.

This year’s event will showcase local and regional wines from more than a dozen wineries and distributors. Live musical entertainment will be provided by a trio of young composers. In addition, students from Laguna College of Art and Design will exhibit work and perform demonstrations in painting and digital media.

A Silent Auction and Opportunity Drawing will be part of the ticket price. Food is extra.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Laguna Beach jointly host this annual event.

This year they are proud to announce the formation of the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce Foundation, to raise money for local student scholarships.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $30, or $35 at the event, and include unlimited wine tasting for guests older than 21 years.

For more information, contact Jeffrey Redeker, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce president, (949) 838-4118 or visit www.GrapesForGrads.com to purchase tickets online.