Joys of Brazil Are Evident at Benefit

Blame it on Rio--that’s the reason the ballroom of the Four Seasons hotel in Newport Beach was filled Saturday night with dancers in colorful costumes gyrating to music with a Brazilian beat.

The American Heart Assn. Orange County Chapter chose “Road to Rio” as the theme for its 12th annual Heart to Heart Gala. The $250-per-person dinner-dance and auction attracted more than 400 guests and raised about $100,000 for the association.

Mambo Kings

“This is one of the year’s best parties,” said Patti Wellman, gala committee member. “It’s Le Masquerade that does it.”

Entertainment by the World Fantasy Performers of Le Masquerade, a New York City-based troupe of dancers, mimes and actors, makes the Heart to Heart Gala a top draw on the local party circuit. The group put on the equivalent of a Broadway revue, with lavish costumes, dancing and lip-syncing to favorite tunes from “Guys and Dolls” and “Crazy for You,” plus a few Latin numbers. Performers then dashed out among the tables and pulled guests out on the dance floor.

“They make everyone dance. Nobody’s left out,” said Evelyn Parrella, vice-chairwoman of the gala, who wore a black and red sequined sheath.

Guests, inspired by the Latin theme, wore colorful evening wear that in a few cases resembled Carmen Miranda costumes. Gala chairwoman Jolene Engel wore a hot pink and white gown covered in huge ruffles.

“This is my wedding dress. I had the color of the bodice changed from pale pink to fuchsia for tonight,” said Engel, who attended with her husband, Richard. “I thought the ruffles were appropriate for Rio.”

For Engel, it was her first stint as a gala chairwoman.

“Having a theme gets people in the mood,” she said. “Rio’s very festive, very hot right now.”

Latin Flavor

To carry out the Rio theme, towering centerpieces shaped like palm trees stood at each table. Guests received a glitzy jeweled mask and maraca to carry onto the dance floor. “I got a stack of books and read up on Rio,” said Judy Barry, decorations chairwoman.

Thanks to Barry’s handiwork, each of the 119 auction baskets contained an elaborate mask. One romantic-looking basket--filled with Lalique crystal wine glasses--featured a gold valentine mask with red hearts and feathers.

Guests enjoyed Brazilian fare for dinner, including oxtail consomme, grilled marinated shrimp over julienne vegetables with chili lime dressing and baked sea bass with herb crust. Dessert was inspired by the Rio coast: tropical fruit bombe adorned with a miniature chocolate palm tree planted in a sandy beach of brown sugar.

Good for the Heart

Proceeds from the gala will support cardiovascular research and educational programs conducted by the heart association throughout Orange County.

“This helps us get the word out about modifying behavior and becoming heart-healthy,” said Don Chou, chairman of the local heart association board.

Tom and Lee-Ann Siffermann received the Lifetime Achievement Award for their longtime support of the association. Like many guests, they have personal reasons for their involvement.

“I found out I had high blood pressure and then my mother died of heart disease, so this is important to me,” said Tom Siffermann, past board chairman. “It’s a wonderful program.”

Other guests were event co-chairwoman Susie Hernandez and husband Dan, David and Tayla Abrahamson, Zee Allred, Harry and Jule Eberlin, Jim and Patty Edwards, Laurence and Cerise Feeley, Ronald and Bobbi Felsot, Victor and Karen Hardin, Bud and Paula Lingelbach, Bob and Cathy Lowden, Tita Loza, Douglas Lyle, Mike and Linda Mussallem, Victoria Pene, Patricia Rock, Sandy and Harriett Sandhu, Matthew and Tina Schafnitz, JoAnne Stewart, Scott and Patti Wellman and Renee West.