Free dance performance fetes family’s 60-year tradition

48 HOURS

Anna Djanbazian will see the fruits of two years’ labor when her

company presents a free dance performance dedicated to her late

father, ballet master Sarkis Djanbazian, Sunday at The Alex Theatre

in Glendale.

Anna, who owns Djanbazian Dance Academy, has worked with 30

volunteers to create the performance given by members of the

academy’s dance company.

“We’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of the academy, which was

started by my father in Iran and is now on South Glendale Avenue,”

said Anna, the company’s artistic director.

Sarkis died in 1963 when she was 11.

“I call the show the ‘Beginning Lies in The End,’ because the

school started with my dad and I’m continuing the school, so the

connection is an arch, and what happened in between is what we will

show at The Alex.”

The celebration will combine dance performances with speakers and

a video documentary about different performances from then until

2002, sort of a history of the academy, Djanbazian said.

“I have guest artists, a soprano singer, a musician and four

different groups of alumni performing with us,” she said.

There will be an exhibition in the lobby of historic photographs,

costumes, and monitors will be showing video clips of dance

sequences.

Djanbazian expects many of her former students to attend, coming

from as far as San Francisco and New York. Some are professional

dancers but others have become doctors, lawyers and housewives. They

received their training from Anna or her father.

“It is interesting to me that even in this busy life, people will

contribute their time to be with us for this celebration,” she said.

“They still have this joy in their hearts to give again.”

A friend once told Djanbazian that once you are a dancer, this

love always stays with you.

Anna received her bachelor’s degree in classical ballet and

traditional folk stage dance in Russia. She returned to Iran and

served 12 years as producer, teacher, dancer and choreographer of her

dance academy. In 1988, she moved to the United States and

established the academy in Glendale while studying for her master’s

degree at UCLA. She formed her company in 1992.

The show, which is presented with support from the Armenian

Society of Los Angeles, begins at 5 p.m. at The Alex Theatre, 216 N.

Brand Blvd., Glendale. For more information, call 242-4403.

SPECIAL EVENTS

COMMUNITY CONCERTS CELEBRATES 50TH

The Glendale Community Concert Assn. opens its 50th anniversary

concert season on Sunday with Alborada, a five-member ensemble that

plays authentic Andean music, classical arrangements and popular

tunes.

Membership includes admission to concerts presented by affiliated

Community Concerts groups in other communities. For more information,

call 249-4625 or 248-3133.

The rest of the season will be Trio Voronezh, Oct. 27; Simon and

Son, Nov. 24; Robert Bonfiglio, Jan. 12; Hudson Shad, March 9; Common

Ground, March 29; and Alison England, April 6.

Concerts begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Glendale High School

auditorium, 1440 E. Broadway in Glendale, except for the March 29

concert, which is at Hoover High School Auditorium.

LOCAL WOMAN HAS HER ART DOWN TO THE LETTER

Burbank resident Sylvia Kowal is displaying her banner, “Human

Relations,” done in Textura letters in acrylic inks on canvas, along

with many other calligraphy artists in the “Outside the Lines” show

at Brand Library and Art Galleries in Brand Park. It is the 13th

biennial exhibit of the Society for Calligraphy Southern California,

and it continues through Sept. 14. Kowal will give a demonstration on

“Easy Pop-Up Techniques” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today.

Brand Park is at 1601 W. Mountain St. in Glendale. Gallery hours

are from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and

1 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 548-2051.

‘URBAN RETROSPECTIVE’ ON EXHIBIT

A reception is planned for the exhibit, “An Urban Retrospective,”

featuring works of the late Ben Abril, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at

Whites Gallery in Montrose. There are 15 original urban landscapes by

Abril shown and new giclee prints published by the family, including

“Angels Flight” and “Pirate Radio.”

Whites Gallery is at 2414 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose. For more

information, call 957-4071.

‘BYE BYE BIRDIE’ IN OPENING WEEKEND

The Stepping Stone Players present the musical, “Bye Bye Birdie,”

at 7 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hoover High School, 651 Glenwood

Road.

The show will continue Friday to Sept. 15 On Sunday, the matinees

will be American Sign Language interpreted performances. Tickets are

$10 and children 5 and younger are admitted free. Tickets are

available at the door or by calling 246-8822.

ON STAGE

‘ME AND MY GIRL’ AT CENTRE THEATRE

“Me And My Girl,” a musical by Rose, Furber and Gay, continues its

run with show times at 3 and 8 p.m. today at Glendale Centre Theatre.

The show combines memorable music with comic writing. Nonstop

tomfoolery unfolds as a Cockney cut-up attempts to prove himself

worthy of his inheritance.

Tickets range from $14 to $16, and student and senior rates are

available. For reservations, call 244-8481 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. The musical continues through Oct. 12. The

theater is at 324 N. Orange St. in Glendale.

‘PINOCCHIO’ STARS IN MUSICAL

A new musical version of the classic children’s fairy tale,

“Pinocchio,” continues today at Glendale Centre Theatre.

Show time is 11 a.m. Saturdays through Nov. 16. For tickets, $8.50

to $10.50, call 244-8481 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through

Saturday. The theater is at 324 N. Orange St. in Glendale.

COLONY’S ‘CHARLIE BROWN’ ENDS RUN

The Colony Theatre Company’s Los Angeles premiere of the revised

Broadway version of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” ends its run

Sunday.

Book, music and lyrics are by Clark Gesner with a revised book and

new songs by Andrew Lippa. It is directed by Ovation and Garland

Award-winner Todd Nielsen.

Performances are at 3 and 8 p.m. today and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at

the Burbank Center Stage, 555 N. Third St. in Burbank. Tickets range

from $25 to $31. For reservations, call 558-7000.

A LITTLE JAZZ WITH DINNER

JAX OFFERS SUPPER, JAZZ EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK

Jax Bar and Grill is a supper club offering live jazz every night.

Show times are 8 p.m. to midnight Monday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Tuesday through Thursday; 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and

7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Happy Hour Jazz is 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday.

Tonight, the spotlight shines on Jason Goldman Quintet. Sunday,

it’s open-mic night with Brian Lipps. The schedule for the week is

Marty Harris on Monday, Fred Horn on Tuesday, Harold Bennett on

Wednesday, Jack Sheldon on Thursday and Karen Hernandez on Friday.

Jax is at 339 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. For more information, call

500-1604.

RESTAURANT OFFERS MUSIC FROM ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s

The Oceanview Bar and Grill offers live entertainment six nights a

week for diners.

Entertainers perform a combination of piano and jazz guitar

pieces, and some accompany with vocals.

Musical selections include a mix of music from the 1920s, ‘30s and

‘40s to opera to Celine Dion. Some entertainers also perform their

original pieces and invite diners to sing along with them.

Jennifer Russell and Michael Gayle sing jazz while playing piano

and guitar from 7 to 10 tonight. Singing behind the piano the rest

of the week are Bill Howe on Monday; Travis Warren, Tuesday; Mary

Ekler, Wednesday; Alexandra Caselli, Thursday; and Randy Hale,

Friday.

The Oceanview Bar and Grill is at 3826 Ocean View Blvd. For more

information, call 248-2722.

RUSTY PELICAN COOKS WITH LIVE MUSIC

Glendale’s Rusty Pelican, 300 Harvey Drive in Glendale, serves

dinner and Sunday brunch, but really cooks with its live singing and

music.

2AZZ1 and The Body & Soul Band performs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays.

There is no cover and no minimum.

There’s karaoke from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, live jazz from 7

to 11 p.m. Fridays and live blues from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturdays.

For information or to make reservations, call 242-9191.

KARAOKE

SWING DANCING, KARAOKE COMBINE AT THE MIX

The Mix, at 2612 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose, offers Top 40 music

played by a disc jockey Tuesday, Friday, Saturday. On Wednesday,

there is swing dancing instruction from 8 to 9 p.m., followed by

swing-dancing from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Karaoke is offered beginning

at 9:30 p.m. Thursday. There are also 12 pool tables and a pool

league, dart boards and a darts league, and the occasional live music

band. Cover is $3 on the weekend, $2 Tuesdays and $5 Wednesday. Call

248-3040.

ART EXHIBITS

ARTIST DISPLAYS AT HELLADA GALLERY

Izabella T. Wardas of Glendale is exhibiting floral watercolors in

a show at the Hellada Art Gallery and Studio in Long Beach. Wardas’

piece, “View of the Verdugos” was chosen to be placed in the

permanent collection at La Canada Flintridge Public Library. Her show

at Hellada continues through Sept. 13.

The gallery is at 144 Linden Ave. in Long Beach. For information,

call (562) 435-5232. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

and 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

RESIDENT EXHIBITS IN ART CLUB GALLERY

Donald Hildreth of Glendale is exhibiting work in the summer

exhibition of The California Art Club Gallery at the historic Old

Mill in San Marino.

The exhibit, titled “California -- H2O,” features nine plein air

painters who focus on California waterscapes, including the ocean,

lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls and wetlands. This show continues

through Sunday.

The gallery is at 1120 Old Mill Road in San Marino. For more

information, call (626) 449-5458.

RESIDENTS’ PAINTINGS OF COAST DISPLAYED

A Glendale artist is part of the group show, “Sea & Shore,” at the

Tirage Gallery, One West California Blvd. in Pasadena.

The group exhibition showcases recent paintings of coastal and

shore scenes by nationally recognized painters of the genre,

including Glendale artist Donald Hildreth.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 14. For more information, call

(626) 405-1020.

DANCING

GO TO GIGGLES FOR SALSA, LATIN HOUSE

Giggles night club, 215 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, is offering a

mixture of dancing and salsa lessons on Fridays.

Salsa and merengue dancing are offered on the lower level on

Friday and Saturday. On the main floor, Spanish rock and pop are

played Friday, while Latin house, trance and Top 40 are offered

Saturday. There is a strict dress code. The club is open 8 p.m. to 3

a.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12 both nights. Call

500-7800.

ATTRACTIONS

SKATING IS COOL FUN AT PICKWICK ARENA

Pickwick Ice Skating Arena, 1001 Riverside Drive in Burbank, has

public skating, figure skating and ice hockey lessons. It is also

available for private parties.

Public sessions are from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays;

8 to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays; and 8:15 to 9:45 p.m. Wednesdays.

Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for 17 and younger, and $3 extra

for skate rentals. Call 846-0035.

EQUESTRIAN CENTER GREAT FOR HORSING AROUND

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank,

has horse events throughout the year but also rents out the animals

from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Horse rentals are $20 for one hour, $30 for 1 1/2 hours, and $35

for two hours, all with a $15 deposit, cash only. Private hourlong

lessons are $35.

To horse around, call 840-8401, or for information, call 840-9063.

* If you have press releases for the 48 Hours column, please call

JOYCE RUDOLPH at 637-3241 or e-mail joyce.rudolph@latimes.com or fax

them to 241-1975.