Divas step out for spring swing fling

Noaki Schwartz

The Divas of the Balboa Theater will herald next month’s coming of

spring with a dinner and dance fund-raiser Saturday night.

The theater foundation’s 137-member support guild will host its first

“Swing Fling, A Celebration of Spring.” Organizers hope the event will

become an annual activity.

“You don’t have to swing dance,” explained foundation Executive Director

Michelle Roberge. “The band plays everything.”

The evening will kick off with a cocktail hour and silent auction,

Roberge said. About 40 items -- including pearl earrings, a trip to

Puerto Vallarta and an artist portrait-sitting -- will be up for bids.

Guests will fill the rest of the evening at the buffet table or on the

dance floor.

The fling will feature music by the band Swingtown. Featuring six horns,

the musicians play anything from swing tunes to Latin rhythms and pop.

The group also has a bass, guitar, drums and keyboards. Dave Eastly, one

of the band leaders, described the sound as “scaled-down big band.”

Since forming seven years ago, band members have played with the late

Frank Sinatra, as well as for Diana Ross, B.B. King and Earth, Wind and

Fire.

The Divas aim to raise about $25,000, Roberge said.

Proceeds from the event will be used toward reopening the historic 1927

Balboa Theater, which will cost about $4 million to renovate. Efforts to

preserve the crumbling theater began five years ago, when residents Dayna

Pettit and Ronald Baers formed the Balboa Performing Arts Theater

Foundation.

In 1998, the city purchased the building and leased it to the foundation

for 25 years, on condition that the structure be renovated and operated

as a performing arts venue.

Since then, the foundation has hosted benefit events and asked for

donations from local businesses, to raise money for the project.

The Divas of Balboa Theater was launched nearly a year ago to further

this effort. If all goes well, the foundation wants to raise the curtain

again on the theater this fall.

As part of this weekend’s fund-raiser, Ballroom is Back in Huntington

Beach is offering free dance lessons for anyone who has bought tickets to

the Swing Fling. For more lesson information, call (714) 593-5660.

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FYI

* What: “Swing Fling, A Celebration of Spring”

* When: 6 p.m. Saturday for cocktails and silent auction, followed by

dinner and dancing at 7

* Cost: $75 per person

* Call: The Balboa Performing Arts Theater main office at (949) 673-0895