BRIEFLY IN DATEBOOK

The Orange County Performing Arts Center will bring four of the

world’s premier dance companies to Costa Mesa for its 2001 season,

beginning in March with the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia.

The dance troupe, founded in 1977 by Artistic Director Boris Eifman,

has earned praise throughout the world for its dramatic stagings. The

company will perform “A Russian Hamlet: The Son of Catherine the Great,”

based on the life of Czar Paul I, on March 16-18.

The season continues May 8-13 with the Paris Opera Ballet’s treatment

of “La Bayadere,” the last ballet choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev.

In July, Italy’s La Scala Ballet will perform two programs featuring

prima ballerinas Alessandra Ferri and Sylvie Guillem. The July 10-15 run

of the resident company of the famous Milan opera house, will begin with

“Carmen” and “Repertory Highlights” and end with “Giselle.”

Rounding out the season Oct. 18-21 will be the National Ballet of

Cuba, which will perform “La Magia de Alonsa” and the full-length

“Coppelia.”

The company’s founding director, Cuban native Alicia Alonso, danced

with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and was the first representative

from America to perform with the Bolshoi and Kirov ballet companies. She

made her professional debut in 1938 in two musical comedies, “Great Lady”

and “Stars in Your Eyes.”

Subscriptions to The Center season are $51 to $250, with tickets

available for a two-, three- and four-performance series.

Information: (714) 556-2787, Ext. 240.