Keeping kids on their toes

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- An evening of culture under the stars may be the

beginning of a lifetime of the arts for area schoolchildren.

The Ballet Montmartre will hold its fifth annual fund-raiser at the

Village Crean on Saturday night to support its educational outreach

programs.

For 10 years, Stela Viorica, the artistic director of the ballet

company housed at the Newport-Mesa School of Ballet, has made an effort

to bring ballet and the fine arts to children in Newport-Mesa schools,

including Wilson Elementary in Costa Mesa, Andersen Elementary in Newport

Beach and several others. For many children, it was the first time they

had ever seen a ballet.

“At first it was by invitation of principals who told us they needed

to expose children [to the arts],” Viorica said. “It became a necessity

to areas like Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Anaheim. So I kept it on our

schedule and began looking for grants to fund it.”

Montmartre Ballet, a nonprofit company, now has several big-name

sponsors, including Boeing, Pacific Care and the city of Newport Beach,

Viorica said, as well as the upcoming evening of dinner and ballet at the

Village Crean.

Last year, the event raised $12,000 to help send the performers to

schools to introduce elementary schoolchildren to dance.

“The dancers actually did some demonstrations first -- a plie,

pirouette using the French terms, and show them what the steps look

like,” said Janet Bissett, a second-grade teacher at Andersen Elementary

School. “Then they perform numbers for kids. They were really good. They

had great techniques. The kids really enjoyed it.”

This year, Viorica hopes to top last year’s effort and raise about

$15,000 for the program.

A ticket entitles the bearer to a buffet, silent auction, a tour of

the Village Crean and its grounds, and the viewing of a short ballet

performance at an outside venue overlooking the Back Bay.

In return, the company hopes to bring art in general -- and

specifically, ballet -- to the lives of children who might not otherwise

have the opportunity, Viorica said.

“What we really try to do is make ballet accessible,” said Kim Pawell,

whose daughter dances with the company. “It’s hard to appreciate ballet

without exposure.”

FYI

The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Village

Crean, 2300 Mesa Drive, Newport Beach. Tickets are $100 per adult, $50

per child under 12, $175 per couple or $740 for a table of eight. For

more information, call (714) 241-7424.