SPOTLIGHT -- A celebration of culture

Dances from Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico will highlight Orange

Coast College’s third annual Fiesta Latina, a dance and cultural heritage

outreach to be held Friday on the OCC campus.

Hour-long performances are set for 10 a.m. and noon at OCC’s Robert B.

Moore Theatre. They will be led by the celebration’s artistic director,

Jose Costas, who spent nine years as principal dancer with Ballet

Hispanico in New York.

“When you learn about our dances, you learn something about who

[Latinos] are,” Costas said. “The Latino community is a tapestry of

culturally diverse people who share deep historical roots.”

The Fiesta Latino company includes eight student dancers who will

share the stage with 40 fourth- and fifth-graders from Wilson Elementary

School in Costa Mesa. Costas and three of his students have been teaching

classes at the school this spring.

“The goal of our concerts is to show audiences the relationships

between dance and everyday life in Latino culture, and to demonstrate the

rich diversity of Latin American cultural heritage,” Costas said.

FYI

Where: Orange Coast College campus, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

When: 10 a.m. and noon Friday

Cost: Free

Contact: (714) 432-5506, Ext. 4

Charity bash swings into action

Benefiting nonprofits

The Orange County Charity Bash will showcase eight hours of live,

continuous dance music, including jazz, big band, Latin and swing. The

proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations that provide services to

stroke victims and better care for the elderly.

FYI

Where: Hilton Costa Mesa Hotel at 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

When: 3 to 11 p.m. today

Cost: $30

Contact: (949) 675-9708

PLANNING AHEAD

ISLAND ARTWALK

The seventh annual Balboa Island Artwalk will be held along the South

Bayfront promenade on Balboa Island. Pieces will include paintings,

jewelry and sculpture.

Saturday, May 11

IRRELEVANT WEEK

Only in Newport Beach would one celebrate the last player picked in

the NFL draft as “Mr. Irrelevant.” The creation of Paul Salata,

Irrelevant Week will hold its festivities in mid-June.

Starts Sunday, June 16

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

12: The number of hours a “Cruising Class” boat can use its engine

during the Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race.