A worldly view OF THE ARTS

Coral Wilson

It goes back to something former President Dwight Eisenhower said in

the 1950s: If you make friends with people from other countries, you

won’t go to war with them.

The Newport Beach Sister City Assn. grew out of that concept,

which still holds strong today.

The International Festival taking place today and Sunday at the

Newport Beach Central Library is a celebration of Newport Beach’s

relationship with its three sister cities -- Okazaki, Japan; Antibes,

France; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“We think of this as part of our mission to draw people into the

three cultures and realize the common aspirations of all people,”

said Karen Evarts, event coordinator and former president of the

Sister City Assn.

Festivities will include performances by the Primavera Orchestra,

Whittier School Dancers, Ballet Montmartre, Ballet Folklorico, Taiko

Drummers, karate demonstrations and art, crafts and gardening

activities throughout the afternoon.

“The emphasis is on youth,” Evarts said. “Youth getting to know

youth from other cultures.”

The event has been supported in part by a grant from the Newport

Beach Arts Commission and is free to the public.

Even the outbreak of the war in Iraq could not break the tenacity

of the bond that had formed over the years between the sister cities.

Parents became hesitant about the French student exchange program,

and the association faced pressure from members of the community to

drop their French sister city, Evarts said. But as with close

relationships between people, she said the cities are committed to

the relationship for the long haul.

“France and the U.S. have a long history of similar values and a

lot is shared by the two countries,” said Marie Atkins, vice

president of the association and co-chair of the Antibes committee.

“The Statue of Liberty is just one example.”

Evarts said there were similar feelings toward Germany in the 1920

when sauerkraut was called liberty cabbage.

“These spats are momentary,” she said. “Very soon, freedom fries

will come back as French fries.”

Ruben Gerard will sketch caricatures as they do on the streets of

France. Anderson Elementary School teacher Ginna Frisbie will teach

French art activities.

The Ballet Montmartre will perform an abbreviated version of

“Carnival Venice,” a humorous dance and reading of Shell

Silverstein’s poem “Wild Strawberries,” and a modern dance piece.

The dancers are versatile, and the performances are varied to

appeal to different tastes, but everything about ballet is French,

said Stela Viorica, artistic director.

“France is always in ballet no matter what,” Viorica said. “The

training and terminology is all French.”

Dancers in the Newport-Mesa group have dedicated themselves to

training young students and introducing the art of ballet to students

in the community through performance.

“Art can enhance anybody’s life, and it is important to start with

a child,” Viorica said.

The relationship with Japan holds strong, and students from local

schools have been making trips to Okazaki through the student

exchange program since 1982.

The Taiko drummers will perform, Japanese calligraphy activities

will be offered and Paul Godshaw and his students from the Japan

Karatedo Federation will do a Shotokan karate demonstration.

Unlike the violent representation most people see in the movies,

the Japanese style of karate is very reflective of the culture

itself. It is about respect, dignity and discipline, Godshaw said.

“Following the philosophy of self-betterment through physical

training makes you mentally strong,” he said. “That’s pretty much the

Japanese way of doing things.”

In teaching the martial art, which is based on good manners and

strengthens the body, mind and spirit, Godshaw said he keeps the

Japanese tradition alive and encourages his students to go to Japan

to experience the culture firsthand.

Mexican folk dances from the various regions of Mexico will be

presented by the Whittier School dancers and the UC Irvine group

Ballet Folklorico.

“It helps the child learn more about their roots and background,

and a culture they can be proud of,” said Martha Blair, teacher at

the 87% Latino Whittier Elementary School in Costa Mesa.

Blair leads an after-school program, teaching 6- to 10-year-old

students the energetic, fun dances. She said it improves their

self-esteem, keeps them physically fit and improves their learning.

“It is more beautiful than I can describe,” said Sharon Blakely,

principal of the school.

Andrea Ramirez, choreographer of Ballet Folklorico, a small UC

Irvine group of about eight dancers, said the style of dancing

developed from the many cultures that influenced Mexico.

The native populations of the Aztecs and Mixtecs are combined with

the Flamenco style of the Spaniards, which is reminiscent of cowboys,

bullfighting and the handling of horses. Influences came from the

Caribbean and Africa as well, she said.

“At first, you see the beautiful costumes and footwork,” Ramirez

said. “But there is a lot more that goes beyond that.”

There is shoulder shaking, fast footwork, showy skirts and upbeat

energy, she said. But the mission of the Ballet Folklorico reflects

that of the festival itself -- to educate by performing.

“There are so many ways young people can get involved in the

world,” Atkins said. “You have to keep hoping and trying to make the

world a better place.”