Costa Mesa : 5,700 Students to See New York Ballet, Opera

The New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera will give two special performances to 5,700 Orange County fourth-grade students and disabled children as part of an arts education program sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and its parent company, Times Mirror.

The program for young people, the first of its kind to be performed by the companies outside New York City, will be held during this year’s premiere season of the 3,000-seat Orange County Performing Arts Center, scheduled to open in September.

The performances will feature lectures by opera singers and ballet dancers, demonstrations--including the way in which a dancer trains and turns--and selected excerpts from the companies’ repertoires.

“Our arts education program will give Orange County young people the opportunity to become familiar with various arts disciplines and experience the excitement of live performances in this beautiful new center,” said Tom Johnson, Los Angeles Times publisher and chief executive officer.

“We are very proud to be working with the Orange County Performing Arts Center and these accomplished performing groups on this exciting new program,” he added.

On Oct. 16, the New York City Ballet will present a lecture and demonstration hosted by principal dancers Sean Lavery and Maria Calegari. The hourlong program will also feature 18 of the company’s dancers.

And on Jan. 22, 1987, four members of the New York City Opera, in full costume, will perform with piano accompaniment and spoken explanations.

“We hope to make it an annual event,” said Carolyn Hom, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Times.

Plans for the educational performances, which will cost about $32,000, began earlier this year when The Times approached the Performing Arts Center with the concept of a joint educational program.

The New York City Ballet and New York City Opera were then chosen by the Center and the Orange County Department of Education as part of a community effort to enhance children’s exposure to classical dance and opera.

The students will be chosen by each of the county’s 28 school districts, according to Marie Clement, coordinator of fine arts for the Orange County Department of Education.