‘Divine Hero’ Highlights Arts Festival

“Divine Hero,” a new, hourlong work by pioneer American modern dance choreographer Erick Hawkins, highlights the sixth annual Imagination Celebration, an art festival geared for students, teachers and parents April 20 through 28 at venues throughout Orange County.

The festival, which aims to develop community support for arts in education and provide continuing arts education for teachers, is a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., staged in 11 cities. Some events are held for school groups only.

In addition to Erick Hawkins’ new dance, exhibits, performances, hands-on workshops and other activities by some 30 arts and educational organizations will be presented.

Included is “The Little Prince” ballet by the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet (for sixth-grade audiences only), two one-act plays by South Coast Repertory’s Young Conservatory Players, and a live musical show with Sonia Manzano and Emilio Delgado, stars of television’s “Sesame Street.” (A complete listing of events appears in the 11-Day Calendar on Page 22.)

“Divine Hero,” to be performed by the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, was commissioned jointly by the Kennedy Center, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, which was to host the festival and present the dance earlier this month, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, where it will be presented here.

Most events in the Imagination Celebration, coordinated here by the Orange County Department of Education and the Orange County Performing Arts Center, are free. Information: (714) 556-ARTS.