COUNTYWIDE : Honor From Bush Shines on Dancers

Students, parents and volunteers gathered in Santa Ana on Friday to celebrate the St. Joseph Ballet Co. being named a Point of Light by President Bush.

“It’s a huge thrill to have our volunteers and our children and our mission recognized nationally,” said Beth Burns, founding artistic director. “Eight years ago when this was just a dream, there was no way to tell that we would receive such national recognition. When I see the beautiful, happy faces on a daily basis transformed by this opportunity, I think the honor is really a recognition of what our community has been giving these children for years.”

St. Joseph, the nation’s first dance company to receive the community service award, offers free ballet classes to inner-city youth from Santa Ana and surrounding communities. Along with the honor comes a promise from President Bush to make “every effort” to visit.

The celebration Friday featured food, speeches, prayer and, of course, dance.

A group of children performed a lively dance choreographed after founder Beth Burns learned of the honor earlier this week.

“This dance is about the happiness and love that we share with each other through dancing,” said Thy Pham, 13, an Anaheim girl who has dance with St. Joseph’s for 3 1/2 years. “I think the ballet company is a really special place. It has always made me happy when I am sad, and given me happy times when I am bored. . . . Dancing makes me feel good and it also makes me feel as if I am a princess dancing to live music.”

Pham is one of 319 children from 9 to 19 who participate in the ballet company, which has served more than 1,000 children in its year-round program since its inception in 1983.

In addition, more than 12,000 children have participated in weeklong workshops the company sponsors at schools, and even more have watched performances, Burns said.

Burns, who was named Woman of the Year for the 32nd Senate District earlier this year, said she thinks the award is a tribute to how the company combines a social and an artistic mission.

“We don’t really separate the two,” she said. “Our mission is to empower young people and to celebrate their dignity and their potential.”