YORBA LINDA : O.C.’s Song and Dance to Aid L.A.

To the rhythm of the Michael Jackson song “Jam,” 6-year-old Bryton McClure performed a moonwalk and a series of sophisticated dance moves that brought down the house at the “O.C. for L.A.” variety show on Sunday.

Proceeds from the show, held in the Yorba Linda Forum, will benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help victims of the Los Angeles riots.

McClure, a regular on the ABC sitcom “Family Matters,” said after the show that he started dancing at the age of 2 by watching music videos of Jackson, whom he considers a personal friend.

“I love to dance,” said the youngster, who begins his third season playing Telma Hopkins’ son on the popular series.

In addition to the performance by McClure, the show also featured several numbers by the Dance Dynamics Performance Company, the singing quartet of Glory Gray, Lauren Kling, Dennis Anderson and Joseph Creigh, and a show-stopping tap dance routine performed by Tony Coppola and Stephanie Dannelley.

“Just knowing that the show is for such a good cause makes a difference when you are performing,” Coppola said. “It really energizes you.”

Organizers said they hoped to raise at least $7,000 through ticket sales, advertising revenue, donations and a silent auction that was held after the show.

Among the items auctioned were a ruby and diamond ring, a brass bathroom set, several bottles of champagne, horse-riding lessons, haircuts and T-shirts donated from the television shows “Family Matters,” “Full House” and “Step by Step.”

“We wanted to do something to get involved,” said Kimber Jacobs, the benefit show’s co-director. “We saw so much happen on television and even though it wasn’t very far away, we felt detached. We want this money to go toward businesses being rebuilt and toward people getting jobs.”

Kathy Smith, whose 12-year-old daughter, Kelly, appeared in several dance numbers, said she hopes that the show instilled a sense of social activism in its young performers.

“I think it’s great to get them to really think about it,” Smith said. “I think all of the children need to realize that there is a whole world out there that is much different from Yorba Linda.”