Arpana Dancers to Hold AIDS Benefit

Efforts to make young people aware of the AIDS epidemic seem to be working in this city, at least for six teen-agers who will be dancing here this weekend to benefit the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Six members of the Irvine-based Arpana Dance Company will perform classical Indian dance at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on Sunday and on their own chose the AIDS foundation as a beneficiary, according to Arpana artistic director Ramya Harishankar.

“Every year we do a benefit for a children’s charity,” Harishankar said, “and the girls wanted to do it for Pediatric AIDS this year.”

Forty-percent of the concert proceeds will benefit the Santa Monica-based foundation, which raises funds for biomedical AIDS research. A group of five Indian musicians and singers will accompany the dancers, who range in age from 14 to 18 and have studied with Harishankar for 10 years.

The concert, titled “Eka: Nyka: One and Many,” will feature solos and duets focusing on Hindu spiritual themes.

Members of the Arpana Dance Company will perform Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Tickets: $7-$10. Information: (714) 854-4646.