Dance Benefit to Take On Russian Theme

A Russian cafe-styled reception is planned by the Music Center’s Blue Ribbon and the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR) after the opening-night performance of the White Oak Dance Project at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Friday.

White Oak co-founder Mikhail Baryshnikov and the dance company will attend the party. Proceeds will benefit the Blue Ribbon Children’s Holiday Festival Fund and AmFAR.

The company, founded by Baryshnikov and Mark Morris, consists of eight dancers in a chamber ensemble. The group is on a 12-city West Coast tour.

Blue Ribbon benefit committee members include Nadine Carson, Wendy Goldberg, Phyllis Hennigan, Mary Milner, Chase Mishkin, Jane Nathanson, Nancy Vreeland, Liane Weintraub and Sheila Weisman.

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KUDOS: Arthur H. Rasmussen Jr. has been elected to a second term as president of the Bachelors. He’ll have the support of Steven W. Leland, vice president and ball chairman; Robert M. L. Baker III, secretary, and George H. Hotaling II, treasurer. Elected to the Board of Governors were Charles F. Donnelly, Hugh H. Evans III, Mark R. Kelsey, David F. Ludwick III, Anthony J. Manos, Christian E. Markey III, Grant G. Snyder, Anthony F. Witteman, and past president Robert H. Forward Jr.

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PHANTOM VANISHES: After four years, the music of the night falls silent on a Sunday afternoon, Aug. 29, and tickets for the final performance of “The Phantom of the Opera” at the Ahmanson Theatre are sold out.

But the “Phantom” has thought ahead and set aside a small number of prime orchestra and parquet terrace seats (at $250 each) for supporters of the Center Theatre Group’s Improvisational Theatre Project for young playwrights.

The emotional finale will be a special treat for dedicated volunteers.

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BLACK-TIE: Huntington Library president Robert and Nadine Skotheim hosted a reception in the Shakespeare Garden and dinner in the Scott Gallery loggia Saturday to celebrate the recent acquisition by the Virginia Steele Scott Gallery of “After the Hunt” by William Harnett. *

UPDATE: A prominent group turned up at the California Club for the dinner saluting the Hoover Institution, a public policy research center at Stanford University. The Institution was founded at Stanford in 1919 by Herbert Hoover.

James Dickason headed the dinner. George Jagels, a Stanford alumnus, recalled the night returns came in confirming Hoover’s election to the presidency in 1928, and John Philip Sousa’s band led students in a march to Hoover’s home on the Stanford campus. “Mr. Hoover came out on the balcony. We celebrated all night.”

The former President’s grandson, Herbert (Pete) Hoover III, was in the audience. Noting that he was a baby then, Hoover later was told that his grandmother, the new First Lady, awoke him to include him in the celebration.

Two senior fellows at the Institution--Robert E. Hall and Alvin Rabushka, authors of “The Flat Tax”--spoke to an audience of about 60. Among those listening: Richard Seaver, Pauline and Roy Naftzger and Willard Carr.

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SUMMERTIME: About 200 Pepperdine University Associates sat down to a country supper at the Columbia Bar and Grill before “The Will Rogers Follies” at the Pantages. Attending: Pat and Vicki Boone (he serves as chairman of Pepperdine’s board); art collector Frederick R. Weisman (the Weisman Museum of Art is on Pepperdine’s campus), Harriet Luckman and George Page.

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ADIEU: Consul General of France Gerard Coste and his wife, Naomi, after four years in Los Angeles, are leaving for Singapore, where he will be ambassador. The city will receive a new consul general, Jean-Maurice Ripert, who will arrive with his wife and three children in a few weeks. Coste was on the steps of Beverly Hills City Hall on Bastille Day, July 14, to present the French Legion of Honor decoration in the grade of officier to Gregory Peck.

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KEEPING UP: The Friends of USC Libraries hosted a literary luncheon to honor Jim and Kate Lehrer--he of the “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour” and she with a new book, “When They Took Away the Man in the Moon” . . . .

Texas two-steppers under the stars at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu raised funds for Free Arts for Abused Children. The evening included dancing to Ronnie Mack and Friends, Western dancing lessons and entertainment by Cowboys Without Jobs, a barbecue and live auction. Proceeds go for art supplies so that volunteers can offer painting and sculpting sessions to more than 1,200 children each week . . . .

Pacific Asia Museum saluted Peter Adams’ at his new “Moods of the Pacific” show . . .

Vanya Rohner co-chaired the Founder Assisteens fashion luncheon at the Assistance League Tearoom. Her sister, Valerie Foster Rigby, provided commentary.

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SUMMER CRUSH: Nancy Marino is patron committee chairwoman for the Craftsman Council’s “A Sunday Social” Sept. 19 at Pasadena’s Greene & Greene landmark, the Gamble House. Guests are invited to dress in summer whites. Purpose of the party is to close the gap in the $1-million Gamble House Endowment Campaign. A Gamble heir, James Gamble, is chairman of the house advisory board . . . .

Challengers Boys and Girls Club founder Lou Dantzler will be honored at the club’s 25th anniversary dinner Aug. 11 at the Airport Marriott . . . .

The Coronet Debutante Ball Board will introduce new debutantes Aug. 7 at a luncheon at Bel-Air Country Club.