Well, the Audience Liked Brazilian Dance Troupe

This letter is in regard to the review of “Brazil’s Bale Folclorico da Bahia” (“Bale Folclorico Trips on Choreography,” March 11).

I wonder if Lewis Segal saw the same performance I did! I did not find it offensive. I enjoyed the dancing and the stories it depicted.

When I see a “folk or primitive” dance performance, I expect to see what is important to that particular culture. Their dances reflect the hunts, battles, courtship and community life, whether it’s Russian, Hungarian, Irish, American Indian, etc.

Mr. Segal failed to mention that the audience enjoyed it very much and showed their appreciation by a long standing ovation and dancing in the aisles with the performers.

I am an 80-year-old woman and have enjoyed good theater for the past 76 years.

Orange Coast Community College has shown excellent diverse programs and hopefully will continue to do so.

VIRGINIA TOWNSEND

Costa Mesa

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I attended the outstanding performance of Brazil’s Bale Folclorico da Bahia with three other senior ladies. We range in age from 70 to 88. We totally disagree with the one-sided review by Lewis Segal.

Mr. Segal must of have been suffering from a hangover or the flu to not have thoroughly enjoyed the intricate and awesome dancing by the native performers.

We went to learn more about the native Indians of Brazil and not to critique the choreography. Apparently the hundreds of other people in the audience that filled the theater were also delighted and pleased by the dancers, music, costumes and lighting as evidenced by the standing ovations after a solid two hours of their performance.

I and, I am sure, the entire audience are offended by the statements made by Mr. Segal [that the performance] “cheapens and misrepresents native folkloric resources for the purpose of lowbrow diversion. How do you say ‘sleazy tourist show’ in Portuguese?”

I have enjoyed many performances at the Metropolitan Opera House since the ‘40s, ballets and folkloric dances in five cities in Russia in the ‘80s, as well as other cultural programs and activities in California. If my friends and I wanted to see “sleazy tourist shows,” which we do not, we would be spending our weekends in Las Vegas.

Of the 16 concerts and programs we have seen at Orange Coast Community College this season, we agreed that Bale Folclorico da Bahia was one of the best.

We will certainly be back to see them again.

GENEVIEVE K. JACOBS

Costa Mesa