Meeting of the Minds (and Voices and Feet)

The event: The kickoff of the Imagination Celebration, a 16-day county arts festival taking place through May 11. Thursday’s gala at Crystal Court in Costa Mesa featured performances by young ballet dancers, musicians and singers.

Imagine that: The showcase gave local students in grades K through 12 a chance to shine in front of 200 supporters.

“Tonight is really a potpourri of the art that will be featured throughout the festival,” said Mary Lyons, Imagination Celebration board chairwoman. “People will see wonderful kids who are quite talented.”

Among the talent at the gala: the University High School Jazz Ensemble from Irvine; Coast Ballet Theatre, whose performers danced to “Colors of the Wind”; and the Quiet Zone Theater, a dance group that includes members who are disabled.

Guests also toured an exhibit of “1,000 Pieces of Art” by local schoolchildren.

Believe it: In its 12th year, the Imagination Celebration stages arts events at little or no cost to the public at local museums, malls, libraries, schools and parks.

It’s presented by the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Orange County Department of Education and more than 60 arts organizations.

“Our central mission is to use talents in the schools and present them in nontraditional spaces,” said Jim Gilliam, executive manager of the Imagination Celebration. Professionals often work alongside students, and there are year-round workshops to train teachers in the arts.

A good idea: Imagination Celebration originated at the Kennedy Center in Washington, said Judith O’Dea Morr, director of programming and acting executive director of the Orange County Performing Arts Center. “We thought it would be a great idea for Orange County, and it was. It’s a coming together of the community and all of the arts organizations,” she said.

Presenting Pepito: Highlighting the festival will be “Pepito’s Story,” a children’s ballet choreographed by Debbie Allen and starring Tony Award winner Hinton Battle and a cast of local children. Battle, who attended the gala, told the crowd he was looking forward to getting to know his young cast members. He has seen children turn their lives around through dance.

Public performances of “Pepito’s Story” will be held at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on May 6 and 11. Tickets are $6.

Quote: “The only thing that, as a civilization, will make us progress is if we encourage children to have imagination and create,” Morr said.

Faces: Barbara Hiller Johnson, showcase chairwoman; John and Elizabeth Stahr; Phyllis Berenbeim; Troy Botello; Tom and Marilyn Nielsen; Betty Belden-Palmer; Sharon Lesk; Molly Lynch; Robert and Marilyn McIntyre; Rick and Michele McNeil; and Vesta Curry.

Bottom line: The showcase was held as a thank-you to major donors. Ticket prices were $30 for adults and $15 for students. The proceeds, estimated at a few thousand dollars, will help cover festival production costs.

What’s ahead: Christopher Nance will star at a storytelling festival at Westminster Mall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For a schedule of Imagination Celebration events, call (714) 556-ARTS, Ext. 888.