CARLSBAD -- When the ballerina in a pink, fluffy skirt gave her partner in a grey wig a mock swat on the bottom as the pair danced around the stage, the audience giggled.
Later, the laughter gave way to gasps of awe and even a few shivers as the crowd watched three modern dancers perform acrobatics on a giant wheel. The two dramatically different performances Thursday morning were part of a weeklong celebration of the arts staged by the city.
"We're really excited about Saturday," said Colleen Finnegan, the office's community arts coordinator. "We're worried about rain, but most of our stuff is inside."
Saturday's schedule includes a Brazilian "drums, dance and acrobatics" demonstration, Filipino folk dances, puppet theater programs and children's art projects.
On Friday, there's a performance of "Peter and the Wolf" -- a popular piece that introduces children to the instruments in an orchestra. Don't expect to find empty seats at that event.
"Actually, we have a full house," Finnegan said.
Thursday wasn't so full. There were only about 70 people at the Carlsbad Community Cultural Arts Center's theater, which seats approximately 450 people. Attendees included a preschool class from Pilgrim Children's Center, a group of high school drama students, and several hearing-impaired students from Magnolia Elementary School.
"We just want to expose them to things they wouldn't normally see," said Magnolia classroom aide Linda Vega, as she discussed why her students came.
One of her charges, 9-year-old Rudy Hall, had been picked to perform for a few minutes with the ballerina and her partner. He came back to his seat with a broad, proud smile.
Another audience volunteer, 5-year-old Lauren O'Neal from the Pilgrim Children's Center, said she hadn't found it scary at all. She attends ballet class, and this was easy, she said.
Finnegan said it's a challenge for the dancers to make things interesting to a crowd that ranges so widely in age. Both of the performers with the California Ballet Co. and the modern dancers with Xdrop Contemporary Dance group devoted part of their stage time to fielding questions and giving answers.
Oscar Burciaga, who performed with ballerina Jenny Baron, told the crowd that ballet tells a story on the stage.
"When you do ballet, it's a pantomime. There are no words," he said.
The children in the audience had a few tough questions for them. One girl wanted to know exactly how long the ballerina had been dancing. Since age 4, Baron said. Then, a boy wanted to know whether you could make a living doing it.
"Yes and no," responded Burciaga, commenting that he does because he also teaches dance and he's the company's production manager. "It's hard to make (a lot of) money unless you're a superstar dancing in New York City."
Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.
Carlsbad Multicultural Arts Festival
(All events are free)
Friday:
(Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Monroe St.)
9 a.m. -- San Diego Dance Theatre: "Moving Stories"
10 a.m. -- Philharmonic Wind Quintet: "Peter and the Wolf"
Saturday:
(Carlsbad Library/Schulman Auditorium 1775 Dove Lane)
10 a.m. -- Icarus Puppet Theatre: "The Crane Daughter"
11 a.m. -- Chesire Singers: "Olde English Rhymes and Stories"
Noon -- Samahan Dancers: "Philippine Folk Dances"
1 p.m. -- Big Joe Puppets: "Crazy Caterpillar and Friends
2 p.m. -- Planet Brazil: "Capoeira -- Drums, Dance & Acrobatics"
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Family Open Studio Art-Making Activities
On the Web: www.carlsbad.gov/arts
