Dance

Torus Tammer At 7 a.m. every Saturday, John Welch meets with four dedicated students on the sands of Huntington Beach. His purpose -- to teach them ballet. Welch said he developed this unorthodox training style via unconventional ballet techniques, with the intention of preventing unnecessary injuries. "I devised this beach method for dancers who have been incorrectly trained," said Welch, who lives in Huntington Beach. "The workout is meant to utilize the sand as a medium that develops a deeper sense of consciousness, helping the dancer get rid of a lot of their physical and mental obstructions."

Tom Titus The Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts is hoping you'll get a kick out of its opening production of the 2004-05 season. It's a safe bet that the cast members will be getting their kicks. The APA will be opening its new slate with "42nd Street," described by show director Tim Nelson as, "a Broadway musical for people who love Broadway musicals." Tapping toes will abound when this show arrives at the Huntington Beach High School auditorium Oct. 22 for a two-weekend engagement.

After spending a day at the Old World Village, I have had a change of heart on a few things. One: I don’t just like bratwurst; I heart bratwurst. Two: Polka is a beautiful dance, especially after three shots of Rumple Minze (peppermint schnapps). Three: Every woman should own a traditional Dirndl dress, mainly because it makes men stutter and then go mute. I swore this year would be the year I would finally participate in the Oktoberfest celebrations that have happened every year at this Huntington Beach Bavarian village since it opened in 1978.

Send AROUND TOWN items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 18682 Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to (714) 965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail hbindy@latimes.com. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. A complete listing may be found at www.hbindy.com. TODAY The MISS Foundation is a support group for families who have experienced the death of a child that meets on the first Thursday of every month.

From north to south, the city of Huntington Beach is closing out 2006 with parties, parties and more parties. Here are just some of the many events happening this New Year's Eve. Hotel Huntington Beach Dinner and Dance Grab some grub and then dance the night away at the Hotel Huntington Beach, where more than just a countdown waits for residents looking to shake loose. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., with five possible entrees to choose from. Not hungry? Skip dinner and show up with your dancing shoes on at 10 p.m., where a DJ will have top 40 hits playing all the way into 2007.

Tom Titus The the Academy for Performing Arts headquartered at Huntington Beach High School, now nearly a decade old, gathers arts-minded students from miles around and converges them into special classes in theater, music and dance -- as well as a full dose of the state-required curriculum -- with the goal of preparing tomorrow's Broadway and Hollywood performers. At the center of all this talent is its artistic director, Diane Makas-Colwell, who also chairs the dance department and is a renowned choreographer.

JULY 26 The Huntington Beach North Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host "A Pioneer Country Fair" from 8 to 11 a.m. at Gibbs Park. Beginning with a breakfast at 8 a.m., festivities include a program at 9 a.m., a pioneer children's parade at 9:30 a.m. and various games, contests, face-painting, crafts, music and dancing. Information: (714) 894-2522. AUG. 2 Redeemer Lutheran School and Church will host a seminar to teach participants about stroke prevention and understanding mental illness from 9 a.m. to noon at 16351 Springdale St. Light refreshments will be served and child care is available.

JERRY PERSON During one of the guided tours of the Newland House Museum, I overheard a little one asking her mother what life was like back when the Newlands lived here. Of course, her mother was far too young to answer her daughter, but to the little girl, everything seemed old, including her mother. This week, we'll go back to a time when the Newlands were alive, and see what our town's people were doing some 80 years ago, in 1924. To begin, we should know who our elected officials were that year.

I’m sitting in the makeup chair at KOCE-TV here in Huntington Beach, getting ready to appear on Real Orange, hosted by Ed Arnold and Ann Pulice. There’s a swirl of excitement and activity in the room, but it’s certainly not being generated by me. Rather, the buzz is all about the dazzling woman who has just entered the room, song and dance legend Mitzi Gaynor, whose high-wattage verve and personality is lighting up the space with electricity that only the true stars can generate.

Watching the Glendale Centre Theatre's production of "Dames At Sea" is like spending a mere $18 for a ticket to one of the hottest shows on Broadway -- and getting a front row seat. It's bright. It's tight. It's solid. It's fast paced. It's totally professional. It's got class. "Dames At Sea" is part spoof, part tribute to those great MGM musicals of the past, where the sailors (whether Dick Powell, Fred Astaire, Buddy Ebsen, Gene Kelly or Frank Sinatra)