Coming Attraction: L.A. County Holiday Celebration

On Christmas Eve, performers from all over Los Angeles County representing a multitude of cultures will hit the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage for the 51st annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration.

Twenty-three music and dance troupes celebrating Korean, Mexican, Hawaiian and other traditions will take center stage at the free (yes, free!) three-hour extravaganza.

CC and I had the chance to attend rehearsals for the mammoth project a couple of weeks ago, and it was amazing to see what's in store for the evening before Christmas.

We watched as the professional-sounding Palmdale High School Choral Union sang Yuletide tunes and Halau O Lilinoe, based in Carson, Calif., choreographed their island dances.

CC was enthralled and a couple of times wanted to get in on the acts herself.

Other highlights of the show will include:

• “Snowflake Boogie,” hip-hop version of Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride by Antics Performance
• classical chamber music blended with indie rock sounds from Loch & Key
• toy soldiers in a Dixieland-style tap dance by the Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation
• songs in English and Hebrew from the Young Men’s Ensemble of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
• contemporary gospel sounds from Christian's Community Center Cathedral Choir
• the traditional “One Drum Dance” from Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy
• folk music from the Caribbean coast of Colombia by Mr. Vallenato

Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the program is free to the public but requires a wristband for entry. (Wristbands are available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 24 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.)

Can't make it to the performance? Lucky for you, the celebration will be broadcast live on KCET and KPFK-FM and streamed live at www.kcet.org.

What a great way to celebrate the holidays! CC and I can't wait!

51st Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
Friday, Dec. 24, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets: Free (wristband required for entry; offered on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 24 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion). Parking, too, will be gratis.

More information: 213-972-3099 or www.HolidayCelebration.org

(Photo of Balle Fette of Senegal, above right, is courtesy of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.)