Girl whose wheelchair, van were stolen takes the stage at benefit

Oakland Tribune, Aug 9, 2005

BRISBANE resident Serena Mazza, 13, made headlines last month when her family's customized van, her wheelchair and her leg brace were stolen.

Now see her in better circumstances Sunday in San Francisco.

Serena, who has used a wheelchair since she had a stroke at age 9, will be among the performers at a benefit. Proceeds will help her family pay for the repairs to the van, which was damaged in the theft, and to making her home wheelchair accessible.

Serena danced and sang with the Brisbane Dance Workshop from age 5 to 9, when she had a stroke that disabled her right side. She returned to the BDW stage this year with the help of a power wheelchair and guidance from the all-wheelchair, Oakland-based Axis Dance Company.

The Metronome Ballroom, 1830 17th St. in San Francisco, hosts the benefit from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday. It starts off at 5 p.m. with salsa lessons; at 6 p.m. Axis Dance Company performs; at 7 p.m. Brisbane Dance Workshop (including Serena) takes the stage; and at 7:30 p.m. Ava Apple and the Latin Symbolics perform salsa.

The suggested donation is $20. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Call (415) 252-9000.

-- Elizabeth Jardina

'Broadway Sings' at NDNU

See 19 aspiring stars ages 15 to 35 who have spent the past nine weeks singing, dancing and acting their hearts out at Notre Dame de Namur University in a midafternoon performance Friday.

They're participants in the inaugural year of the Summer Theatre Conservatory, a joint project of Broadway by the Bay and NDNU.

The intensive program wraps up with a free showcase at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Notre Dame de Namur University Theatre, 1500 Ralston Ave., Belmont. Call (650) 508-3694.

-- Elizabeth Jardina

New Zealand's right here

Fantasy fans may best know New Zealand as the lush and rugged land where movie maker Peter Jackson filmed the globally popular "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. But long before the kiwi filmmaker shone the international spotlight on the other "down under" nation, New Zealand was home to an ancient people, the Maori.

Get a glimpse at the handiwork of Maori artists and artisans in the largest show in the United States dedicated to their culture. "Toi Maori: Art from the Maori People of New Zealand" is on display through Sunday at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Along with examples of contemporary Maori art, visitors will see The Eternal Thread, a world-class collection of traditional and contemporary Maori cloaks, Ta Moko or Maori body tattooing, sculpture and clay works. Some of New Zealand's most celebrated weavers, tattooists and artists are traveling with the exhibition.

Organized by Toi Maori Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand, the show is at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission St. at Third Street, San Francisco, accessible from both the Montgomery and Powell BART stops. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Wednesday, until 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and to 5 p.m. Sunday. Performances by Maori artists are 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today and Wednesday. Visit http://www.ybca.org.

-- Monique Beeler