AREA CHILDREN GET A CHANCE TO DANCE WITH PROFESSIONALS.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Kristin Rice has danced more than half her life.

Standing 4 feet, 2 inches tall, the 9-year-old Thousand Oaks dancer feels as comfortable in her ballet shoes with hundreds of eyes before her as she does out on the handball court among friends.

So when she heard that the Oberlin Dance Company of San Francisco was auditioning Ventura County kids to dance with them in this season's production of ``The Velveteen Rabbit,'' she was first in line to sign up.

``I thought it would be a fun experience to work with professional dancers. And I never tried modern dance before and wanted to learn how to do it,'' said Kristin, a fourth-grader at Madrona Elementary School and one of nine Ventura County youngsters selected to dance in the March 1 performance.

The dance theater fantasy production - based on Margery Williams' classic children's book about loyalty, love and hope - features imaginative costumes, a program choreographed by the West Coast's leading modern dance company and a team of enthusiastic kids.

``In the beginning, I'll be in one of the boxes the professional dancers will carry out. They unwrap me and then I jump out and they twirl me around,'' said Kristin, who barely clears 50 pounds.

``Then later I'll walk under an umbrella that one of the dancers is holding in the umbrella dance,'' she said.

For many of the children - who have taken the more traditional ballet, jazz and tap lessons - ``The Velveteen Rabbit'' is their first experience in the world of modern dance.

``I'm trying to give these kids the chance to dance with professionals who will push them and help them through some serious choreography,'' said KT Nelson, co-artistic director of the Oberlin Dance Company of San Francisco and choreographer of ``The Velveteen Rabbit.''

``These kids have probably never seen some of these moves before, but we're trying to tell them, yes, you can do this,'' she said.

For 10-year-old Tatiana Winograd, dance has offers a rush of adrenaline each time she performs and the opportunity to perform with professional dancers is the chance of her young life, she said.

``The moves are very theatrical with a lot of attitude and expression,'' said Tatiana, a fifth-grader at Weathersfield Elementary School who plays a pillow person in the theatrical dance performance.

``Probably the best part is the excitement of everybody watching you and doing your best,'' she said.

For the next two weeks, the children will rehearse their parts with Pamela Pilkenton, artistic director for the Plexus Dance Theater based in Ventura's Variety Theater. The dance company held the auditions earlier this month and will sponsor the show in March.

Working off a videotape prepared by Nelson, Pilkenton will work with the kids until the Oberlin dancers arrive. She said the audition process and the rehearsals teach kids about discipline and sportsmanship, the performance itself gives kids a chance to express themselves.

Known for the athletic edge and smooth moves they incorporate in dance, the Oberlin company gives kids a chance to take actions they are familiar with - walking, jumping, sliding - and applying them to theater.

For Michael Wise, one of three boys in the production, ``The Velveteen Rabbit'' is his first formal introduction to dance performance.

``I like doing shows in general, but if it's got dancing it's just more fun,'' Wise said.

For Kristin's mother, Jackie Rice, the greatest satisfaction comes in watching her daughter's hard work pay off, she said.

``All those years of classes and now she gets to perform with professionals. I'm really excited,'' she said.

YOUNG DANCERS

Nine Ventura County youngsters were selected to perform with the Oberlin Dance Company of San Francisco in the March 1 performance of ``The Velveteen Rabbit.'' They are:

Gabrielle Sharaga, Ventura

Dylan Kasch, Ojai

Tommy Wilson, Ventura

Michael Wise, Ojai

Anna Reifsnyder, Thousand Oaks

Ashley Taylor, Thousand Oaks

Tatiana Winograd, Thousand Oaks

Kristin Rice, Thousand Oaks

Ally Crane, Ojai

The performance will be held at 7 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza's Probst Theater. Reserved tickets are $14 for children and $18 for adults. For more information, call [phone] or [phone].

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Photo, Box

PHOTO (Color) Young modern dancers rehearse at the Variety Theater in Ventura for the Oberlin Dance Company's ``The Velveteen Rabbit.''

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News

BOX: (Shorter version ran in Simi Edition) YOUNG DANCERS (see text)