PARTY LINES : LADY OF THE DANCE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt 

When you think of modern art in Los Angeles, you automatically think of the Museum of Contemporary Art - otherwise known as MOCA. And when it's modern dance, Twyla Tharp leaps into your mind's eye.

``She is modern dance,'' said actor/dancer Gregory Hines of the petite, San Bernardino-raised dancer/choreographer/director in a well-choreographed video clip shown at MOCA's annual luncheon Tuesday honoring Tharp. We learned that in the beginning, Hines didn't want Tharp involved with the film ``White Nights'' until ballet icon Mikhail Baryshnikov convinced him to ``at least meet her.'' He did, she was hired, and now he credits her with turning him on to modern dance.

When the video was over and we'd seen the honoree in numerous scenes from her career, which includes Broadway hits such as ``Singin' in the Rain'' and the films ``Hair,'' ``Ragtime'' and ``Amadeus,'' Tharp received a standing ovation and also her award from MOCA director Richard Koshalek and the museum's projects council president Ellen Fox.

In her teeny little metallic slip dress that showed her still-buff body, Tharp said, ``This award is an affirmation of me ... and also dance. It makes it clear that this is work that nurtures the spirit like art and music do ... so thank you.''

Giovanna Ferragamo, the designer-daughter of the late Salvatore Ferragamo, provided the entertainment - a preview of her fall fashions from Milan. Fashion fans might want to take note that the designs included numerous long black duster coats lined in vivid scarf prints and worn over black turtleneck sweaters and fluid, cuffed pants, as well as oversized cable knit sweaters and billowy palazzo pants in winter white and also pine green. The utility-chic mood was there, too, seen in quilted parkas and ponchos. Shoes were brightly colored, with that nifty little ``Sabrina'' heel that looks like an hourglass.

Away from the podium, Ferragamo said it was a thrill to show her collection to the ladies-who-lunch of Los Angeles.

Glancing around the room, she said, ``Ladies here are very elegant, and I admire them, but if there is a difference, it would be that women dress up more here than they do in Milan. And they like more color. I remember coming here before to the Colleague's Luncheon, and I saw so much red. But then I discovered it was Valentine's Day, and I sighed with relief. We're so much quieter about holidays in Italy.''

Talking about studies in style, Ferragamo (who was wearing pearls and a pantsuit) also said that pastel pink was doing well in Europe this spring and summer, but the color that's so hot in Los Angeles is used only as an accent in mix-and-match ensembles to make a personal statement.

Tharp, who admitted she wasn't wearing Ferragamo shoes that day, joined the conversation and hinted that she'd pitched a film idea to Warner Bros. the day before, but she wouldn't spill the details. However, she did let us know she's got a new film, ``Boom Room,'' coming up that has some cool go-go dance scenes that she choreographed.

Then fans mobbed her and whisked her away, while we sat down to our luncheon of chicken salad and chocolate truffles planned by event chairwomen Linda Camras and Susan Pearlstein. Honorary chairwomen, who helped with the planning process, were Susan Bay-Nimoy and Ruth Bloom.

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos

Photo: (1) Fashion designer Giovanna Ferragamo and modern dance choreographer Twyla Tharp share a moment at the MOCA luncheon at the Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel.

(2) Schmoozing at the MOCA luncheon are the museum's projects council president Ellen Fox, left, and president-elect Pam Smith of Calabasas.

(3--4) ) Fall fashions by Ferragamo were the highlight of the MOCA luncheon.

(5) Designer Giovanna Ferragamo applauds models wearing her fashions.

David Sprague/Daily News