TOBACCO ATTACKED BY FANCY FOOTWORK.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

The Moorpark College Children's Dance Theater is serving up an anti-smoking message with its annual holiday production this year.

By incorporating a commercial demonstrating what smoke and cigarettes do to the heart and lungs into its ``Under the Big Top'' show, the dancers hope to convince their audiences of the dangers of the habit.

And, using a $5,000 grant from the Ventura County Public Health Tobacco Education Program, the performers are taking their act on the road to elementary schools throughout the county.

``We wanted to use a visual means of getting this message out,'' said Daniel Berney, the college's dance director. ``This program wasn't necessarily targeting kids, but we thought that we could provide something . . . that is unique and at the same time, entertaining.''

The ``Big Top'' production is a dance revue revolving around the circus. Dancing characters include animal trainers, their big cats, a ringleader and even good and bad clowns.

The loosely constructed story focuses on three evil clowns and a villain in a cape who plan to kidnap Ballerina Doll, the circus star. At the climax of the story, when the Keystone Kops are busy trying to find the evil clowns and foil their plot, the show breaks for the commercial.

Wearing dark costumes over brightly colored circus clothes, the dancers in the troupe wordlessly tell the story of what happens to a the human body under the influence of cigarettes.

Two dancers, playing the heart and lungs, strut around the stage showing off muscles and strength. Soon they are overtaken by smoke and a cigarette, and the vital organs weaken until they nearly collapse under the weight of the billowing smoke.

In the end, the fire department comes to the rescue, dousing the cigarette flame and smoke with water, and the heart and lungs are revived.

Students from nearby Campus Canyon School cheered when the good guys prevailed in a performance Monday.

Elementary teachers said the anti-smoking commercial might have been too abstract for the youngest children in the audience to comprehend the details, but they said portraying smoking in a negative light probably reinforced messages from other sources.

``For this age group, it was a little bit above their heads,'' said kindergarten teacher Suzie Cooper, ``but if it succeeds in the slightest bit to convince them not to smoke, it's worth it.''

But while the youngest ones might have missed the full message, children a couple of years older got it.

When asked what she thinks of smoking, second-grader Ashley Smith wrinkled up her face and made a gagging noise.

``It's gross,'' Ashley said. ``It's bad for you.''

In addition to shows at area schools, the dancers will perform their show before a public audience at 10 and 11 a.m. Friday; 1:30, 3, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 1:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Performing Arts Building, 7075 Campus Road.

For more information, call [phone].

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color in Simi Edition only) Moorpark College dancer Gillian Doden plays a heart fighting off cigarette smoke.

(2) (Ran in Simi Edition only) Moorpark College Children's Dance Theater students take a bow after a performance Monday.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News