The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995               TAG: 9504200056
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   76 lines

E.F. HUTTON COMING TO BEACH AUCTION

SOME COMMERCIAL slogans slip into popular culture, and become everyday punch lines. One such phrase is: ``When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.''

The E.F. Hutton whose name was attached to a major brokerage firm died in the 1950s. But another E.F. Hutton is making the rounds these days, and he is equally caught up in investment potential and has an equal ability to get people to listen.

This Hutton has made a serious hobby of fund raising for worthy causes. He will be in Virginia Beach on Saturday, talking exceptionally fast as he auctions off an impressive cache of art and artifacts to benefit Old Dominion University Ballet.

He is coming here, said auction organizer Cecelia Hilliker, at the invitation of a friend, ODU Ballet board member Alene Schmidt.

The doors open at 7 p.m. at Broad Bay Country Club, where the 309 items to be auctioned will be displayed. Works being sold include multi-original prints, such as Picasso's ``Three Graces'' etching, and original paintings, including a Georgia O'Keeffe gouache, ``Poppies.''

Also to be sold are works by Marc Chagall, Thomas Gainsborough, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali and Albrecht Durer. Among the rare artifacts are golf clubs and hockey sticks that belonged to Charlie Chaplin, and jewelry owned by philanthropist Alice Tully.

At 9 p.m., Hutton will begin banging his gavel to benefit the university dance troupe, set to present ``Snow White'' May 5 to 14 with new choreography by ODU Ballet artistic director Istvan Ament.

To remind guests of the nature of the cause, auction paddles are pink and shaped like ballet slippers, said Hilliker.

The $25 admission includes a paddle, heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages. The club is at 2120 Lords Landing. Call 496-9257 to reserve a spot, or for more information.

Hilliker, who has been on the other end of the telephone line with Hutton, said she now has a greater appreciation for the famous slogan.

Because the lesser-known Hutton, she said, ``has the sexiest voice on the phone.''

Costa Rican rhythms

Thirty-five musicians and dancers from the tropical paradise of Costa Rica will share their country's performance traditions Saturday at 8 p.m. at Virginia Beach Pavilion Theater.

The group is called The Costarican Folkloric Ballet, and the program is ``Mi Linda Costa Rica.''

The performers are from San Jose, capital of the peace-loving Central American nation known for its exotic beaches, rain forests, great surfing and a languid pace of life.

Within a few months, San Jose may be a Sister City with Virginia Beach. The concert occurs as that bonding process reaches a conclusion; the event is sponsored by Virginia Beach Sister Cities Commission and Interes Hispano.

Angel Morales, founder and president of Interes Hispano, was key to attracting the group to Virginia Beach. A native of Puerto Rico, Morales saw the group perform while touring Costa Rica, he said.

Like the Costa Rican troupe, Morales' organization has a mission ``to promote positive communications and relations.'' Morales' group wants to achieve this goal among Hispanics and between Hispanics and the people of the United States of America, as he put it.

``Our motto,'' Morales said, ``is to let our cultural differences become points of celebration.''

The performers' purpose is to promote Costa Rica's ``culture, traditions and human warmth,'' Morales said.

The troupe has performed in folkloric ballet festivals throughout the world, from France to Spain. Native costumes, dances and music from various regions will be presented.

Admission is $10, $7 for students. Tickets are available at the Pavilion box office (428-8000), La Tienda (340-3613) and Taino's Music (596-7375). Call 481-3654 for more information. by CNB