It was standing room only at Copia last week when Helgi Tomasson, the artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet, introduced the Friday Night Flick, "The Red Shoes." Tomasson, credited transforming the San Francisco company from regional to international, asked the audience how many had attended a ballet performance and nearly everyone in the packed theater raised their hands.

"Wow!" Tomasson exclaimed. "And people tell me ballet is a dying art form. Wow!"

Richard Miami, who coordinates the film series at Copia, said coming up this Friday is another fascinating film, "Imelda." Directed by Ramona Diaz in English and Tagalog (with subtitles) it's a documentary look at "one of the world's most reviled and revered women. Known as "the Steel Butterfly," she was the wife and confidante of the Phillipine dictator Ferdinand Marcos whose regime (1965-86) was marked by corruption, political repression and financial shenanigans. After being deposed in 1986, the Marcoses fled to Hawaii and opposition forces found thousands of pairs of high heeled shoes in the Imelda's closet.

After Ferdinand died in 1989, Imelda returned to the Philippines where she was elected a legislative representative from her native district of Leyte. In 2001 she was arrested and charged with corruption and amassing a fortune of up to $5 billion during her husband's regime.

The film follows Imelda, with unprecedented access, throughout the Philippines, as she expounds her personal philosophy and addresses the question: What about all those shoes?

The Friday Night Flick will be shown at 8 p.m. at Copia. Tickets are $6; $5 for Copia members.

More dance news

And for all these dance fans, Napa Regional Dance Company will host a master class with Regina Illingsworth, principal dancer with the Cleveland Ballet, and former dance director of Mercyhurst College in Erie Pennsylvania.

She will be teaching the class on April 25 from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. at Napa Regional Dance Company 1527 Polk St. Napa. Dancers must have a minimum of two years intermediate pointe experience. Pre-registration is required on or before April 20. The fee for the master class is $15. Dancers may contact the studio at 252-4615.

And more dance news

The Academy of Danse junior and senior competition teams performed at Disneyland for Disney Magic Music Days 2006 on March 23, showcasing eight of their routines in lyrical, jazz, modern and hip hop on the Plaza Gardens Stage.

The team, coached by Academy of Danse instructor Lauren O'Bryon and studio owner DeeAnn Valine, also competed at the Starpower National Talent Competition, taking home four first place trophies and 10 gold medals for their outstanding performances.

Team members all take several dance classes including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe and technique.