Auditions for dancers and dance groups for the West Oak Lane Festival

For those who like to step and strut, especially to the sounds of New Orleans-style jazz, auditions are scheduled for dance groups and individual dancers for the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival Parade. Auditions will be held April 10, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Center Court in the Cheltenham Mall, 2385 West Cheltenham Avenue, for the parade, which kicks off the annual jazz and arts festival. The festival, one of the largest in Philadelphia, will be held June 18 to 2, and feature an all-jazz program. The event, which takes place along the Ogontz Avenue corridor in West Oak Lane, attracted more than 500,000 people last year, organizers said. "Last year we did a ' ' 70s on Saturday theme,' and because we wanted to do an all-jazz festival this year, we wanted to look at who was famous for doing all-jazz festivals," said Erika Griffin, a spokesman for the Oak Lane Revitalization Corp, which sponsors the festival. "The New Orleans Jazz Festival has been going on for 40 years, so that's the theme we chose." "We're planning to throw beads, twirl umbrellas and generally have a good time, Griffin said. Among the performers will be two iconic New Orleans musical groups, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Also appearing will be Diane Reeves, David Sasnborn with Joey De Francesco and the George Duke Trio featuring Al Jarreau. To register for an audition, call 1-877-WOL-JAZZ (877-965-5299). -- Vernon Clark