Batoto-ly Wild

When he founded Batoto Yetu in a Harlem playground in 1990, Julio Leitao could hardly have foreseen that the children's dance troupe would soon be performing on the stages of Lincoln Center, BAM, and the United Nations. "I never dreamed so many important people outside our community would want to help us," he says. Meanwhile, the children of Batoto Yetu have become a New York cause celebre, and a favored charity of such local worthies as Anjelica Huston, Donna Karan, and MiloS Forman.

Agent-producer Bryan Bantry became involved after watching a performance at Cooper Union last spring. ''Most charities seem so remote," he says. ''Julio and the children are so innocent and pure." Brooke Shields, yet another fan, concurs, effusing, ''Julio's joy and enthusiasm are contagious!" Contagious, indeed: a Batoto Yetu documentary (by Jonathan Demme) and Batoto Yetu Gap ad (by Patrick Demarchelier) are in the works.

Leitao's studies at Jacques d'Amboise's National Dance Institute led him to the playground. At first, just a handful of children were involved; the number has since grown to more than 100. ''The stage makes it all happen for them," explains Leitao, 27. ''You can see the confidence it gives them, and it changes their lives and organizes their ambitions." Twelve-year-old Khadijah Harris recalls the group's first performance, at the U. N.: ' ' I thought people were going to laugh, and my stomach was hurting. But when we started dancing, nobody was laughing—they were cheering!"

The enthusiasm Batoto Yetu—it means ''our children" in Swahili—inspires has paid off. David Saltzman, co-executive director of the Robin Hood Foundation, found them to be perfect targets for his organization's beneficence. "Julio turns the kids on to education through the arts," he says. "We gave him a big grant because we want him to realize his vision. " The sound of drums and children's dancing feet sends a message of hope throughout the entire CITY.

BOB FELNER