They don't have a name yet, but local dance enthusiasts have been meeting for the past couple of months to develop a unified plan for supporting and promoting dance activity in the Tristate.

        A long-range goal is for Cincinnati to host the annual Ohio Dance Festival in 2002; an immediate aim is to get a broader dance dialogue going locally.

        Jefferson James has been calling it the E-group because most of the communicating is being done on the Internet (www.egroups.com/group/cincinnatidance).

        “We want to increase the visibility and respect for dance, but we're not limited to just that. We have poets, musicians and set designers who want to collaborate. We expect broad participation,” Ms. James says.

        She directs Contemporary Dance Theater in College Hill, and if there's something stirring dance-wise in the area, she'll likely be involved.

        Traditionally dancers find their niche and stay there. Buns (ballet dancers) don't generally check out what the barefoots (contemporary dancers) are doing. Ms. James says E-group wants to get away from this segregated approach.

        “We want this to be all inclusive. The initial thrust has been contemporary because the majority of those showing up come from that background, but we also have teachers from commercial studios — tap, ballet and ethnic,” Ms. James says.

        They'll be voting on a name and tackling a broad agenda at the next meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 7 at member Mary Kamp's house. If you want to get involved, call Jefferson James at 591-2557 for directions.

        Help for prisoners: Needed: Artists (dance and otherwise), social workers, therapists and community leaders. What: Keeping the Faith — The Prison Project. Necessary gear: None. All that's needed is an interest and willingness to create arts programs for incarcerated females. Cost to you: Nothing.

        Pat Graney is a Seattle choreographer who has made it her mission for the past six years to bring the arts to women in prison. She'll be in Cincinnati to offer a two-week training program for anyone interested in doing the same locally. A performance by inmates will end the two-week workshop.

        First introduced at the Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Wash., the intensive workshop of writing, movement and performing is designed to encourage inmates to explore the issues in their lives that keep them tied to the revolving door of the penal system. The project, sponsored locally by Contemporary Dance Theater, is being offered in six cities this year. Prison sites are being selected.

        The workshop is Feb. 12-24; contact Rebecca Richardson, Pat Graney Co., PO Box 20009, Seattle WA, 98102-1009; (206) 329-3705; e-mail: Rebecca/patgraney.org. Deadline for applying is Jan. 1.

        The Pat Graney Company also performs the full-length Tattoo (with music by Seattle composer Amy Denio) at the Aronoff Center's Jarson-Kaplan Theater before the workshop: 8:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10; 241-7469.

        Back on his toes: A year ago we followed a young dancer through the process of participating in his first-ever professional-level dance experience. We spend a lot of time in this space talking to the pros about their projects, but had never looked at things through the eyes of a novice.

        A little ink and Craig Ruttle's photographs told the story of Gerald Haynes' first Cincinnati Ballet Nutcracker experiences — from audition through opening night. The School for the Creative and Performing Arts student had a grand time hanging and dancing with the pros. By the end of the run he decided he would make a career of dance.

        When we caught up with him last May his dance plans were on hold. A broken ankle had him watching impatiently from the sidelines. Healed and raring to go, he's now juggling three holiday dance projects — including repeating his role as the Mouse Prince for Cincinnati Ballet.

        A baseball player in the summer, Gerald reports he's busy pursuing his real dream this winter. He's a Ginger Snap in his school Nutcracker and has agreed to perform with his sister in a dance skit at Christ Emmanuel Church on Main Street.

        His mother, Courtney, continues as official chauffeur and calendar organizer — jobs she says she's resigned to for a long time. “We've turned a corner. His grades are wonderful,” Mrs. Haynes says.

        The 13-year-old eighth grader has his mind made up about his future, and mom's OK with his decision. “He's serious about what he wants and he's 100% convinced that he's going to be a dancer.”

        Carol Norris is a free-lance writer who covers dance for the Enquirer. Write her c/o Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202; fax, (513) 768-8330.

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