Freddie Franklin can't stop dancing. After a few small roles in recent American Ballet Theatre productions - most notably as Friar in Romeo and Juliet - he's at it again. This time he's dancing in a ballet choreographed especially for him and two others. Cincinnati Ballet's artistic director emeritus is 87 years old.

        “The audience was so quiet when we went into the last song. People came up after and told me they had tears in their eyes,” Mr. Franklin said by phone from his New York apartment, relishing every minute of it. The work, “Reverie,” was part of American Ballet Theatre's most recent season.

        The finale on Nov. 4 brought standing ovations and fistfuls of flowers.

        “They gave me a very beautiful wreath — the ladies got bouquets of flowers. It was all very lovely and moving,” Mr. Franklin said.

        The “ladies” who round out the “Reverie” pas de trois are Georgina Parkinson, former ballerina for the Royal Ballet, and Martine Van Hamel, retired ABT star.

        “When (choreographer) Robert Hill asked me to do it, he said we would all have solos. I said "A solo at my time of life?' But it's been a joy to do,” Mr. Franklin said. “And it's been a mild sensation. Clive Barnes (a New York dance critic) said, "Of course their ages add up to 202 years — and Mr. Franklin at 87 contributes the most.' ”

        The work, to four Franz Schubert songs, has taken on a life of its own. Mr. Hill, whom Mr. Franklin describes as an up-and-coming choreographer, recently started his own company and plans to feature the three dancers in his programs.

        “We all had qualms about getting out there again,” said Mr. Franklin, whose long career has covered every aspect of classical dancing, from princely charmers to wicked evil-doers, “But he's found in each of us what we do well. And I do a very nice duet with Georgina — very jazzy.”

        Salsa rhythms: Tropicoso — a hot Latin band that's been playing Tristate night spots recently — will provide the salsa rhythms for the second annual Caribbean Folkloric Show and Dance in Dayton Saturday.

        When not dancing, chow down on authentic Caribbean foods such as arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), ham and chicken dishes, followed by postre (dessert).

        The main event, of course, is the Latin dancing — both a show and open dancing for everyone. Saturday at the Polish Club, 1472 Valley St., Dayton, doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; Caribbean Folkloric Dancers perform at 8 p.m.. Tickets: $20; Florixa Perez (937) 274-3201. Call ahead — last year's event sold out early.

        CDT updates: Contemporary Dance Theater continues its involvement with “Inside-Outside,” an interactive women's prison project. The latest is a performance Dec. 7 at Cincinnati's River City Correctional Center. Attendance in by invitation only. To be invited, contact Jefferson James at 591-2557.

        • The area's best kept dancer-related secret is CDT's www.egroups.com/group/cincinnatidance — a freebie Web site providing dancers and artists of all stripes the opportunity to add to or access information. To add your own event and updates, log on and follow instructions.

        • Plans are moving forward for CDT to sponsor the Ohio Arts Dance Festival in 2002, but Ms. James needs input — and help — from local dancers, organizations and anyone else who'd like to see this happen. It's an event that will bring the Ohio dance community and some statewide attention to Cincinnati. Want to be involved? Call Ms. James at 591-2557.
       

        Contact Carol Norris by fax: (812) 537-5693; e-mail: webers@one.net.
       

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