By Carol Norris
Enquirer contributor

The dance community is still buzzing about the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo that opened Cincinnati Ballet's season last month and the attention it drew. It was a celebration of these sweetly nostalgic works that have not been seen for decades and a tribute to the 70-year career of artistic director emeritus Frederic Franklin.

Troupe members turn their backs to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo to applaud Frederic Franklin at show's end. (Rene Micheo photo)

The Ballet Russe excerpts were well-staged, meticulously researched and beautifully performed by dancers who were born way after the heyday of Ballet Russe.

One of the most satisfying parts of the event were the films of Mr. Franklin - rare, old ones of his younger dancing days and new ones of his work in Cincinnati Ballet studios.

Charmingly British with a self-deprecating humor and an encyclopedic knowledge of everything balletic, he's universally loved in the dance world. Audiences stood to honor him as he took his bow after each performance amid dancers, flowers and applause.

Thirty-plus dance aficionados from around the world showed up to honor the master including writers from the United States, Canada and Great Britain. The New York Times' Jack Anderson wrote a lengthy review, published last Sunday, praising the dancers, the restagings, Mr. Franklin, and particularly the fact that the company tackled the daunting project, something never done before.

Also in the entourage were former Ballet Russe performers, including Cincinnati's own Helen Murielle Greenberg who joined the troupe as a teenager in 1948 and adopted the stage name Elena Lane. It was common practice back then for dancers to adopt a new name.

The orchestra, led by Carmon DeLeone, tackled each piece with relish - everything from a Beethoven symphony to Erick Satie (which introduced company accompanist James Hart skillfully on the piano).

Lots of festivities preceded and followed the concert, including a disco after opening night. Honoring the elegant, esteemed 88-year-old dance master and his reconstructions of '30s and '40s ballet works with a '70s disco? I'm missing the connection.

Although the dancing's over, the festivities continue with an exhibit of The Golden Age of Costume and Set Design for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1938-1944 through Jan. 12 at Cincinnati Art Museum. There's also an archival exhibit at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County downtown through Nov. 30.

Back from Britain: Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev recently returned from Great Britain, where they performed with David Nixon's Northern Ballet Theatre. (Mr. Nixon is the Canadian dancer/choreographer who ran Ballet Met Columbus before moving to NBT this year.)

They starred in a full-length Wuthering Heights, and the reviews were glowing. Ms. Reznik and Mr. Kremnev, who performed at the Norwich Theatre Royal got this from Eastern Daily News' Derek James: "Ms. Reznik captures Cathy's anguish..." and "Mr. Kremnev's Heathcliff is dark and menacing..." and the couple "... performed some of the best dancing the city has seen in years."

They're back teaching at ballet tech ohio in Foster. Next up: performing in Toledo Ballet's Nutcracker.

Updates: Fanchon Shur and her company, Growth in MotionInc., performed at Hebrew Union College in October to raise money and awareness of a healing and peace program she has developed and wants to introduce to Over-the-Rhine schools. The results?

"We had our first workshop Nov. 1 with two more scheduled Nov. 15 and 21 and plans for a January concert," Ms. Shur says. All this is taking place at the Hays-Porter/Washburn school.

"We're working with 12- to 14-year-olds, kids who face drugs and meanness daily. We had no idea what to expect. We definitely didn't expect them to dance with us. But they did it!" Ms. Shur says, adding that teachers are dancing, too.

"Ms. Shur wants to bring her work that uses movement to counter conflict and inner-rage into more schools. Vine Elementary is in the works for next month.

Bigger cause: Sharmistha Das, the Anderson Township 15-year-old who organized an east Indian dance performance at the Aronoff last summer, has added teaching to her resume, taking on a few students of her own after the concert.

She says about 250 attended the August event (the Jarson-

Kaplan seats about 400) with patrons asking for more such events as they left the theater.

"Though the program was successful, there were a few obstacles," Ms. Das says, explaining she received a phone call asking for her to cancel to support the area's boycott. The group decided to go on as planned.

"There were a few protestors," she says. "I was pleased to hear the audience chose to stay. ... I think I have supported a bigger cause; to help the city of Cincinnati embrace the diversity through the arts."

Last chance: Jefferson James of Contemporary Dance Theater has extended the deadline until Nov. 15 for application to choreograph a work for the annual "Choreographers Without Companies" June concert. Call: 591-2557.

E-mail norris@one.net