By Carol Norris

Don't miss it

Jewels: It should be the dance event of the season. Last seen locally in 1996, Jewels (Oct. 10-12) is George Balanchine's tribute to things that glitter.

"Rubies," "Diamonds" and "Emeralds" are the three sections of the full-length work that requires a massive group of dancers to pull off - hence the (first) collaboration between Cincinnati Ballet and BalletMet Columbus. The two companies will put 60 dancers on the Aronoff stage to commemorate Balanchine's centennial birthday.

Each section boasts a different composer - Faure, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky - and will feature the Cincinnati Ballet orchestra under the baton of Carmon DeLeone.

New faces

At Cincinnati Ballet: All eyes will be on Sergei Pakharev, who will figure prominently at Cincinnati Ballet.

Artistic director Victoria Morgan consistently has been drawn to the elegant look of Russian-trained dancers. Pakharev, 28, is her latest find. Trained at the famed Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, he has the long legs, articulated feet and princely carriage classical choreographers crave. So why is the company bent on roughing him up a little?

Morgan says he's aced the princely look, but with half the repertory contemporary works, he'll be learning to relax into the complex rhythms and loose style that's required of newer, and particularly American-style, choreography.

Elsewhere: Other new faces will be in the form of the Paul Taylor Dance Company (Nov. 7-8), hosted by Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Arts Association.

Often wickedly funny, Taylor's works are beautifully crafted and performed. Many ballet companies vie for his works; Cincinnati Ballet performed his "Company B" in 1996.

Rising star

Groundworks founder: Young and ambitious, David Shimotakahara of Cleveland is one of Ohio's rising dance stars. His company, Groundworks Dancetheater, will be presented Nov. 21-22 by Contemporary Dance Theater. Artistic director Jefferson James likes his "classical training that shows up in a very contemporary style."

People to watch

Stephen Mills: Former Cincinnati Ballet dancer Stephen Mills has a thing for Shakespeare. His Hamlet - in the rep of Dayton Ballet - is deliciously disturbing. Next up is his take on A Midsummer Night's Dream for Dayton Ballet (Oct. 24-26). He's not likely to stray far from the text - just interpret in his own, quirky way.

E-mail norris@one.net