By Kathy Valin

Two events this weekend use dance to tell stories. LA FILLE MAL GARDEE -- from ballet tech ohio performing arts association -- reaches back to Jean Dauberval's sole surviving work. Way back, say to the 18th century. Staged by Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik, the ballet features dancers from student to professional in a comic tale of adolescent love triumphant. The cast includes newly minted award winners Hannah Spiegel, Courtney Sanborn, Leigh Lijoi and Kristen Phelps (who will compete again in May at Lincoln Center in New York City), plus Kremnev and Cincinnati Ballet's Andrey Kasatsky. In short: lithe Lise loves farm boy Colin, upwardly mobile mom, Widow Marcelina (a character role from Kremnev worth the price of admission), wants a better match with a clumsy, but wealthy heir named Nikes. Best scene: An imperious Marcelina ordering Lise to her bedroom to keep her away from the tantalizing Colin, who happens to be hiding in that exact spot. Most fascinating footwork: a clog dance with real wooden shoes. If last year's version was any indication, this is an all-around winner, entertaining from the ground up with authentic styles ranging from classical through character. (See a review of last June's production) Performances are Friday and Saturday at the Aronoff Center's Jarson-Kaplan Theater. Tickets: 513-241-7469.

... Diane Germaine's DIDI, A LIFE reaches back, too, but only as far as childhood. "A fiction," the three-act work examines, through dance and text, the life of an artist who must deal not only with creation, but also with experiencing and resolving personal loss. Director/choreographer Germaine (who's also created recent works like "Dust to Dust" and "Such a Landscape") will read "stories and poems" from the "life of Didi." This time around Holly Price is the young Didi. Rachel James portrays her more mature counterpart. Others performing are Bill Donnelly, Heather Britt, Michelle Bump, Annella Donohue, Mickey Morgan, Julie Mullins, Paul Eisenman and Duane C. Orlemann. Music comes from works by Meredith Monk, Nina Simone, Astor Piazzolla and others. Of her work, Germaine says, "The writer comes after what occurs and pulls it into memory so that it's still alive -- it still exists." Performances are Friday and Saturday (and April 12-13) at Contemporary Dance Theatre's Town Hall, 1805 Larch Ave., College Hill. Info: 513-591-2557.

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True Believer (December 13, 2001)
Cincinnati Ballet hires new principal dancers (December 13, 2001)
Shake It (November 29, 2001)
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