Published: October 08, 2006 09:42 pm         

75 years later, he's still dancing

NORMAN, Okla. — Seventy-five years ago in a different era and a different country, Frederic Franklin began his dancing career — a career that continues today.

Franklin, 92, who is a native of Liverpool, England, visited the University of Oklahoma School of Dance this week to observe classes and speak about how the dancing profession used to be.

“I started dancing when I was 6 years old,” Franklin said. “I had very good teachers who were very strict.”

Because there wasn’t a ballet company in England back in 1931, Franklin said he went to Paris to start his professional career.

Now, 75 years later, he said he is impressed at the way the art has developed, both on the educational level and the professional level.

“I’m so amazed at the height of the studios (at Reynolds Performing Arts Center) and I’m terribly impressed with all of it,” Franklin said. “I’m trying to give (students) an idea of how it was earlier. The idea that you don’t have to rely on New York to perform and train anymore … there are extraordinary opportunities.”

Franklin said one of the major factors in changing the perspective of the arts was World War II. He said there is a greater focus on ballet and other dance forms than before.

“Now, there are therapists and makeup people — we didn’t have any of that before,” Franklin said.

Franklin said he resides in New York when he isn’t traveling. His career included instruction from Josephine Baker in Paris at the Casino de Paris and appearances with Wendy Toye and Anton Dolin in cabaret, variety, concert ballet, vaudeville and theater with the Vic-Wells Ballet. He is director emeritus of the Cincinnati Ballet, and was acting director from 1977-86.

Will Franklin retire now that he is 92? Asked about closing the curtain, Franklin assured it wasn’t going to happen.

“Dancers don’t really retire,” Franklin said. “They come out and teach or produce, so they’re always doing something. I just go out there and perform and I love it.

“I’ve had a long run and it’s still going. While I still can, I will continue.”



Althea Peterson writes for The Norman (Okla.) Transcript.