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Dancin' to a different drummer Photo by Bob Pennell Brian Luman, former football standout and now a student at the University of San Diego, leaps in front of the corps de ballet during a State Ballet of Oregon performance Monday of "Les Sylphides." The 200-pound receiver, defensive back and return man for the 1997 Ashland Grizzlies is as comfortable today performing ballet routines as he was leading Division I-AA in interceptions last fall. Luman at ease on center stage or football field By GREG STILES ASHLAND -- It didn't come with the same flourish, zest or impact of an open-field tackle. Just the same, Brian Luman is still airborne from the "little nudge" his aunt gave him nearly a decade ago. Brian Luman flexes his formidable frame as he performs Fox Trot with the Oregon Ballet. Luman distinguished himself as a receiver, defensive back and return man for the 1997 Ashland Grizzlies football team and went on to start for the University of San Diego last fall as a freshman. But short of intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown, Luman will never quite take center stage the way he does in his summer job with the State Ballet of Oregon. Luman is a featured dancer in several of the company's pieces during six Monday night performances at Butler Bandshell in Lithia Park. Without his aunt's prodding, Luman may never have gotten into the ballet game. "He's social and athletic," says Barbara Elias, Luman's aunt. "He has a nice stage presence and isn't bashful about it. I knew he would enjoy it." As Luman recalls, it took a little coaxing before he volunteered for a part in the annual Nutcracker production. "I really didn't want in, but my cousins were doing it and my aunt kind of pushed me into it," Luman says. So when auditions were held at Ashland Community Center in September of 1990, there he was. "When they called up the little boys, I walked out into the middle of the stage," Luman says. "No one was there but me. I thought `Gosh, I made the wrong choice."' But after traipsing around as a drummer boy in the battle scene and the naughty boy in the party scene, he was hooked. "I remember it was a snowy year and going back and forth through the snow," Luman says. Shortly thereafter, SBO's co-founder, the late Eric Hyrst began a class for boys. "There were six guys all my age," Luman says. "By summer, they were all gone except for me. I was learning a new trade and it was quite a bit of fun." It still is for Luman, who turns 19 today. "We used to put on plays as kids when our families would get together," says Luman's cousin Teresa Elias. "Back then we used to have to make Brian do it. Once he started doing things like the Nutcracker I felt he showed his acting ability. He's a hard worker whether it's sports or dance." The SBO has capitalized both on physique and friends, referring to him as "our football player." "I would definitely say he brings in a crowd," says Teresa Elias, "especially with all of his friends from school." If there were tee-hees from the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder's football or track buddies, the snickers dissipated long ago. "He's very secure about himself in and out of ballet," says Diane Gaumond Hyrst, who began SBO with her husband Eric in 1980 and carried on as producer choreographer after his death in 1995. "Nothing fazes him." Whether it's a sock-hop style A Fine Romance swing routine, the turn-of-the century fantasy Les Sylphides or Eric Hyrst's 1988 Fox Trot Luman obviously enjoys leaping, strutting -- not to mention -- paddling before peers, townsfolk and tourists. In all, he appears in five pieces. "They're all pretty tough pieces, but not excruciatingly tough," Luman says. "I've never done more than two or three in the summer and never done a solo like Les Sylphides." In that piece he dances opposite of Diane Hyrst. "Brian been dancing for nine years. He's a very reliable partner, because of his sense of timing that he acquired from dancing so young," she says. "As easy as it looks, it's much more demanding. Most male dancers start when they get out of high school. "Brian always makes his partners feel secure and that's made him very popular among the dancers. I'm very happy of my decision to dance with him. I don't dance as much as I used to and I'm glad that I have a partner I can rely on." In the current program, Luman also goes one-on-one with his cousin in Fox Trot. "It's real great dancing with him as partner," Elias says. "I'm never afraid I'll hurt him. I feel more comfortable dancing, because we've grown up doing it together." The six-performance series has reached its halfway mark and the University of San Diego football camp begins prior to Ballet in the Park's season finale Aug. 16. That means Luman, will drive down to San Diego, report to Toreros' coach Kevin McGarry on Aug. 13, go through a couple days of workouts, then hop a plane back to Medford for the finale. "We'll be going kind of slow for those first few days," Luman says, "`so I won't miss anything." When he returns in earnest to football camp, he'll be a returning starter for the Division I-AA Pioneer League team. Luman's acrobatic talent earned him a starting cornerback job last fall. Opponents naturally tried to pick on a freshman defensive back and paid a price. A few weeks into the season, Luman led Division I-AA in interceptions. "They didn't throw my way for a little while after that," he says. The preparation for his leaps on stage pay off when he dons his football pads. "Ballet gives you great lower-body strength, it enhances your ability to hold your balance. I've also noticed my jumping ability goes up when I'm doing ballet. When I don't do ballet, it goes down," he says. How long will he pursue dance? "I haven't planned out any future in dance," Luman says. "I do it because I enjoy it. When I stop enjoying it I'll probably quit; which I don't plan to do for a while." And so what began as a "you-should-really-try-it" has become central element in Luman's life. "I never expected Brian to take it this far," says his aunt Barbara. "I'm so glad he had the courage to stick with it and be an athlete too." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.