Ryan’s hope is to keep on dancing

Thursday, June 24, 2004 | 8:32 a.m.

What: "Viva Las Divas."

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Where: Nicholas Horn Theater, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. (on the Community College of Southern Nevada campus).

Tickets: $10.

Information: (702) 384-5351.

Never mind an impending 80th birthday and an ever-increasing reliance on BenGay, Peggy Ryan is still kicking up her heels.

"I don't know what I'd do if I didn't keep dancing," Ryan said last week. "Life begins when I put these tap shoes on."

On Friday, Ryan and 30 of her dancers will perform their annual concert at Nicholas Horn Theatre. This year's production, "Viva Las Divas," is a jazz, tap, comedic homage to middle-aged (and upward) women, as well as divas past and present. The concert features all of Ryan's dancers, Peg's Legs, Ryan's Rebels, Ryan's Gals, Ryan's Hope and the TNT Dancers. None of the leggy stars are under age 50.

"We're doing Marilyn Monroe, Cher - You should see Cher with all these old broads," Ryan said. "I do Judy Garland. We're doing Liza Minnelli in 'Cabaret.'

"It's all about being a diva, being a woman and being wonderful. And for the first time I'm having guest divas at the end of the show. They do Peggy Lee. We have Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Queen Latifah."

Dancing professionally since childhood, Ryan tapped her way through early television and silver-screen musicals, then spent seven years playing Jenny Sherman on "Hawaii Five-O."

She's been teaching dance since the 1980s - not missing a beat. In September she said goodbye to close friend and teenage movie co-star Donald O'Connor.

"It's been a tough year," Ryan said. "I love him dearly. He would have been 79 this year. We were born on the same day. He claims he was a year younger, but I always say he's lying."

As with everything else in her life, Ryan paid tribute to O'Connor in a dance number at her last concert. Dancing, particularly her classes held every night, she said, gets her through everything.

"During the day you can cry," she said. "Dance, music, is an aphrodisiac."