Dancer Sean Bankhead’s list of clients reads like a who’s who of Hollywood.

The 26-year-old has worked with everyone from Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus to Usher and Beyonce. Next week he’s setting his sights on helping hone the Island’s next up-and-coming talents.

The Atlanta-based dancer will join hip-hop choreographer Kaelynn Harris and dance hall/soca performer Neeks Money for a dance workshop marathon on Saturday. The event, hosted by Troika Bermuda, will also feature local talents Kioshi Burgess and Rikkai Scott.

Q: What brings you here?

A: I taught here two years ago and [Troika’s co-founder/director] Seldon Woolridge asked if I would come back this year. I said “absolutely”. So I’m excited to come back and work with Troika and plan to stay a couple of extra days and vacation on the Island, which I’m excited about. I didn’t have time to do much last time I was here.

Q: You’ve been dancing ever since you could walk practically. When did you realise you were any good at it?

A: I’ve always danced and really had a passion for watching music videos like Michael Jackson from age five or six. I remember being able to watch those and pick up the steps really easily and ever since then I asked my mom to keep me involved in the arts. She got me signed up for everything from African dance to tap. Those were my very first introductions to any kind of formal dancing when I was around 12 or 13.

Q: You’ve danced for some really big names in the music business. Is your life as a dancer as glamorous as it sounds?

A: This profession is definitely not all that glamorous. It’s always a reward to finally make it to the stage, but getting to that point is definitely tough. This industry is a little cut-throat and on top of that you still have to fight for your jobs, for a spot, for recognition and respect. Not every artist is as pleasant or nice as they appear to be. Sometimes management isn’t either. It’s like any field — there are always the ups and downs. The reward is being able to make it to the stage or on a video or TV. But it’s not as glitzy as it seems.

Q: How did you get your foot in the door?

A: When I first got to Atlanta I went to every audition possible. My first ever audition was for Usher and the second was for a Ciara video, Goodies. I didn’t get either because I was too young at the time, but I got my face out there and they both went on to use me later on in my career. I’m glad I tried out early because I learned quickly about the industry and learned how auditions worked. It’s more about who you know and who you rub shoulders with a lot of times. The first video I ever actually shot was Tiffany Evans’ Promise Ring. I believe I was still in high school and it was huge — the first video I ever really did and the song really blew up. It kind of really started from there and never really stopped. Shortly after I got signed to an agency and it opened doors for me in commercials and the TV world and other awards shows.

Q: What do you think helped you to persevere when you first started out and were hearing no at those auditions?

A: The first thing I relied on is prayer. I definitely need a lot of prayer to keep going sometimes. Secondly I was also a born hustler, always on the grind, and never had to be told to get up and do something. I would just get up and do what I had to do, so having a grind and always wanting it has served me well. I always shoot for the stars and would write down my dreams. I would focus and set goals and accomplish them no matter how big or small they were. I have always worked extremely hard, even at a young age.

Q: How much work or hours of practice do you have to put into it?

A: For me dance is a lifestyle. There aren’t really any strict hours like with an office job. I usually only get to sleep when I’m on aeroplanes and when I have a day off. I get to sleep after all the work is done. I could be up until 5am in the morning. But like I said, I’ve always been a hustler and determined and don’t sleep until the work is done. They say it takes 60,000 hours to be great at something. I have put ten years into it so far.

Q: When growing up did you think you would make it to this point in your career?

A: Never in a million years. It just happened really quickly when I was kind of young, but I knew I wanted to be a dancer. I didn’t know to what extent of that I would be, but it’s really been a crazy ride and a blessing. I never would have expected all of this to happen, but it’s not like I didn’t want it to happen either. I feel absolutely proud to be able to say I’m here.

Q: Anything in particular you’re most proud of?

A: The fact that I’m still going. You know a lot of people kind of give up because it’s not really an easy career to follow. I kept going and kept trying to stay fresh, innovative, new and reinvent myself every year. I got myself on the path to keep going. I’m proud I was able to stick it through and work with a lot of artists I always dreamed of and [appear on] award shows I always dreamed of appearing on. It’s really been a blessing.

Q: What is left for you to accomplish in your career?

A: I definitely won’t be bowing out of this industry for another 30 or 40 years, but I hope in the meantime I can keep growing my brand. I would love to do more commercial work or be a judge on a dance show or host for E News, just be a personality of some kind. I’m also interested in continuing my work with music videos and maybe extending that to movies and the arts. I just want to do it all and have fun.

Q: What do you hope young dancers get from your workshops?

A: Outside of just being creative and innovative, I just want them to respect the information and get a better understanding of what I’ve been through in the industry. I want them to be able to learn something from my past and my mistakes and the things I did right, the personal relationships I created with dancers and other people in the industry. Those connections are so important.

Q: What advice would you give to any young dancer here?

A: Specifically for Bermudians, I would say it doesn’t matter where you are in the world. People feel they have to go to Los Angeles or New York to make it. I stayed in Atlanta and was still able to grind and find jobs to put some money in my pocket. Anything is possible. It doesn’t matter where you are — Bermuda, Canada or Arkansas, just go for it, pursue it and if you go hard enough it will come.

*Bermuda’s Ultimate Dance Workshop Marathon classes will be held at the Berkeley Institute. Registration starts at $10 and can be done online at www.ptix.bm.