Since their state-of-the-art dance studio at the Bermuda College was formally opened last July by Dr. Yvette Swan (then Minister of Culture), the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda -- now officially designated as the College's `Dance Company in Residence' -- has instigated an innovative programme that embraces all aspects of the art of dance.

With an impressive list of monthly master classes already established, the exciting news is that Dance Theatre's partnership with the College is to be cemented with an accredited course in dance, to be called `Introduction to Dance'.

"We are still finalising the details,'' says Dance Theatre administrator Conchita Ming, "but we are very excited. From the College's point of view, it will be the first in what they hope will be a complete Fine Arts programme for the College. The vice president, Dr. Peters, has been very supportive of us in all our endeavours since we moved on campus and I'm glad to say that he is extremely interested in all aspects of the arts.'' The dance programme spreads its wings even further in 1999 by featuring a different dance experience -- and different teacher -- each month. January and February will be devoted to Jazz with Irene Pimentel (from In Motion and a graduate of Florida International University) taking the first month, followed by the Jackson School's Keya Neal who obtained her BA in Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Choreographer Suzette Harvey who directs United Dance Productions, teaches Modern Dance in March, with former Royal Academy of Dancing teacher Dena Abbott (Somerset School of Dancing) casting a classical aura with her Ballet classes in April. One of the most challenging sessions is sure to be Improvisation, taken by Tamieca McCloud who now teaches at CedarBridge, but was formerly a dancer with the famed Pilobolus company.

Dance Theatre got off to a spectacular start with its summer workshops when Kim Bears from Philadanco and Wil Turner from American Repertory Ballet provided guest teachers' workshops for company dancers and members of the public.

One of the most popular sessions was Sophia Cannonier's exciting fitness training programme, based on Joseph Pilates' revolutionary system. While many professional dancers swear by this method, it is also extremely beneficial to non-dancers. Since then, the Bermudian dancer who was formerly a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, has opened her own studio, Contrology.

The National Dance Theatre of Bermuda was established in 1980 from the earlier Bermuda Dance Theatre formed three years earlier. With it special emphasis on encouraging local choreographers, the company now supports a repertoire of over 50 works. It has appeared at the American Quincentennial Celebrations in New York in 1992, the Carifesta in Trinidad and was chosen as the opening group for the IABD Dance Conference staged annually in Philadelphia. In 1995, the company performed before the Queen and Prince Philip during their visit to Bermuda.

One of its most ambitious ventures was the staging of the full-length version of `The Nutcracker' which opened the 1997 Bermuda Festival. It was mounted by David Allan, one of America's most successful choreographers who regularly creates ballets for the New York City Ballet. He is a long-time friend of the company who has worked tirelessly with Bermuda's dancers since his first visit to Bermuda with the National Ballet of Canada in 1984: Louise Jackson immediately recognised the young dancer's talent whose very first choreographic work was showcased in Bermuda.

1999 will see a major production staged by Dance Theatre and the first dance residency is also planned. Mrs. Ming says that discussions are well in hand for the American company, the William O. Baily Cultural Exchange in Dance, to conduct workshops, classes and rehearsals. This will culminate in a Bermuda performance along with the Dance Theatre of Bermuda's own dancers.

For further information on all classes and workshops ($10 per class or $40 per month) please telephone 239-4091.

`ALL ONE TRIBE' -- A scene from a work choreographed by Conchita Ming for the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda. Pictured are (left to right):- Renee Lambert, Erin Field and Jenni Rowntree.