A NEW school dedicated to the performing arts opens in January, with an aim to better integrate dance, music and drama into the community.

The School for the Performing Arts will initially operate as a satellite venture, with classes taught at churches and schools around the island.

Led by a band of professional artists, the school will offer private instrumental and vocal instruction, together with composition and musical theatre. It is the school's intention to instil an appreciation for the performing arts with the island's youth. The teachers will not only work with private individuals in the community but will serve and support children through the private and public schools.

"Our interest is in reaching out to as much of the community as possible, offering programmes that are not necessarily available at this time, or available to a wide range of the community," explained one of the school's founders, Paula Maguire. A former choreographer and dancer, her work has enabled schoolchildren to enjoy free theatrical performances in Bermuda since 1997.

That success encouraged Ms Maguire and music instructor Lloyd Matthew to offer a unique learning experience to Bermuda residents.

"Our school is dedicated to the advancement of the theatre and musical arts, where students, staff and the community will participate in performances resulting in the exchange and creation of cultural and artistic ideas," she explained.

"I've been producing performing arts programmes for young audiences for ten years in Bermuda under the name of Kidfest. Lloyd and I felt we wanted to offer an arts programme in Bermuda inclusive of every child believing this component essential for a vital and comprehensive education as well as cultural growth.

"The Musical Theatre Programme will be offered to different age groups from primary school age children, teens, adults through to seniors. This programme will give people the opportunity to work on all three disciplines which makes this art form so challenging and exciting .We will give people an opportunity to sing and dance to repertoire that we have all come to know and love through Broadway Musicals."

Students are to benefit from an impressive list of instructors: American baritone/counter tenor and music director Jimmy Lee Brown, whose choruses and dance troops have been performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center; Antonio Dangerfield, a trumpeter who has collaborated with a host of celebrities including Wynton Marsalis and Beyonce, and who currently serves as Brass Chairman and Trumpet instructor for the Harlem School for the Arts; Tatiana Dutoit, a pianist who started playing at the age of four, singing professionally at the age of nine, and composing a year later. Dr. Dutoit will offer both Suzuki and Traditional piano.

Also on board is Yiyi Chen a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the most prestigious conservatory in China and also of the Glen Gould School of Music (formerly the Toronto Conservatory). William Orlowski Founder and Artistic Director of the National Tap Dance Company of Canada who is an award-winning choreographer and one of Canada's greatest tap dancers; Janice Pearman, who has successfully reintroduced steel pan music into the public school system in Bermuda.

Mr. Matthew will serve as principal and teacher, drawing on 30 years' experience as a music educator. "I have taught at all levels of the school system here and realise the importance of arts education for children," he said.

"The vision of the School for the Performing Arts is to compliment existing arts programmes in the schools.

"Regardless of a child's ability, arts education is a critical cornerstone to their overall education and development. We have assembled a wonderful group of arts educators-musicians with experience, wisdom and commitment who will breathe life into this programme. Their passion for arts education will inevitably embrace a broader and more diversified segment of our community."

For more information on the School for the Performing Arts, or to register visit the website, www.performingarts.bm

For inquiries please telephone 333-2734/ 7341460 or send an e-mail to infoperformingarts.bm