Dancer Eric Bean has qualified from university and has toured around the world, but now he is back in Bermuda for a short time to try and give back to the community. Lifestyle's Rene Hill caught up with him during a break in his busy schedule.

Since graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, 24-year-old Bermudian Eric Bean has led a hectic life touring with a dance company across the US, Europe, Korea, Turkey and Israel.

Life, he says, is a "bit unreal" he has a full-time job dancing, but never sees it as going to work. Through his work he has become a 'world traveller' and in the future he hopes to dedicate himself to choreography.

But just for the moment Mr. Bean is back in Bermuda helping United Dance Productions with a project and also teaching Salsa and other Latin dance techniques with The Jackson School.

He said he was invited by Suzette Harvey, the founder and director of United Dance Productions, to work with her on her July showcase 'Peace in the Streets', which toured around the Island last week, and which was produced because of the recent violence in Bermuda.

"We had a discussion before I came back and she was like, 'Things are getting so crazy here, there has been a lot of violence and a lot of shootings. So, we really need to get back to the roots of why I started UDP, which was to have a positive influence on the young people and use dance to inspire change'.

"So she asked if I had any ideas. I sent her some songs and she chose a couple of them. One is called 'Here is Where I Stand'. It is a very powerful ballad and it almost sounds Gospel, but it is really about this girl standing up for who she believes in, saying here is where I stand, take me as I am, which is a great message to send.

"The other is 'Waiting on the World to Change' by John Mayer and that one also has a strong message and talks about how the young people are standing up for what we believe in and we're waiting for people to catch on, we're waiting on the world to change. I've basically choreographed those two pieces."

While in Bermuda he is also promoting a dance intensive he is conducting during the first two weeks of this month.

"I discussed it with her (Ms Harvey) in trying to give back to the community a little," Mr. Bean said. "I am going to do that at the Jackson School.

"It is going to be an intensive based on styles of Jazz and styles of Latin. One of my friends in the States has agreed to come down and assist me. He is a world renowned Latin dancer and choreographer and that should be a lot of fun and something that people here really haven't experienced yet."

In addition, the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda also invited him to be one of its faculty members during DanceBermuda, which began on Monday.

"So I'll get to take class and I get to teach a class and I'll teach them Hip Hop and I'll also get to interact with the faculty and make a few connections and see how they run their day-to-day lives."

Mr. Bean has been dancing professionally for the last two years with the Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company.

"It is kind of unreal really. I rehearse five days a week with my dance company from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it is my full-time job, but I never see it as if I have to go to work. I see it as I'm going to take class or go to rehearsals.

"It is kind of crazy. I've gotten to travel all over since I have been in the company. I've been to Korea, we've been to Turkey twice and we just recently went to Israel, which was amazing.

"So, you know, I have gotten to be the world traveller and still get to work with amazing people and choreographers and see a lot of the US, because we tour all over America."

The Company's artistic director, Ronan Koresh, was one of Mr. Bean's University professors and asked him to audition for his company after graduation, offering him a position.

Mr. Bean had planned to get his Masters, but he added: "But after discussing it with my faculty, they said, 'we think you are really talented and you should go and dance a little bit and have a career, because college is always going to be there.

"Your dance career is only so long and it is great to have that worldly experience on your resume before you go for your masters'.

He wants to be a choreographer and said it was perfect for him to work with Mr. Koresh who has had his company for 17 years and who has been choreographing and teaching for more than 20 years.

Mr. Bean's schedule allows him to have a few breaks to explore some of his other passions, such as teaching and choreography.

"This year I got to work for Eleone Connection, which is the second company of Eleone Dance Theatre. It is a company based in Philadelphia that I was a member of four for years, as both a principle dancer and a soloist.

"Then I also got to Missouri Contemporary Ballet Company, and that was a lot of fun, I got to set an original work on their company.

"They are a young company and they have only six or seven dancers, but it was received very well and it is helping me to get my name out there."