Australia, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.

The festival marks the newly-formed company's fourth overseas invitation this year, and arises out of its first off-Island performance in January at the 2000 Seats festival in Philadelphia.

Other engagements have been in Washington, D.C. and at Carifesta in St. Kitts, all of which earned the dancers positive media coverage. In December, the Company has been invited to perform in Trinidad.

"The Bermuda Dance Company is the Island's first touring dance company, and was formed in January this year,'' artistic director Miss Suzette Harvey explained. "Our eventual goal is to set up a vehicle whereby young Bermudians can become professional dancers. At present we don't have anyone who is a professional dancer, and with this Company we want to create an avenue whereby when they reach 16 dancers don't have to say, `I am going to give this up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.' Instead of getting a regular job, they can say, `This is what I do'.'' Dancers off to Malaysia Miss Harvey feels that for aspiring young artists, the Bermuda Dance Company represents a good professional prospect.

"They need to be able to see this so that when they are deciding on their career choice they can look upon the BDC as a genuine opportunity. Bermuda doesn't have a touring dance company, and many dancers have had to leave the Island to see if they can get into a dance company abroad.

"I think it is important for us as Bermudians to market our own talent. If people could become professional artists I don't think we would lose so many children to the system.'' At present, the Bermuda Dance Company consists of seven local dancers who are working with "two to four'' international dancers.

Dancers making the Malaysian trip are Bermudians Miss Harvey, Zalika Millett, Shanyea Trott, Jennifer Phillips and Lauren Francis, as well as Rhea Patterson and Tara Pasquarello from the US. They will be accompanied by rehearsal director Kia Georges.

The group will be away approximately ten days, and during their time in Malaysia Miss Harvey will also be conducting a workshop.

"It is going to be a great experience for everyone,'' she promises. "We are going to be performing with a lot of Asian companies who will give us a new perspective, and of course it will be the same for them.''