The students were eager, their teacher possibly more so. The classes at Bermuda Dance Academy were a big part of the summer for Mikayla Wilson who was back home on a break from her job with Princess Cruises.

For six months she’d travelled through South East Asia, Japan and South Korea as a staff dancer on the Diamond Princess.

“With all the international experience that I've had, it's really nice to give back, to show girls on an island that whatever you put your mind to is possible,” Mikayla said.

Her classes with Bermuda Dance Academy were part of Summer Dance Intensive, a four-week programme offered by the school with sponsorship from the Bermuda Foundation and Blue Rock Construction.

Apart from Mikayla, lessons were given by Nikia Manders, the company’s owner and head teacher; Andrea Markus, a dance teacher in New York; local teachers Makaylie Smith, Imani Edwards and Khyra Butterfield, and assistants Paiage Pringle and Unzae Swan.

Mikayla, 25, started dancing at the age of four, training with In Motion School of Dance.

At age 16 she left for the US, continuing her studies at Grier School in Pennsylvania. In university she earned bachelor’s degrees in dance and public relations and advertising.

By the time she graduated in 2021, the pandemic had paused live entertainment. Mikayla took a two-year break.

“I came home and worked for a little bit but I always had a plan to move abroad,” she said.

In July 2022, she moved to London, England, where she did a bit of corporate work until she once again felt the pull of dance.

“And then in January of 2023, I did my first audition, for Norwegian Cruise Line. It just sort of sparked an interest for me.”

That her mother, Bernadette Wilson, and Ms Manders had both danced on cruise ships gave her inspiration.

Back home working for Bermuda Dance Academy last summer, Mikayla discussed her prospects with the dance school’s head.

“We put together a plan, I went back away, got an agent, and from there I worked a full-time job and auditioned on my days off,” she said.

Princess Cruises was the first to offer her a contract. Mikayla had no idea which one of its many routes she would land on.

“I ended up making it all the way through for most of the auditions. When you do an audition for cruise lines they don't tend to give you options.

“It’s still on the hush-hush side because they haven’t decided if you will be picked,” she said. “Normally it’s a six-hour period of auditioning and if you make it all the way through, it’s still not a guarantee that you will get the job.

“When they offer you a contract it’s normally on a ship of their choice.”

After two months of practise she sailed off on the Diamond Princess. It was her first time in Asia.

“I was actually journalling every day and manifesting where I would like to go, and Asia was the first place that I had put down, so I’m thankful. Obviously it was God's plan for me. And I was able to go to that side of the world,” she said.

“Basically my job was to perform four nights a week ― we had four different shows ― and then, on occasion, just to interact with the guests with different activities to do with the culture.”

Activities included origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, and how to style a yukata, a cotton kimono used “mainly for the summer” in Japan.

“It’s similar to their formal dress, just a little bit more casual,” Mikayla said. Time spent with Bermuda Dance Academy has “been a joy”.

A showcase on July 26 allowed the dancers to display all they’d learnt during the Summer Dance Intensive.

Mikayla choreographed two group dances ― one jazz, one contemporary ― and two jazz solos as part of the programme.

“I’ve definitely enjoyed stretching them and helping them to think a little bit more outside the box with new styles; getting them used to being a bit uncomfortable, learning the joy of being uncomfortable,” she said.

“I did teach a few summers at In Motion and then I had been out of teaching for a while and I forgot how much I loved it until I came to Bermuda Dance Academy.

“The students here are great, they’re very talented and it's really nice to be reminded of the talent that we do have in Bermuda.”

Now that the intensive is finished she’s mentally preparing for what’s to come this month: rehearsals in Los Angeles until October, when she will join a different ship, Sky Princess, on a new route through Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The advice she gave to Bermuda Dance Academy students is what she’d give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in dance.

“Movement isn't just your limbs; it's a full experience ― mind, body, soul. Dance has prepared me for everyday life. Being a dancer really requires discipline.

“It requires attention to detail. It requires you to put a lot into it. And so I've taken a lot of that from my experience and really put it into life,” she said.

“When I wasn't dancing, I was so happy for the training I had had, because it does set a really good foundation and then on top of that, it's a great emotional release ― everybody has things going on, right?”

• For more information, visitwww.bermudadanceacademy.com/