THIS year marks the 50th anniversary of one of Bermuda's most venerable arts institutions: The Jackson School of Performing Arts.

While much has changed on the island since 1952, the Jackson School, founded by former ballerina and current United Bermuda Party MP Louise Jackson, remains at the forefront of education, providing unparalleled instruction in dance, music, and drama to local children of all backgrounds.

The Jackson School set the standard for dance instruction in the 1950s not just by offering a wide variety of classes but also by accepting both black and white students.

As Mrs. Jackson explained: "There was no such school for dance when I arrived. They were all segregated, and there was nothing for the black children. The school quickly grew because blacks in those days wanted the best for their children. There were music teachers ? piano, voice, and violin ? but never a dance teacher."

"Parents were delighted. I took girls and boys from the start. We offered ballet, tap, modern, and something called acrobatics, which isn't taught any more. When other schools started, they taught ballet, but there was a market for other dance disciplines.

"This is what made it integrated before it officially happened in Bermuda," she continued. "White mothers wanted their children to have a well-rounded dance education, not just ballet but jazz, modern, and tap."

Mrs. Jackson arrived in Bermuda in 1952 with a plan to start a physical education programme for girls at the Berkeley Institute. However, her forte had always been dance; she was a professional ballerina in Philadelphia and briefly in New York before her arrival in Bermuda. As she started teaching ballet, she noticed the untapped talent in her students.

"When I first started teaching, there were 12 girls who were really good. Two of them actually became teachers ? Anne Hines and Beverley Brock," she said. As the Jackson School grew, Mrs. Jackson was forced to hire a staff. The demand was too great for one teacher alone.

"Before I knew it there were hundreds of children dancing here. At its height, the Jackson School taught dance to over 900 children each week. We've had excellent teachers ? they're just the top of the line," she said.

One of these "excellent teachers" is Jeanne Legere, who has been teaching at the Jackson School for more than 20 years. Mrs. Legere was born in Bermuda and started dancing under Pat Gray at the Russian School as a young girl.

"When I started dancing in Bermuda in 1957, dance schools were still segregated," she said. "I moved to America and started dancing at the age of seven in Long Island.

"I danced at school in Georgia, and then moved to Maryland where I danced in a small company with Wally Saunders. I started teaching in Baltimore for the YWCA and in Columbia, Maryland. I then taught young children in Massachusetts. I returned to Bermuda in 1982 to the Russian School, where I took classes and taught civic ballet."

Soon after Mrs. Legere's return to Bermuda, Mrs. Jackson approached her about teaching her very youngest students. Mrs. Legere accepted, and hasn't looked back, moving up the ranks to her current position as Director of the Jackson School.

"I stepped in and taught the Saturday classes. By my fifth year, I was teaching all the young ones ? about 19 classes each week. I just kept adding classes," she said.

In the late 1990s, Mrs. Jackson decided to semi-retire from the school. She asked Mrs. Legere if she was interested in taking over the running of the school.

"It took me six months to get up the courage and have faith in myself," Mrs. Legere admitted. "It was scary to step into Mrs. Jackson's shoes, but my family and friends encouraged me to go for it."

"Jeanne has injected a lot of youthful enthusiasm and an array of changes that have refurbished the school," Mrs. Jackson said of her long-time friend. "I have nothing but gratitude, as she hasn't just kept it going, she has improved it."

Indeed, Mrs. Legere's tireless enthusiasm has ensured that the upcoming Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration will go forward without a hitch. Later this month, the Jackson School will present its largest recital to date, with dancers ranging in age from toddlers to teachers.

"We're doing 50 years of music and dance," Mrs. Legere explained. "The teachers and seniors will start off with a swing piece. We'll have the babies in their little poodle skirts doing music from the 1950s. Juniors, intermediates and seniors will dance to music from the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. We'll cover the '90s and we'll have a futuristic finale to reflect the Millennium. We've been working on this since last August, starting with the costumes!"

Mrs. Jackson added, laughing: "We're sending Mrs. Legere on a cruise after this!"

The Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration will be staged at the City Hall Theatre, as all their recitals have been since the theatre first opened.

"We were the first group to use the City Hall Theatre. We were the first to grace the stage. As a result, we're included in the brochure of the Corporation of Hamilton. We still have recitals at City Hall every year, and have done since it opened," Mrs. Legere said.

The Jackson School was also the last programme held at the old Bermudiana Theatre, at the now defunct Bermudiana Hotel.

"The theatre was traditionally segregated, but at the end if its career as a theatre the school was allowed to use it," Mrs. Jackson explained.

The school has come a long way since the days of dancing at the Bermudiana Theatre. Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Legere attribute its continued success to the dedication of their long-serving teachers.

"I used to teach every class in the beginning. Then we have Barbara Frith, our longest serving teacher, who is going into her 35th year," Mrs. Jackson said.

"She really took the tap and jazz to another level, and she also does ballet. We had Conchita Ming, who created the modern dance department, and Heather Shrubb, our senior ballet mistress straight from London."

The Jackson School, while primarily known for dance instruction, also offers tuition in music, drama and gymnastics.

"We started a music school, headed by Doug Frith. Through the years we've taught voice, woodwind, percussion and the piano," Mrs. Legere said. "We've seen some famous musicians like Mark Lomas start here. He ended up at Juilliard. Eddie Ming still teaches percussions ? he's been here forever.

"We still have gymnastics at BHS (Bermuda High School). Kim Siese has been teaching there for almost 20 years. We've had drama classes and put on productions. Professional actors like Daniel Frith started here," Mrs. Legere continued.

Jackson School's popularity with students and parents alike has never waned during its 50-year reign as the island's top dance school. There are always waiting lists, and parents often register their children at birth.

"The reason we're so popular is that children feel comfortable here and they're getting a lot out of it. It's a very nurturing environment," Mrs. Legere explained.

"It's like a second home ? they feel loved. It's a sort of living room in here. They start when they're three or four and they grow up here, until they go away to school or college. They talk to the teachers. It's like a big family. They even come in when they have the day off from school! It's just a good, healthy place."

A few of the Jackson School's top students have gone on to pursue dance at higher levels, often returning to Bermuda to give back to their beloved school.

"Quite a few girls have gone on to get dance degrees in the last couple of years," Mrs. Jackson said. "Brittany Legere, Shomeiko Ingham and Nikia Manders all have degrees. Nikia is currently dancing on a cruise ship."

"Shomeiko will start teaching next year. We have students coming back and giving back to the School. We're growing all the time," Mrs. Legere added. "If you have good teachers who care you'll always have a school that is in demand. We're going forward with dignity."

As far as the upcoming show is concerned, Mrs. Legere hopes to see many of her former students in the audience.

"I would like to see everybody there, as it will invoke a lot of memories. There will be a lot going on in the foyer ? slide shows of past recitals, and big posters of old pictures," she said. "We have some students going to summer dance intensives, so we'll have a table with dance paraphernalia for sale. The profits will go towards paying for the camp, so come with money!"

The Jackson School has thrived for half a century due in part to the generosity of one particular benefactor. Paul LePercq, a French businessman based in Bermuda, registered his daughter Edm? at birth. She started dancing at age three, and Mr. LePercq became a patron of the school.

"He completely renovated it ? floors, mirrors, a television, videos, everything!" Mrs. Jackson said. However, Mr. LePercq had bigger plans for the school, including the incorporation of male dancers.

"He didn't see any boys around so he paid for three male dance soloists from the Alvin Ailey Company to come to Bermuda and audition boys," Mrs. Legere explained. "This was nine or ten years ago. He rented out City Hall Theatre and the boys were let out of school. There was a huge influx of boys and the Paul LePercq Foundation still pays for their fees. Francoise LePercq, his widow, continues to donate generously to the school."

Now, as the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration approaches, Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Legere see a bright future for the Jackson School.

"This is a dream of mine that has come true and repeated itself for 50 years," Mrs. Jackson said. "Here we have an integrated school with children from everywhere, and it truly works. Their parents come looking for excellence and a safe, happy environment. That's what we have here."

continued: "This school will always have high integrity, solid technique in dance and the highest calibre of teacher. We will never lose sight of the importance of teacher/student relationships. The teachers are the backbone of the Jackson School."

Mrs. Legere hopes to remain Director of the Jackson School for years to come.

"I hope we continue to grow in teaching. I want to keep with the times but stay with the classical too," she said. "There's always a place here for kids to come and learn. I have no desire to go anywhere else!"

"She'll be here for another 50 years!" Mrs. Jackson laughed.

q Performances will be held on June 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the office from Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., excluding June 12.

So far Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Legere have been unable to reach some of the very first students of the Jackson School, including the original 40 students. Some are married and therefore have different names. Please call the Jackson School office if you are one of these students.