SOPHIA Cannonier is to return to the stage next year, performing in the Bermuda Festival with the Russian National Orchestra Wind Quintet.

A duet, the short piece is to be choreographed by Conchita Ming of the National Dance Theatre.

A former dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ms Cannonier has since left regular performing and now runs the Health Co-op, which teaches a variety of exercise methods including Rolfing, Yoga and Pilates.

"I'm dancing in the Bermuda Festival in February," she said. "Conchita asked and I was available and still in dancing shape. I don't do it as often because I have to make a living but, yes, I am always going to be a dancer.

"My goal is to continue to express myself through movement and the joy of movement until I actually can't get up out of a chair any more."

As a dancer who suffered injuries and, in recovery, turned first to Pilates and later to Yoga and Feldenkrais Awareness through Movement, Ms Cannonier said she understood the dangers presented through abusing one's body.

"Dancing (has the same effect as) running or tennis or golf. If you overuse your body in any way, it breaks down. At the moment, I'm more interested in preserving, and finding out why I move and how I can move better rather than just banging my head against the wall or slamming my feet against the floor - dancing-wise - because I know better. And that's why I'm doing what I'm doing today."

While she was physically fit for February's performance, she would have to get used to moving as a ballerina again, Ms Cannonier said.

"Because I take care of myself, I've found that I don't need to be in class to be a dancer. Dancers overtrain and I'm learning how to move myself in ways that I can still dance. I am going to have to get back into a routine; the aesthetics of moving like a dancer again.

"Dancers hold themselves in a very constricted way. I've learned to really move myself and be functional and dancers are not very functional - they have a stiff rib cage and a stiff spine and no one with a stiff rib cage and a stiff spine can be functional although it's aesthetically pleasing on stage.

"So I haven't been moving like that so I have to get back into class and prepare myself mentally for those two performances in February."