ppressive humidity, a distinct culture, different level of dance expertise, and yes, perhaps even a somewhat different initial level of energy are just some of the things the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) instructors have had to adjust to here.

Nothing has been insurmountable, however, and certainly there has been no cause for pessimism. On the contrary, everyone is upbeat about the Bermuda experience, and would not hesitate to repeat it.

"The first year there are always kinks to be worked out, and certainly there is a learning curve for everybody, even if we have done programmes in the past," a philosophical Clinton Luckett, the chief instructor of the ABT's summer programme says.

"Every new situation is different, so you have to learn the things which are specific to that situation. Certainly the National Dance Foundation (NDF) has gotten a clearer picture of what it takes to produce a programme like this.

"We, coming from the outside, now have a much better sense of how things work here, and in the future it will get better and better."

For the past three weeks, 43 Bermudian and 23 overseas dance students have been participating in an intensive programme of dance and allied subjects, thanks to a partnership between the National Dance Foundation and the ABT. The students have been in classes from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. five days a week, with not a moment wasted ? and some of them without the benefit of air conditioning.

If at first the Bermudians experienced something of a "culture shock", they soon adapted to what has obviously been an outstanding opportunity to benefit from first class tuition in the company of overseas students. "The programme is about broadening the experience and perspective of the Bermudian dancers, and giving them a taste of what the bigger picture is," Mr. Luckett says. "It has given the Bermudians a nice opportunity to get a taste of some teachers and students from outside their normal sphere, and also to give them a little more exposure of the dance world at large. Hopefully, this will excite and inspire them further to continue pursuing dance and make it a part of their culture."

The programme has been divided into several levels, with students placed according to ability. Given the age range from ten to 22, this was one of several challenges the ABT staff faced.

"We certainly took age into consideration, but at the same time we tried not to have a 20-year-old in with a 12-year-old," Mr. Luckett says. "The wide range of ages made dividing them into three groups a big challenge."

Placements began with one big class, from which subdivisions were made based upon each student's performance. While admitting that such a system is not perfect, Mr. Luckett says adjustments were made in the ensuing days to advance students to a more appropriate level where necessary. Nonetheless, some dancers were surprised ? and even disappointed ? at their placement.

"It happens with every programme," Mr. Luckett admits. "It is normal for a young person to equate the blue (higher) level with the best level, and red with the lowest level. They thought that if you were in red you were bad, and if you were in blue you were good, but there is no value in looking at it like that. It is not a question of how good or bad you are. We try to place students in the level where they are going to grow the most, and get the most benefit out of the programme. The point is to grow in one's knowledge and understanding of dance, so it is important to be at a level where that can occur."

As a former dancer himself, Mr. Luckett is well placed to know whereof he speaks, for the ABT has been doing similar summer programmes in the United States since 1997. In fact, the scheme has grown to include five programmes across the country, with the biggest being in New York, where approximately 240 students are enrolled in a six-week-long programme. While the initial programme here is about half the size of the ABT's smallest US programme Mr. Luckett is pleased with its success.

"I think it has been an excellent start," he says. "It is a huge leap forward in dance in Bermuda to take on a programme like this ? a big step in every way. This is a very unique situation. In all the US programmes the kids come from everywhere, but this is completely different in that we, as an entity, are coming from the outside, so in a sense we didn't have a model for that. Now, however, we do have a much better sense of how things work here, and in the future it will get better and better."

One of the things the overseas contingent has had to adapt to is the oppressive humidity, which Mr. Luckett admits has been "energy sapping", but he also points out that "dancing in humidity can make your muscles feel warm and juicy".

A former dancer himself, the NDF artistic director's primary responsibilities these days are involved with Studio ABT.

"That is the ABT's junior training company, and we are training dancers to be members of the ABT. Their average age is 18, and they have been filtered out of our summer programmes over the years. They are the cream of the crop and on the verge of turning professional."

In fact, it was these dancers who performed at a NDT gala benefit hosted by actress and Bermuda resident Catherine Zeta Jones.