consistently sweeps away his audiences.

Currently in Bermuda to dance the lead role of Oberon in the Bermuda Civic Ballet's forthcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mr. Marsden at 29 is at the top of his form.

Celebrated for the extraordinary height of his explosive jumps, prodigious technical virtuosity, and danseur noble quality, the Providence, Rhode Island native has danced on four continents, and before heads of state including then-President Mikhail Gorbachev of the former Soviet Union, as well as the First Ladies of Panama and the United States.

But then dancing is in Mr. Marsden's genes, and he is no stranger to the stage, having taken his first bow at age six in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.

One of three children born to Myles and Ivanka Herci Marsden, it was Richard's British-born grandmother, who ran her own ballet school in Lincoln, Rhode Island, who taught the little boy his first dance steps in her living room.

With Yugoslav dancer and teacher Madam Ana Roje, a good friend of his grandmother's, who partnered Richard's father and was well known and loved in Bermuda, and the famous British dancer, choreographer and teacher, Sir Anton Dolin, as godparents, Richard's world was steeped in ballet from birth, and his fate effectively sealed at the cradle.

When, eventually, his parents took over the grandmother's ballet school, Richard and his siblings continued their involvement in its traditions. It would be many years, however, before the young lad seriously considered ballet as his chosen profession, despite his obvious talent.

In fact, it was at age 11, while watching the film, West Side Story, that he actually decided he wanted to become a professional dancer. Ironically, he would later dance as a Jet in the West Side Story Suite, and today lives on New York's West Side.

At age 12, his mother dispatched him with a group of her female students to Boston to audition for the School of American Ballet (SAB) "just to see what would happen''.

"I was immediately accepted, which was very unusual,'' Mr. Marsden recalls, before adding with a twinkle, "but none of the girls were''.

For the next three years, the gifted youngster attended summer classes at SAB until, at age 14, he was accepted into the special men's classes on full scholarship, where he remained until age 18.

A galaxy of well-known teachers and artists, including godfather Dolin, Vladimir Dokoudovsky and Nina Stroganova, Maggie Black, Jerome Robbins and Russian artists Baryshnikov and Vasiliev, all helped to shape the dazzling artistry, exquisite form, and versatility which have made Richard Marsden such a firm favourite with critics and audiences alike.

Accepted into the New York City Ballet (NYCB) at age 18, he remains with the company today.

"I'm still there doing it all -- corps de ballet, principal roles and solos,'' he smiles.

If that seems curious for someone of his superlative talents, Mr. Marsden explains it is because the NYCB operates on what he calls a "community'' system, whereby the dancers perform in a variety of roles -- unlike the American Ballet Theatre, for example, which operates on a "star'' system.

Because of NYCB policy, Mr. Marsden once took a leave of absence specifically to dance "all the classical roles'' as a principal -- a journey that took him to four continents, and saw him performing with such dancers as former Bolshoi soloists Leonid and Valentina Koslov, who defected to the US in 1976, and the American stars at the Kremlin Theatre.

As might be expected of someone whose entire life has been immersed in dance, Mr. Marsden remains keen to promote and further this beautiful art.

Once a classical ballet and repertory student of the late great Vladimir Dokoudovsky, the Monte Carlo-born dancer, teacher and choreographer who studied with Preobrajenska, Richard Marsden was so inspired by his genius that, in the true tradition of master/student teaching, which harks back to Auguste Vestris, premier dancer at the Paris Opera in the 1700s, he now wants to pass Dokoudovsky's torch to future generations through his new professional company based at the New York Conservatory of Dance.

"Dokousovsky taught me respect for the art of ballet and for the theatre in dance,'' he explains, noting that ironically his revered teacher was buried on Mr. Marsden's birthday.

To that end, he is presently forming his own dance company in partnership with his wife, Christine, and the New York Conservatory of Dance, where it will be based. There he will fuse the teachings of two great ballet traditions: Legat and Preobrajenska, the former of which is taught here, and the latter at the New York Conservatory of Dance.

(Legat was a famed Russian dancer, ballet master, choreographer and teacher, and Preobrajenska was a prima ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet and Legat's partner, as well as a splendid technician/teacher).

The good news for aspiring local dancers is that, during his current visit, Mr. Marsden is watching out for students to audition for his school -- and personality will be a key emphasis.

"We want people who are pliable and good to work with,'' the dancer advies.

"I'm not worried about the dance aspect because I can work with them on that.'' Mr. Marsden notes that, by being trained in a fusion of the two traditions, local dancers will at last be exposed to professional opportunities in New York and Japan through his company's collaboration with the Aki Studio Company.

His company is also the result of Mr. Marsden's desire to increase awareness of ballet.

"Ballet has to branch out into the world more,'' he says, "More people have to see it.'' Clearly excited by his new venture, the budding entrepreneur plans to start out with a small, professional touring company, and eventually increase it to approximately 20.

"Hopefully, we will come back here as a touring group company,'' he smiles.

Meanwhile, such is his professional reputation that already Mr. Marsden has been asked to direct a special Millennium programme in the National Museum of Dance at Saratoga Springs, New York State, where his new company will perform in collaboration with the Aki Studio Dance Company.

As a performer, he continues to thrill audiences wherever he appears, and has just completed a gruelling schedule with the New York City Ballet, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary season by paying tribute each week to the music and composers of many nations in a programme of 100 one-act and full length ballets.

And now it is Bermuda -- a place Richard Marsden, like his father before him, always enjoys.

"I love to dance with the Civic Ballet,'' he enthuses. "It is part of the culture here. Working together with everyone has been wonderful. The company is comprised of people from Bermuda, the United Kingdom and the United States, and they're really like a family. It's a good feeling.'' Even better, perhaps, is the feeling Mr. Marsden gets knowing that his beloved Christine, whom he wed on March 1 in Vermont, is by his side.Deeply in love, the couple are not only remarkably attuned as professional dancers, but also appear to think and breathe as one.

Indeed, from the moment they met at Saratoga Springs in 1995, where Mrs.

Marsden was a dance counsellor and he was dancing with the NYCB, it was "love at first sight,'' they proudly declare, since which time their lives have been inseparable, and they are extremely excited about their upcoming business partnership.

Introduced to pre-ballet school at age two, it was not until age 14 that Mrs.

Marsden resumed ballet lessons, having been inspired by a performance of Phantom of the Opera.

Like her husband, she too trained at the New York Conservatory of Dance with Dokondovsky and his wife Patricia, as well as at the American Ballet Theatre's intensive summer programme.

Looking to the future Both a classical and modern dancer, Mrs. Marsden will join her husband in Tokyo next summer as a ballerina with the Aki Studio Dance Company.

In their lay-off periods, the couple enjoy trail hiking in Yosemite National Park and swimming.

"It's just the beginning,'' Mr. Marsden says of what promises to be a dynamic future for this charming young pair.

A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed in the grounds of Government House from August 18 to 21. Choreographed by David Drummond, guests artists, in addition to Mr. Marsden, include Shawn Mahoney as Puck, and Bermuda's Sophia Cannonier as Tytania. Tickets go on sale today at the Visitors' Service Bureau. Telephone 295-1727 for further information.