A Bermudian ballet teacher is opening an exclusive ballet school this summer in Croatia.

The Ana Roje Legat International Summer School will be open to elite ballet dancers over the age of 15 from Bermuda and around the world.

Bermudian dancer, teacher and writer, Patricia Deane-Gray is behind the school.

She first met the famed ballet dancer and teacher Ana Roje at the age of 15 in 1950 at the Legat School in London.

The Legat system, named for creator Nicolai Legat, is a style of Russian classical ballet.

Mrs. Deane-Gray is offering a four-week programme for those who want to be either professional dancers or ballet teachers of the Legat system.

Ana Roje was from Split, Croatia. In the 1930s Miss Roje studied under Legat who was famous for his teaching methods that had produced many legendary ballet dancers including Margot Fonteyn, Alan Carter and Alice Markova.

Miss Roje went on to teach using Legat's methods, and danced around the world. In terms of teaching, she became known as the second best thing to Legat himself.

In the 1960s she ran a Legat ballet summer programme in Bermuda for dancers from around the world. In 1972, Miss Roje opened the first production of the Bermuda Civic Ballet.

In the 1970s her school was moved to Croatia but many Bermudians continued to journey there to study with her. It was closed in 1991 when she died.

The latest reincarnation of the school has come out of a book published last year by Mrs. Deane-Gray called 'Ana Roje'.

"Because the book went out in Zagreb Theatre and in Split Theatre and was presented to the people of Croatia, it came up again that it was a shame the school wasn't able to continue," said Mrs. Deane-Gray.

For this reason, Mrs. Deane-Gray decided to start the school up again.

The summer programme will be taught in the Castle Vitturi located in Kastel between Split and Trogia, Croatia on the Dalmatian Coast.

The castle was built in 1487 in the style of a Renaissance palace.

Mrs. Deane-Gray and the Legat Foundation in England are currently raising money for scholarships for the programme which will probably host about eight international dancers, plus dancers from Croatia.

The scholarships will cover fees and also airfare to and from Croatia.

Teachers for the summer programme will include Marijan Bayer from Canada, Bermudian dancer Moira Stott and Croatian dancer Jelko Yuresha.

"There are Legat teachers all over the world," said Mrs. Deane-Gray. "So I am currently networking for teachers. I can't do this forever."

The school will run for two weeks from the July 19 to August 14. Fees will be $4,000 for the whole course or $1,000 for one week.

For more information go to www.legatballetschool.com or telephone Mrs. Deane-Gray at 236-1067 or e-mail mpgray@northrock.bm.

n Mrs. Deane-Gray's scholarship and programme have nothing to do with the Ana Roje Scholarship being offered by the National Dance Foundation.