THE Bermuda Civic Ballet returns to the stage this weekend with Summer Selections 2008, six pieces created specifically for local audiences.

Themes range from "an espionage adventure to the drama of love, madness and music provided by the lives of Clara and Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms", and will be performed at the City Hall Theatre this evening and tomorrow night.

"This year we have six dances created by various choreographers," explained Bermuda Civic Ballet trustee and publicist Helle Patterson. "The range is pretty broad. (Civic director) Coral Waddell has created a delightful classical ballet on the theme of meetings - chance and otherwise - and there's another longer classical, with a full storyline of Clara and Robert Schumann."

The latter ballet is based on actual events in the lives of the famed composers and pianists, which took place at the beginning of the 19th Century.

"It was unusual for women to perform in public at that time," Mrs. Patterson said. "Robert was battling mental illness caused, I believe, by syphilis.

"It led to his being locked in an asylum. His wife had a friendship with Johannes Brahms which some considered quite scandalous.

"(However Brahms) was a great supporter and admirer of hers until she died in 1896. It's a 25-minute piece with wonderful dancing by the three lead performers - James Waddell as Schumann, Jelani Veney as Brahms and Stephanie Elstob, a professional dancer from London, as Clara."

Madame Ana Roje and Patricia Deane-Gray created the Bermuda Civic Ballet in 1972 as a means of broadening the experience of local dancers.

"This is the 36th year of the Bermuda Civic Ballet," the trustee continued. "Each year the Civic holds a summer school, dance classes which culminate in a public performance. Sometimes it's a full-length ballet. Sometimes it's (various) performances. Mme. Roje was instrumental in starting Civic with Mrs. Grey to give Bermudian dancers a chance to expand their experience, to work with professionals. Before the Civic, and even now, there was nowhere for local dancers to get together and perform. They only did so with their individual schools and that was the main reason for its (creation).

"Civic has always operated an open-door policy, and dancers and choreographers come from various local dance schools and also from abroad, and consist of Bermudians and non-Bermudians, amateurs and professionals. This year's choreographers are Eric Bean, Nikia Manders, Jeni Rowntree, Lorien Slaughter, Jelani Veney and Coral Waddell."

Mrs. Patterson added that the Bermuda Civic Ballet frequently performs to great acclaim. Evidence of its high regard in the community is its inclusion in the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts next year.

"We've performed just about every year - sometimes in the open air.

"Last year we performed in the park at the Botanical Gardens and, on a number of occasions, we've performed in the grounds at Government House. But this year is more of a workshop. It's six separate pieces rather than a full-length production. And weather is always a risk."

The Bermuda Civic Ballet will perform Summer Selections 2008 at the City Hall Theatre tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Tickets, $30, may be purchased from the City Hall box office. For more information telephone 232-0959.