Weekend of high-energy, eclectic dance

FRIDAY, JUNE 17: United Dance Productions is to stage a weekend of high-energy dance bringing together ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip-hop.

There will be two different showcases taking place — recitals on Friday June 24 and Saturday, June 25 as well as The Junior Company’s repertoire on Sunday, June 26.

The recitals range from the Spanish ballet, to the sounds of big band for the tappers. These are performed by the entire UDP school including performers as young as three-years-old, right up to 17-years-old. 

On the Sunday The Junior Company takes centre stage and includes a number of routines choreographed by Bermuda’s own international pro Eric Bean junior. 

This includes a twenty-minute piece called Testimonies which will premiere on Sunday. Natasha Outerbridge will choreograph a dance that will be performed to Rags from the musical and there will also be a trio choreographed by UDP director Suzette Harvey called Young, Gifted and Black.

Director Suzette Harvey said: “UDP has been dedicated to excellence for the past 19 years training many who have furthered their careers professionally as artists and continue to be represented on the international stage.

“This is also the last year we will have Dawnita Smith (who recently competed in the Miss Bermuda Pageant) as she is going to study at Bird College in the UK. She is an exciting, emotional and talented dancer who sees more than the average person. She will be performing in most pieces throughout the weekend.”

The Junior Company Dancers are selected to be a part of the training programme which is free but the students must show dedication and commitment, good attitude and a foundation in ballet and at least two other disciplines. Dancers train every Saturday for two to three hours with no separation of age or ability.

They are trained to work hard and to compete for parts given by local and international choreographers. All dancers are given the opportunity to learn the choreography but not everyone will be chosen to perform. This sets the level of expectations and increases the calibre of dance amongst the dancers.

Dancers for this company are aged ten and above since the age limit was reduced from 12.

Harvey explained: “I decided to bring them in younger so if I could put fire in their belly when they are young then my work would not be so hard when they get to be teenagers. It has proven to have great results — we are producing dancers who can think quickly, understand correction and apply it and are tough mentally and physically.”

Ms Harvey added: “The Junior Company performance is under the patronage of Barbara Frith a teacher who taught me for many years when I was a child and has always been encouraging to me since the inception of UDP. She will be honoured for her sincere commitment to dance in Bermuda.”