The flair of young artists at CedarBridge Academy in creating their own shows has dazzled theatre teacher Patricia Nesbitt, the school’s director of performance.

“They rose to the occasion and they were absolutely fantastic,” Ms Nesbitt said of trio Kevonte Jennings-Lathan, Taijhuan Hollis and Rachael Butterfield.

The Government’s Career Pathways initiative offered a chance for students to put on impressive dance and fashion events this term.

For 16-year-old Kevonte it was a chance to roll out his skills on his feet, as well as choreographing a major dance event at the school.

“I started dancing in the Gombeys when I was six at the H & H troupe — my godfather Shawn Caisey is one of the Gombey leaders,” he said. “I was with them for seven years and after that I branched out to a dance group called Bermuda Squad. We did Dancehall. For me, dance is a way to express myself. It’s a passion for me.

“I have my own dance group now, called Rated E — the E is for energy.

“It’s a group of friends; we do hip-hop, a lot of fast movements and Dancehall. We’ve been at the Bermuda Day Parade, the Christmas parade, Harbour Nights and community events. I do that with my partner Sacha Dill, and this will be our second year.”

The dance show, Titanium, was at the school’s Ruth Seaton James Hall on May 3, with the input and assistance from fellow dancer Rachael.

Ms Nesbitt said: “Two years ago the Minister of Education asked all the arts teachers on the Island to come up with productions whereby students interested in the arts could have the opportunity to work. We took them up on that.

“These two are both theatre students who know how to get rehearsals and a show organised, and what a final production should look like. I challenged them to come up with their own production.”

Dance is Kevonte’s infatuation, but the S3 student from Pembroke has his sights set on working in behavioural therapy.

Taijhuan, the designer whose Capital Fashion Show with the group Moh’tiv was on April 10, said his speciality lay in thinking outside the box.

“I’ve always been into the arts — I started with drawing and went into cooking, acting, things like that,” he said. “I was always a soft-spoken person. The way I express myself clearly is in dressing up.”

Unsatisfied with the clothing options on local shelves, Taijhuan, 17, bought a sewing machine and learnt from the manual how to operate it.

“I figured, how hard is it going to be to make my own stuff?” he said — and so an old vintage dashiki was reincarnated as a set of drop-crotch pants.

“The fashion show was my first as a designer and not a model, and the idea was going around the world with each capital represented through clothing.

“But then it got much bigger — I’d recently got involved with a group of other designers and artists for Moh’tiv, and it became a show with Career Pathways that really put us out there. It all just came together because of Ms Nesbitt.”

Taijhuan is “ecstatic” about his upcoming work with Amir X of the Bermuda Fashion Festival, and plans to put together more shows for the summer. “He really wants to get artists and people that have creative minds to help out with whatever it is that they’re interested in, and get an international perspective and a feel for the industry,” Taijhuan said. “I want to do almost everything in the industry, from making clothes to shoes, jewellery and interior design. Amir’s going to have me all over the place.

“Down the line I really want to become someone’s apprentice instead of just going off the top of my head. Here at CedarBridge, all of the art department teachers will help you follow your dream.”

For Rachael, immersion in dance began with TV shows such as 106 & Park, and trying out her own moves at home before getting some training through In Motion.

“Then, when I started primary school, I began learning from Deshae Hollis and I’ve been dancing with her ever since,” the 16-year-old said. “It’s a way to express emotions. It’s an outlet for happiness and joy. One day I was with Ms Nesbitt talking about choreography; Kevonte was in the room, and when he asked me if I wanted to put on a dance show, of course I said yes.

“We went around getting a list of names, asking people if they would be willing and committed to dance and put on a great show.

“With all the practice, the show was wonderful. If I could get another opportunity I would love to put on another.

“Bermudians are talented. It just takes us time to bring it out. You’ve got to chase your dream.”

Ms Nesbitt added: “All three of them are serious enough that I would support them again.

“I’m so impressed to be able to walk into a rehearsal and not even have to say anything; it was just totally organised.”