World-renowned ballet dancer and choreographer Geoffrey Cauley — who was born and spent his childhood in Bermuda — has died in Italy at the age of 74.

Mr Cauley was born in Somerset and lived in Bermuda until he was 10 when his family moved to live in Plymouth in the southwest of England.

He went on to become one of the most respected dancers and choreographers in the business working with the BBC in productions of The Tempest and The Nutcracker.

Born in Bermuda in 1942, Mr Cauley was just a youngster when he attended Patricia Sherwood’s ballet classes at Trinity Hall in Hamilton.

Ms Sherwood, who married and is now Mrs Deane-Gray, told The Royal Gazette that “Geoffrey” was the only boy in her class; but an extremely “determined individual”.

Mrs Deane-Gray, who went on to found the School of Russian Ballet in Bermuda in 1955 and still teaches ballet today, added: “He was one of my little students many years ago.

“His mother brought him to me when he was about five years old and I was just a teenager.

“We had no idea at the time that he would go on to be such a success.

“I remember him being extremely determined, a little hard to handle, if I’m honest.

“He was the only boy in my class and when he left Bermuda at the age of 10 I did not hear from him for many years.”

In 1964, Mr Cauley as well as a host of other acclaimed ballet dancers returned to Bermuda with the Royal Ballet and performed between July 21 and 28.

“Although I had not followed his career I knew he had done well because he was with the Royal Ballet and he was dancing with the best dancers of the time,” Mrs Deane-Gray said.

“There was actually a picture of Geoffrey and his fellow dancers in The Royal Gazette sitting by the pool relaxing after one of their performances.

“That was the last time I saw or spoke with him.

“He obviously went on to do very well, but we both went our separate ways.

“It’s a bit frightening to think that your students are passing away and you have been out there teaching for so long, but I am still teaching here and seeing the next generation of children come through.”

After leaving Bermuda, Mr Cauley lived with his family in Plymouth where he attended ballet classes with Geraldine Lambe. She sent him to audition for the Royal Ballet School, which he entered successfully in 1954.

From there, he joined the Covent Garden Opera Ballet in 1960 and moved to the Royal Ballet itself two years later. Italian journalist and close friend Francesco Bertolucci told The Royal Gazette: “He was a great person and a very humble man.

“Great figures of dance such as Marga Nativo and Luciana Savignano have said that without Cauley dance will never be the same.”

During a professional career that spanned several decades, Mr Cauley worked with the giants of international ballet including Nureyev, Anthony Dowell, Frederick Ashton, Margot Fontaine, Savignano and Fracci.

He travelled the world living and working in Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany, England and the United States.

About 15 years ago, Mr Cauley moved to Torre del Lago in Viareggio, Italy and taught at the Danzarea school of Viareggio until quite recently. He died on March 17 in Forte dei Marmi.