WHEN the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts at CedarBridge opened its doors in 1998, it was not expected that its list of objectives would be immediately achieved.

Five years later under the direction of Emilygail Dill, the Centre is well on its way to being recognised as a stage for first-class performances and a professionally-run facility through which talent is nurtured.

EMILYGAIL Dill took over as manager of the Ruth Seaton James Centre for Performing Arts early in 1999, shortly after the facility opened. On paper, its objectives were simple - to provide meaningful educational experiences for Bermuda's students by exposure to the highest calibre of art, and create positive interaction with local and international artistic, educational, corporate and cultural communities.

The Centre concept, however, was unique to the island and was twinned with the opening of CedarBridge Academy - another first because of its educational structure. From the beginning, Mrs. Dill said, she knew her job would be fraught with challenges, but because of her own love of the arts, she was more than willing to see them through.

"It's been a slow process," she said. "We've certainly had our challenges because CedarBridge (was) a totally new school and this is the first time we've ever had a facility like (the Centre). For several years much of the focus has been on some of the other areas of the school that needed to be fine tuned but we are in the process now of really moving forward with the vision of developing a fully functioning performing arts centre."

Part of what hindered the Centre's development was that it wasn't seen for what it actually was by some members of the community. Many viewed it as a grander version of an auditorium, open for hire.

"It's been interesting trying to have people understand what it means to have a state-of-the-art facility. Some people just see it as a rental facility.

"They don't understand that the arts, and the area of entertainment, is a very viable field; that there's an enormous amount of talent here in Bermuda that needs to be developed and that one of the ways to do that is by, first of all, exposing our young people to the arts; to the highest calibre of artistic endeavour from all over the world.

"It certainly helps to stretch them. (Without) that, artists can sometimes have a false sense of accomplishment in a small place like Bermuda. And then, when they go off to university, they find that there are people that are way, way better; people who have certainly disciplined themselves a whole lot more than they may have."

HER love of the arts was fostered through the wonderful experiences she had as a child, Mrs. Dill said. Especially memorable was the work she did while a cast member of We Are People Too, a once-popular musical and theatrical company which performed across the island.

"We used to perform in the old Ruth Seaton James," she said. "One of the aims and objectives of We Are People Too at that time was to have a cultural centre. So it was one of the things I had always dreamed about.

"(While) I lived outside Bermuda, I worked as a programme co-ordinator for the World Council of Churches so I had some really good experience with putting things together from the ground up. I'd also worked for six years as a company manager for an off-Broadway theatre company. And so, when this position became available here at CedarBridge it certainly was an opportunity for me to help see that dream become a reality."

Although she found work as a teacher and counsellor and is an ordained minister, her love of the arts never strayed, Mrs. Dill said. Because of that, she finds it extremely encouraging to see the growth - limited though it may be - that has taken place at the Centre under her reign.

"I minored in music and theatre in college. My first love has always been the arts and I knew that whoever was the first person to work in this facility would shape the vision for the arts for the future. As a result of that I made the decision that I would be that person."

SHE went on: "It's been interesting. Many times I've had to be patient while other things took precedence over the arts and sometimes patience isn't an easy thing to learn. It's wonderful to have this state-of-the-art communications system but people will have a wonderful play and no one to do all the technical work that needs to be done.

"But we've seen it grow, we've seen little steps and I believe there are some exciting things on the horizon.

"It's been amazing to watch the change in performances here at CedarBridge - having been here going on five years now, having watched where they were especially with regard to drama - from when I first came here.

"We had the CedarBridge Academy show choir that was winning awards all over the world, but the drama part of it left much to be desired. But we are beginning to see that as the school evolves, the programmes are evolving and culturally, it'll be something we can be proud of for years to come.

"And that's what I always look at. I say we're not building for today. We're not even building for five years from now. But when we look 20, 30 years down the road, that's what we're building toward. We're building the teachers and the performers.

"When they talk about the resurgence of tourism (in Bermuda), people say there's nothing to do here. But what we envision is that this will be a world class educational arts facility; that people will come from all over the world, to see what's happening here. We're not looking to see a turnaround in one year, we're looking to see something that years from now will sustain the community."

The recent announcement by Education Minister Paul Cox that she was looking at the possibility of setting up a school for the performing arts was "fabulous", for many reasons, Mrs. Dill said. And she imagined that the Centre for the Arts could only play an integral part in the success of any such programme.

"I think it's a fabulous idea and I see the Centre for the Arts as integral to the success of that. Sometimes, the arts in Bermuda have been limited to those who have financial access. Some of the programmes that we are putting in place here - not just for CedarBridge students but for students all over Bermuda - will help to bridge that gap.

"What could potentially happen if you have a really good performing arts programme, if you're the kid whose mother couldn't afford the private lessons, etc. and if you're put in a performing arts high school, there could be a vacuum with regards to how much preparation you already have.

"So you could actually, although you have the raw talent, come into the programme with a deficit. We're seeking to put together programmes here at the Centre for the Arts that will help to fill that void.

"As idealistic as our dreams may be, that there is everything in every school, that may not be the real picture. So what we seek to do is provide access to the arts for every child in Bermuda."