Auditions are now under way for local ballerinas eager to take part in a showcase featuring some of the world’s top dancers.

Dancing Under the Stars, made possible by Bermudians Ravi Cannonier-Watson, of The Royal Ballet, and his sister, Vidya, a student at The English National Ballet School, gives aspiring performers a chance to learn from and share the stage with world-class talent.

The siblings launched the initiative last summer as a way to give back to the island community that helped make their studies abroad possible.

Thanks to sponsorship from Rosewood Bermuda, the event is set to return next year.

Among the featured dancers will be Emerson Gamble, of the Hungarian National Ballet; Maia Rose Roberts, of Zurich Ballet; Sacha Venkatasawmy and Jakob Wheway Hughes, of the English National Ballet; and Precious Adams, the company’s first soloist.

Aura Doran and Penelope Barker, young ballerinas studying abroad, will also perform.

Local dancers interested in auditioning should contact Sophia Cannonier, a classically trained ballerina who toured internationally with Arthur Mitchell’s Dance Theatre of Harlem.

She hopes Dancing Under the Stars will inspire Bermuda’s young performers with the same determination that helped her children — Ravi, Vidya, and their younger sister, Inanna — turn their passion for dance into a lifelong pursuit.

“The formula worked. Now they're disciplined, they're tenacious, and they're excited about their first careers — so I'm paying it forward. I really want to help our Bermuda children achieve excellence,” Ms Cannonier said.

“Many children finish high school here at 16, 17, 18, and by that time, it's too late for a vocational school like The Royal Ballet or English National Ballet School because they haven’t honed their skills to that level on the island.”

Private performances will be held at Rosewood, while the general public can look forward to a gala fundraiser on July 24 at the Earl Cameron Theatre at City Hall, followed the next day by a matinee featuring student dancers, and an evening showcase.

The performances are scheduled to take place after Ravi’s tour of Japan and Singapore with The Royal Ballet.

Ms Cannonier emphasised that the goal of the event was not profit, but purpose.

“It’s not about making money,” she said. “We’re raising funds to put on a beautiful show — to help our young dancers achieve excellence and to cover the costs involved.”

She explained that one of the key fundraising initiatives is Adopt a Dancer, which allows members of the public to directly support participants. A donation of $1,000 helps cover airfare and contributes towards accommodation costs for the performers, many of whom are travelling from Europe.

“Flights alone can cost around $1,200,” Ms Cannonier noted. “We’re trying to purchase tickets early to keep expenses down. Anyone interested in supporting a dancer can reach out to me directly to get involved.”

Beyond the fundraising and logistics, the project also carries a sense of legacy as it connects Bermuda’s present generation of dancers with the island’s rich performing arts history, she added.

“It builds on what the Bermuda Civic Ballet once did — bringing dancers from abroad with ties to Bermuda to perform ballets under the stars at Government House or the Botanical Gardens,” Ms Cannonier said.

“A stage was built, all the schools participated, and it created a sense of unity.”

The new show will expand on The Beginning, a segment from last year that featured twin ballerinas Savannah and Vivienne Mountford, of In Motion School of Dance, performing alongside Ravi and other top dancers.

“It showcased ballet’s progression — from the barre to junior and intermediate levels. The audience loved it and now we’re expanding that concept,” Ms Cannonier said.

Her goal is to select dancers from across the island to do something similar next year. While In Motion has been well represented at auditions, she hopes to see more students from United Dance Productions, Bermuda Dance Academy, Jackson’s School of Performing Arts, and other schools.

“I'm training dancers early so they can participate in a bigger piece together,” she said. “We’ll schedule around TheNutcracker and other recitals. That window between January and March will be key. Auditions are free and there’s no charge to participate — we just ask for full commitment.”

The production will be choreographed by British-based Ravi and Vidya, who will monitor the local performers’ progress online. It’s not just an opportunity for the local students.

“Professional dancers rarely perform together like this,” Ms Cannonier said. “Vidya danced with Precious Adams, the English National Ballet’s first soloist, right after high school — it was phenomenal.”

• The final audition for Dancing Under the Stars for local dancers will take place at CedarBridge Academy on November 7 from 5.30pm to 7pm. Tickets for Dancing Under the Stars go on sale November 15. Prices start at $50. For more information, or to reserve seats, contact Sophia Cannonier: sophiacannonier@gmail.com; 799-6330