Ten years ago Bermudian dancer Lizz Pimental opened the In Motion School of Dance in one room on Chancery Lane, where she was the sole teacher of 40 students. Today, that early vision and modest beginning has, under her dedicated guidance, grown into a much larger school which occupies several dance studios at 71 Reid Street East, where five teachers instruct well over 800 students in various dance forms, including ballet, tap, modern, jazz and pointe.

Small wonder then that Miss Pimental, who now concentrates on the administration side of her business, is confident in saying: “In Motion is always going to be known for its professional administration and overall professionalism. I am very proud of that reputation.”

Certainly, that is a hallmark of her annual showcases at City Hall theatre, where all of the students, from toddler to pre-professional, are presented in a very professional, imaginative and colourful way, thanks to the dedicated teachers who are as passionate about their art as they are about the showcases themselves.

“I am really lucky to have a very dedicated staff who are as passionate about putting on a top-quality performance as I am, as well as being creative and innovative with different ideas and choreography to ensure that each is highlighted in their dance.

“The showcases are also about ensuring that the children are choreographically challenged to keep the showcases interesting, and also expose them to what performance and professionalism are all about,” Miss Pimental says.

On Friday evening, the latest showcase will open at City Hall, and since it marks In Motion’s tenth anniversary it is entirely fitting that its title is, ‘The Time Machine’.

“We will be travelling through time, and representing music and dance through the ages to keep the show varied. It is also interactive with the audience.”

As with all previous shows, ‘The Time Machine’ format is specifically designed to be a showcase, and not a recital.

Reflecting on the first decade of her school’s existence, Miss Pimental says her initial purpose was “to offer more opportunities to local dancers, and more opportunities for training and performance”.

“In 1999 I started a professional dance company to offer our upper level, advanced students more opportunities to work with choreographers from overseas, and also to give them more of a challenge and innovative choreography, working with local and overseas choreographers. ‘Concepts in Motion Dance Company’ is now a registered charity which has given hundreds of performances for charitable organisations, as well as overseas performances,” she says. “In addition to biennial performances we take the dancers overseas to workshops in places like New York, North Carolina, Washington, DC and Florida.” In fact, workshop programmes are an integral part of the In Motion experience, with students attending workshops in the US; a summer intensive in Washington, DC for nine- and ten-year-olds, as well as a local intensive each July conducted by master teachers and choreographers from the US.

Certainly, Miss Pimental has much to be proud of since starting her school, but she says what makes her proudest of all at present is knowing that eight of her former students are now enrolled in renowned dance programmes overseas, where they are either studying to become professional dancers, or pursuing dance education.

“One of them, Tyler Barker, has just graduated this month and is now being hired as a dancer in the US,” she notes.

As much as she enjoyed teaching, and still does so during the school’s summer intensive, Miss Pimental says she stopped two years ago in order to devote more of her attention to the administrative and ideological goals of the school.

“I wanted to be able to commit myself to the organisation, and in order to continue with the professionalism that I worked so hard to have In Motion known for, I had to make a choice between teaching and running the school. I am happy to be overlooking everything, and while I have a fantastic staff, I am definitely not ready yet to (relinquish the reins) because it is my baby, and I love to see the development of the dancers. Some of the original students are still with us, and it is amazing to me to watch their progress, and to know that ten years ago they were pre-ballet kids who are now in our professional dance company.”

In a final overview of the In Motion School of Dance, Miss Pimental says: “Dance is a challenging environment, and we put a lot of effort into making sure that the students are properly disciplined, and adhere to existing rules and regulations, and that our policies are met. We are not only making dancers here but also influencing young students to become responsible adults, so we offer them an environment that is disciplined and nurturing and hopefully we will make them better in the long run. It is about respect for yourself and others; sticking to what you believe in, and what your passion is, doing your best and not giving up.”

[bul] ‘The Time Machine’ performances are from May 11-13 and May 16-19. For full details of all performances, including curtain times, matinees and ticket information see today’s Bermuda Calendar or visit website www.inmotion.bm.