A combination of local and international choreographers have come together to put on In Motion's new show.

Concepts in Motion takes place at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts on August 12 and 13.

In Motion founder and director Lizz Pimentel said the Concepts in Motion Dance Ensemble was formed to motivate and inspire advanced and professional level students at the school and to expose them to the challenging choreographic and performance opportunities around the Island.

"I think that by having international choreographers and teachers it has just raised the bar," she said.

"I don't know if it has really been looked at on the Island for local performers. We have some really acclaimed choreographers who are used to working with professional level companies, so it is an honour to have them and also quite an accomplishment for our performers to be able to rise to the challenge.

"Technically they are on key and part of that is due to the training that they have received at In Motion."

The show promises to feature a lot of contemporary work.

"Nowadays you need a strong ballet background and it is quite evident in the movements that there is a strong ballet training in the choreography," she said.

"There is jazz, but it is predominantly contemporary and each piece is different it is not like it is one particular style all the way across, for instance one piece is lyrical and another is hard core, so it is quite nice to watch our performers adapt to each of those styles and challenges.

"Most of them are dancing in almost every number so it is a very, very hard performance to do and two hours of non-stop dancing is quite challenging and very physical work.

"It is very physical contact work, partnering and lifting ? I think it is going to be a great production."

This year In Motion has six students heading off to either university or to the high school department of North Carolina School of the Arts.

"We have a few of our junior members in it, but a lot of it is going to be our professional level members, which are heading off to university to study and pursue their dance careers," she said.

It has not been easy for the young students to prepare for the show, but they have risen to the challenge, she said.

"It has been a hard few weeks with rehearsals, it's very time demanding and very physical.

"It has really operated just like a professional company, so when they leave here and go away to professional companies they know what to expect.

"I am really proud that we are at the level where we are with our training and in our ability to work with upper-end choreographers, so, I think it is quite an accomplishment for us and for Bermuda."

This year Concepts will also feature members from the Junior Company Dancers, with some as young as 11 years old.

"This is an exciting time for the Company and these young performers, as it will mark their first professional level performance," she said.

The list of local and international choreographers starts with Slam, who was a former Madonna dancer, Tina Yarborough and b.j. sullivan, both faculty of the North Carolina School of Arts, Kwame Ross, former director of Urban Bush Women, Lauren Rowntree, In Motion School of Dance alumni, and Jennifer Soares, an In Motion School of Dance teacher.

"Slam recently appeared in Aida, on Broadway," she said.

"He has set a dramatic and fast-paced jazz infused modern piece for the Senior Company dancers.

"It will leave the audience gasping for breath.

"Ms Yarborough choreographed an up-beat jazz piece during her visit in May and it is guaranteed to have the crowd grooving in their seats.

"Mr. Ross has used both our Junior and Senior Company members to set an exciting and thought provoking modern piece that will feature live percussion music and vocals. b.j. sullivan is showcasing her talents in a modern-based contemporary work highlighting the strong technical ability of the dancers and utilising all levels of the Company.

"The international choreographers just have some really raw material and ideas."

Of the two local choreographers, she said: "Lauren has returned for the summer and is currently working on a modern piece that has all of the dancers excited.

"This marks the first time one of our students has ventured into choreography for a Bermuda stage and we all are thrilled with her choreography and professionalism.

"Lauren has just put together a really intricate choreographed piece which is very challenging to the performers.

"It is just nice to be able to present that and say hey look, 'this is one of our old students and here she is choreographing on par with the international choreographers.

"Ms Soares cast both Junior and Senior Company members in her beautiful modern ballet piece, which is inspired by the music from the musical Aida. This year's event promises to be our best ever as we have raised the bar higher than ever.

"And Jennifer, she is just amazing, she is performing, choreographing and she is one of the teachers."

At 14, Courtney Lopes is the youngest member to go off to the North Carolina School of Arts, and she will also be performing in every piece in this show.

Tyler Barker has been dancing since he was 15, now 21, and a second year student New World School of the Arts. He has returned to take part in the summer production.

"To do dance is definitely a goal," he said, "To travel, to tour and to teach."

In this production he is in six of the seven performances.

"This is my most technical show that I have done ? dance wise," said Mr. Barker. "So, it is good exposure for me to learn and also to show how much I have learned from here and college.

"There is a lot of partnering, a lot of lifting, there is a lot of dancing ? it is a really great show and it is very difficult."

He has been back on the Island for a month and has had to learn the pieces within that time frame.

"And doing that with work is just hard," he said, "It is fun though."

He attributes his success in higher education and in this production to the training he received at In Motion.

"I wouldn't have been able to make it in university without the training that I received here, because the training focuses on the technical aspects of it," he said

"And it really helps if you come from a strong base, especially as I started so late in my life.

"With only a couple of years and the trips that we had abroad and everything that has been offered to me from In Motion has helped."

Tickets which are $35 and $60 for patrons are available from the In Motion School of Dance, Reid Street, Hamilton, or by visiting www.inmotion.com. For more info 292-7615. Show time is at 8 p.m. each evening.