The spotlight is again on dance as the Bermuda Festival presents its penultimate performance of 2002.

Donald Byrd/The Group will open a three-night run tomorrow with what promises to be a dynamic programme of modern dance.

From the time Donald Byrd/The Group was founded in 1978, it has set out to create and present work which reaches the broadest segment of society while at the same time reflecting the African-American experience and exploring new artistic boundaries.

Over time Mr. Byrd has developed a distinctly American style of movement which integrates black vernacular dancing with classical ballet and modern techniques.

As The Group's artistic director, he likes to base his dances on themes which reflect social concerns, such as isolation, culture, gender and community, and his choreography has been described as "overflowing with jazzy excitement, daredevil partnering and beautiful phrasing".

The full length Bermuda programme, entitled 'In a Different Light: Duke Ellington', will be presented in three acts, with dances being set to some of the late jazz legend's less familiar compositions.

Mr. Byrd, who was born in North Carolina, studied at Tufts and Yale Universities, the Cambridge School of Ballet, the London School of Contemporary Dance, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and with Mia Slavenska. During his career he has worked with diverse artists including the late Peter Sellars, Robert Wilson, Twyla Tharp, Karole Armitage, Gus Soloman, Jr. and Anna Deveare Smith.

He has created over 80 works for his own company, as well as for major black modern dance companies including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco), the Dallas Black Dance Theater, and the Phoenix Dance in England. Mr. Byrd's long and glittering resum? includes choreographing for high profile stage productions, films and opera, and teaching at some of America's top universities.

He is currently an associate-artist at Yale Repertory Theater, and a trustee of the Dance Theater Workshop.

All performances will take place at the Ruth Seaton Centre for the Performing Arts, beginning at 8 p.m. For tickets/further information call 292-8572 or visit the Bermuda Festival box office in the ferry terminal building on Front Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.