One of the members of the famed dance company, Philadanco, was so impressed with Bermuda when he appeared here with the Bermuda Festival in February, that he has returned to stage a ballet that reflects its natural beauty.

"He has called it `Kiskadees','' says Suzette Harvey, who invited top dancer Kevin Malone to set a work for her annual United Dance Productions show which opens at City Hall next week.

"He was very fascinated with the `nature' aspect of Bermuda and found some music which made him decide on a piece about birds!'' Ms Harvey studied dance at the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now the University of the Arts) one of the main training resources for Philadanco.

"I still maintain a very close connection and, in fact, I've been invited to teach at the University's intensive dance workshops this summer. They now draw students from all over the world, so that's very exciting for me.'' Noting that her show will be entitled `Chaos', Suzette Harvey says this year will be "special'' because she has also invited other choreographers from abroad to create works for her students.

"My shows -- and, indeed, my school -- has a strong classical background because I believe it's imperative to train everyone in ballet technique. So ballet is compulsory. But we also do modern dance, jazz, tap, African, and so on. I like to think that my students are constantly exposed to new ideas. They are expressing themselves in a much freer way but at the same time, their technical ability has improved tremendously.'' Recalling a recent trip made by members of her school to her own former school, she says, "It was a great opportunity for them and they got to see their own peers actually doing what they love to do and I think that brings a competitive edge to their dancing. They really had to work! It helped them with discipline and not to be complacent. And,'' she adds, "for anyone thinking of dance as a profession, it was a big reality check.'' Revealing that she will be dancing a solo ("and I haven't danced for five years!'') Ms Harvey says the overall production is called `Chaos'. "I have about 20, older students in the show, aged from around 15 to 27. I prefer,'' she adds, "to keep senior students and my adult dancers separate from the children. I think it gives them something to attain, something to work towards, a goal.'' On returning to Bermuda in 1992, Suzette Harvey opened her own school in Hamilton where she now has over 500 students. "I also have eight teachers. I specialise in modern dance -- Martha Graham -- but also teach ballet, tap and hip-hop.'' The other teachers include Debbie Mello (ballet), Natasha Outerbridge (tap), Suzanne Williams (ballet and tap), Koshea Scott who, just returned from college, is taking on tap and jazz, Kia Georges (hip-hop) and Chevonne Furbert who also teaches hip-hop.

She explains the origins of the latter, very popular dance, as a form of street dancing. "We used to tear up cardboard boxes and dance in the car parks,'' she laughs. "That started in the early '80s when `break dancing' was all the rage. We used to channel our energy into things like that -- that's what I tell my kids at CedarBridge.'' Mention of the new Academy brings the spotlight round to Suzette Harvey's other career. She teaches dance to around 100 students and while she happily confesses to teaching them modern, tap and hip-hop, she slyly adds, "I also teach technique at the barre. I was amazed at the talent there! I see kids who have perfect feet for dancing -- which, in itself, is quite unusual! -- but they have no idea about dance, so sometimes it's hard to channel them into receptive attitudes. I work with them after school and we just took part in the first `Spring Into the Arts' with the choir and orchestra as well as the dance department. I thought that was a very positive move for the school.'' After training at the Louise Jackson School (mainly with Barbara Frith), Ms Harvey attended prep school in Boston where she was, rather to her surprise, encouraged to think of dance as a career. After her studies at the Philadelphia College she returned in 1990, and taught at Devonshire Academy and St. George's Secondary School.

United Dance Productions' `Chaos' takes place at City Hall Theatre from April 8-11, at 8 p.m. Thursday night is Patrons' Night. Regular price admission is $25 and students will be admitted to the Wednesday performance for $15.

Tickets available from City Hall Box Office, daily from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.

(telephone 292-2313).