James Sewell Ballet, a Minneapolis-based dance company which wowed local audiences two years ago with their unique blend of classical and contemporary style, makes a welcome return to the Island later this month.

And local dance students will have the opportunity to learn more about innovative ballet techniques by attending SmArts, an in-school dance education performance programme sponsored by the company.

The programme, designed to help students view ballet as they would a magic trick, begins with a dancer escaping from a straight-jacket while simultaneously performing classical ballet solo to the ragtime music of Scott Joplin.

James Sewell Ballet, which will offer two programmes during their weekend of performance in Bermuda, prides itself on combining the precision of classical ballet with the freedom of modern dance and the spirit of vaudeville.

Mr. Sewell said he started the dance company in New York with his wife in 1990. The group at that time was primarily comprised of dancers from other companies.

"I wanted to be a professional magician, but (after discovering ballet) magic fell by the wayside,'' he chuckled.

"But I still incorporated magic into my performances. When I started choreographing, I danced with a cane floating in the air -- which was quite a challenge to work out,'' he added.

"People often have this image of ballet as a stuffy, boring thing -- but there's a lot of humour in our programme. Our best reviews come from women who dragged their husbands to the performance who end up loving the show.

"I get bored doing the same sort of ballet all the time -- the creativity is what keeps me interested.'' Like Mr. Sewell, the other members of the company are skilled in other performing arts such as juggling, music and poetry.

During the first programme, which will show on March 18 and 20, the company will perform "Winter'', an abstract ballet set to music from Vivaldi's violin concerto "The Four Seasons'' and "Prestigitations: Rings'' which is based on the magic trick of the Chinese linking rings.

The first programme will also feature a wedding pas de deux from "Don Quixote'', an exploration of the conflicting forces in man entitled "The Yin In Yang'' and "Mendelssohn Trio''.

The second programme, to be held on March 19 and March 20 matinee, will feature "Prestigitations: Jacket'' where Mr. Sewell performs while escaping a straitjacket, a reversal of pas de deux roles entitled "Enter/Exit'', as well as four other performances that blend the classical and contemporary.

James Sewell Ballet will perform at the City Hall Theatre on March 18 to 20 at 8 p.m., with an additional 3 p.m. matinee on March 20. Tickets are $25, Saturday matinee $12 for children. Advance bookings can be made by calling 236-6855 through March 6 or the Visitor's Service Bureau from March 8 to 20.

The lecture/demo for schools will be at City Hall on March 18 at 4 p.m. and the master class for dance students will be on March 20 at 11 a.m. For more information contact Penny Cox in the evenings on 234-1647.

Mid-winter motions: Members of James Sewell Ballet, who are set to perform on the Island later this month, are pictured performing "Winter'', an abstract ballet set to music from a Vivaldi violin concerto.