Bermuda Civic Ballet. Now, Bermudian Alison Masters is back to appear as a guest principal for their twentieth anniversary production of La Sylphide.

She will dance the role of Effie, who loses her fiance to the mysterious Sylphide who lures him away to the woods on the eve of their marriage.

Set in Scotland, this oldest of classical ballets, created for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836, formed part of the Romantic Movement which swept through Europe and had a profound effect on all the creative and performing arts.

Ms Masters, who last returned here as guest choreographer and dancer for the Civic Ballet in 1981, says she is thrilled to be back, "working with people, who in some cases, were in that first show.

"And I'm glad that I have the chance to dance a dramatic role. I like ballets where there is an emotional challenge and an opportunity to act and develop the character.'' She also feels she is fortunate to be working with British ballerina, Belinda Wright, who, with her husband, Jelko Yuresha, is directing this year's production. "She is so famous, I am in awe of her -- even though she is so approachable, sweet and delightful. It is a real joy to watch her work with the dancers, to see how she gets right into the character of each role she is teaching.

"However simple her movements, there is such artistry. You don't come across that kind of talent too often. And Mr. Yuresha has arrived here to work on the ballet as well. I think we are very lucky to have them here in Bermuda.'' For those who remember Alison Masters as a dancer of enormous talent and beauty, nothing seems to have happened in the intervening years to alter that impression.

Marriage and motherhood sit lightly upon her still ballet-perfect frame as she talks about her career since she left Bermuda.

"I suppose certain people may be disappointed that I didn't follow the traditional, rather cloistered life of the classical dancer, but I do have a wonderful life apart from my dancing, so when I get too old to dance, the weaning-away process won't be such a blow.

"I shall probably go back to teaching -- and I shall be able to take up tennis again, as ballet and tennis aren't exactly compatible. I shall have plenty to look forward to,'' she laughs.

For the moment, though, Alison is concentrating on dancing, trying, as she says, "to dance as much as I can. Now that I'm 40, I feel my ballet `time clock' is ticking away!'' Her services, however, are certainly still in great demand: when she returns to her present home in Austin, Texas, she will dance in Giselle and The Nutcracker for Ballet Austin.

As that city is in the enviable position of supporting three companies, she also freelances with the other two, and will appear as guest principal in the Diane and Acteon pas de deux, and a new ballet by Jorge Cano of the National Ballet of Mexico City, for Austin Contemporary Ballet. And in January,she will appear as a principal in Austin Dance Ensemble's production of Aladdin.

Ms Masters received her early training from Patricia Gray at the School of Russian Ballet and also spent six summers in Yugoslavia, studying with Mme.

Ana Roje.

She then studied at the School of American Ballet, the official school for New York City Ballet. After graduation, she moved to Canada where she obtained an honours degree in Theatre and spent two years as a principal with a modern dance company. She opened and operated the School of Russian Ballet in Halifax for four years and formed an ensemble which enabled her to do "lots and lots'' of performing.

When she became the wife of Dr. Reid Smith, they moved to Connecticut where she continued teaching and performing as principal dancer with Ridgefield Civic Ballet.

As her husband's job has involved several moves, Ms Masters also taught and performed as a guest principal for leading regional companies in California before moving on to Texas.

"All this moving has not made it any easier,'' she says. Last year, she was invited to dance as an "extra'' for the Royal Ballet when they visited Austin. There, she was reunited with her old friend, leading dancer Monica Mason, whom she had first met when a group from the company visited Bermuda 27 years ago.

"It was a wonderful experience. I was allowed to take daily class with the company. I was very impressed with the way the Royal Ballet works -- so calm and so organised. And they're such a friendly bunch!'' When she is not dancing, teaching, running a home and bringing up eight-year-old daughter Ashley, Ms Masters is busy writing a book on the life of her old teacher, Ana Roje.

"It's going at a snail's pace, but I do feel that she held a significant place in the history of ballet.'' The Civic Ballet's production of La Sylphide, performed in the grounds of Government House, opens tomorrow at 8.30 p.m. and runs through Saturday, August 22. Tickets at $25 and $20 (children under 12 half price) from the Visitors Service Bureau. Tel. 295-1727.

GLAD TO BE BACK -- Well known Bermudian dancer, Alison Masters, returns home to dance in the Bermuda Civic Ballet production of La Sylphide. The grounds of Government House will provide a romantic setting for the ballet which opens