A new book written by a retired Bermudian dancer explores the life of one of world's greatest ballet teachers, Croatian Ana Roje, and her connections to Bermuda.

The book, 'Ana Roje', was written by Bermudian Patricia Deane-Gray with the assistance of two Croatian ballet critics Mladen Mordej Vuckovic and Davor Schopf.

The book is written in both Croatian and English. The Royal Gazette recently caught up with Mr. Schopf and Mr. Vuckovic, who were here with the ballet troupe Croatia, who are performing 'Hamlet' for the Bermuda Civic Ballet at Fort St. Catherine.

The performance under the stars began on Tuesday, and ends tonight. It is being held in honour of Bermuda's 400th anniversary, in association with the St. George's Foundation.

Mr. Vuckovic has danced in performances at the Tresnja Theatre in Zagreb, Croatia, and was a ballet educator and assistant choreographer at the ballet studio of that theatre.

Mr. Schopf is a singer and music writer and, as editor of the Classical Music Department of Croatian Radio, has broadcast numerous programmes devoted to opera, ballet, operetta and stage musicals.

"We met Patricia two years ago when she was in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia," said Mr. Schopf. "She was doing an exhibit on Nicholai Legat, the famous ballet teacher. We were writing our third book.

"She reminded us that Ana Roje would have been 100 years old this year in October."

'Ana Roje' is the third book written by Mr. Schopf and Mr. Vuckovic. The other two include 'Vesna Butorac Blace — The Gorgeous Poem of the Body' and 'Sonja Kastl — To Dance is To Live'.

Mr. Schopf said Miss Roje is still well remembered in Croatia, and there are two ballet awards given in her name.

The information and photos in the book were compiled from archives in Croatia and around the world, and from the memories of her many students.

Ana Roje was born on October 17, 1909 in Split, Croatia into a poor agricultural family. Her first view of ballet was a postcard of ballet dancer Anna Pavlova. She went to millinery school, but was introduced to the theatre by a classmate who had a walk-on role on the stage. She danced in her first operetta in April 1926, in 'Bayardere' by E. Kalman. She won a ballet scholarship the next year.

In the 1930s she went to London to study with Legat who was famous for his ballet teaching methods that had produced many legendary ballet dancers including Margot Fonteyn, Alan Carter, Alice Markova and many others.

Miss Roje went on to teach using Legat's methods, and danced around the world. In terms of teaching, she became known as the second best thing to Legat himself.

Mrs. Deane-Gray first met Miss Roje at the age of 15 in 1950 at the Legat School in London.

"She was teaching there," said Mrs. Deane-Gray. "I had always been a ballet dancer. At that time she was very well known in professional circles because she had taught with the original Ballet Russe.

Ballet Russes is one of the world's most famous ballet companies.

"In 1950, everyone who was then a teacher had been taught by her, initially.

"I was standing outside the class watching her work with the students, and I thought 'wow, this looks like the gravy train I was meant to get on'. I started getting private lessons with her. Coming from Bermuda, I knew nothing."

Ms Deane-Gray brought Miss Roje to Bermuda for the first time in 1953. Her association with Bermuda continued until her death in 1991.

She helped Ms Deane-Gray to found The School of Russian Ballet. Through Miss Roje's influence, many famous ballet companies began to visit Bermuda. The Bermuda Civic Ballet was formed under her direction, and their first production was 'The Devil in the Village' in 1972.

Ms Deane-Gray became the Ballet Association's first president.

"Ana came here for the 350th anniversary of Bermuda's discovery," she said.

Ms Deane-Gray said she knew that someone had to eventually write a book about the life of Ana Roje.

"It had to happen," she said. "I took an exhibit about Legat to Zagreb in 2007.

"It was about all of the dancers that he taught, and the connection with dancers throughout the world. I took it to the National Theatre in Zagreb, where Ana had been a Prima ballerina.

"Because of that I met these nice gentlemen, Mr. Schopf and Mr. Vuckovic.

"I said, 'maybe you could do some research about her because I really know nothing about her life before I met her'.

"By the time they finished with their research they were so involved. We had exchanged hundreds of e-mails over a course of a year. I said 'why don't you go ahead and produce the book'.

"It is a record of her life that has been verified. There is nothing in the book that is false."

Ms Deane-Gray said Miss Roje had a "fabulous" personality.

"The kids loved her. They followed her like the Pied Piper. Where she went, we went also.

"I spent the rest of my life following her from country to country. I spent weeks and months with her every year for the last 40 years.

"She was probably one of the greatest teachers the world has ever had, so far, next to Legat."

Ballet Troupe Croatia'slast performance of 'Hamlet' is tonight (Friday) at 8.30 p.m. at Fort St. Catherine's in St. George's. Adults are $40, students are $20.

A special dinner is provided at Carriage House prior to the performance. Transportation to Fort St. Catherine's and back is available. Dinner and the performance is $150.

The ballet troupe is a professional touring company featuring artists from the Croatian National Theatre.

It was founded in 1994 by the principal dancer of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, internationally acclaimed artist, Svebor Secak. The company has given numerous guest performances in Croatia and abroad with its programmes 'Graduation Ball' (J. Strass Jr.) 'Giselle II Act' (A. Adam) 'The Gingerbread Heart' (K. Baranovic), and many others.

Tickets are available from the box office at City Hall Theatre from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information contact Alexia Cooper on 232-0959 or e-mail breconridge@northrock.bm. The book is available in local bookstores, or from Ms Deane-Gray at 236-1067