Next week's `Dance Recitals 1997', the 44th time that the Jackson School of Performing Arts has staged this annual event, will be a show with a big difference.

For the first time ever, the spotlight will be falling on not one or two, but a total of 18 boys, ranging in age from four to 14, who will be taking part.

"This time last year, we had zero number of boys,'' exclaims founder and director Louise Jackson. "But thanks largely to Paul Lepercq who sponsored three principal dancers from the Alvin Ailey Company to give workshops and classes here and then donated three scholarships, we now have all these boys who are dancing! Many of the others have scholarships from the Bermuda Arts Council and the Jackson School. I would also like to mention,'' she adds, "that three of our teachers -- Conchita Ming, Heather Shrubb and Elizabeth Pimental, taught them for quite some time, completely free of charge.'' This year's show, which will involve around 750 participants involving two different programmes will, as usual, feature dance in all its forms, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern and gymnastics.

"No, the logistics are not too much of a nightmare,'' reveals Mrs. Jackson, "because, after 44 years, you could say we've got this down to a fine art.'' Like all of her teachers, she is thrilled that the high standards being attained among the senior students has resulted in many of them being accepted into the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda. "This has given them so much more experience and opportunities, especially with the full-length production of `The Nutcracker', set by David Allan for the Bermuda Festival this year.'' There is now an impressive line-up of dance teachers who work for the Jackson School.

Choreorgrapher Conchita Ming, who studied modern dance at Wagner College in New York and in Winnipeg, Canada, where she performed with the Contemporary Dancers of Winnipeg, is a co-founder of the National Dance Theatre for whom she has created several major works. `Tubular Images' was performed for the Queen during her 1994 visit to Bermuda and her `Earth Tones', a tribute to the Gombeys, opened the Gala for the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference in the US. For this show, she has choreographed a special modern piece for the contingent of male dancers, as well as setting a major work for the senior girls.

Barbara Frith, who was formerly a member of the Boston Ballet Company, is one of Bermuda's best known theatrical figures, having appeared in and choreographed several major musicals and pantomimes for BMDS and The Gilbert & Sullivan Society. A co-founder of the National Dance Theatre, is perhaps best known for her prowess in the field of jazz and tap, although as Mrs. Jackson points out, "She has always been a very accomplished ballet expert who teaches our advanced students, but in the early days, she was the only one who could teach tap and jazz. She has been with me now for about 27 years and is really part of my family!'' One of the highlights of this year's show is bound to be Mrs. Frith's `Our Spectaculor 2.08 Routine', featuring her adult tap dancers.

Jeanne Legere, who specialises in ballet training, began her own dance career with Patricia Gray, going on to study in the US where she later danced with the Baltimore Ballet Company and with the Dance Centre Company in Springfield Massachusetts. Currently, she specialises in the intermediate ballet section -- what Mrs. Jackson refers to as "the backbone'' of her school.

Heather Shrub, who also studied with Patricia Gray, attended the Legat School in the UK where she obtained her teaching and advanced ballet certificates. In Bermuda, she has choreographed for both the BMDS, and the National Dance Theatre, her `Sacred Spirits' (which will be seen in the Recitals) having been chosen for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs' recent tribute to local artists.

She specialises in teaching senior ballet students.

Elizabeth Pimentel, who began her training at the Jackson School, recently graduated cum laude with a degree in Dance from Florida's International University/New World School of the Arts. In Miami, she was a member of and choreographer for two dance companies and was recently selected to study with the Alvin Ailey Dance School on a summer scholarship. She has also choreographed a jazz piece for the Jackson boy students.

Andrea Mitchell Lopes studied with the Boston Ballet School and can count ballerina Allegra Kent among her former teachers. For the National Dance Theatre she was partnered by David Allan in the `Giselle' Pas de Deux.

Teacher Jennifer Ingham Soares began her dance training at the Jackson School at the age of four, and has since attended the Alvin Ailey Summer School and performed with The Young Company in Canada.

Lastly, Kim Siese, who is currently teaching gymnastics at the school, began her training in Canada, and is a graduate of Acadia University.

"Andrea, Jennifer and Elizabeth do all of our pre-school and junior dance training,'' explains Mrs. Jackson. "Because our school is now so big, we are able to ensure that every child is placed in a class suitable for a particular level. Then, in the ballet and tap sections, we offer five different classes so it's all beautifully graded. I would like to say that none of this would have been possible without the dedication of our teachers, and Sally Swan, our wonderful office manager.'' Dance Recitals 1997 will take place at City Hall, with Programme I on June 21, 24 and 27, and Programme II on June 23, 25 and June 28.

ROSE VARIATIONS -- Senior students in a ballet set by Barbara Frith to music by Brahms, one of the numbers featured in the Jackson School of Performing Arts Annual Recitals. Pictured are (left to right) Alana Ming, Carlisha Brangman, Brittany Legere and Shomeiko Ingham.