The National Dance Theatre of Bermuda (NDTB) has been named as resident dance group at the Bermuda College. The arrangement, announced last week, is being hailed by College and company officials as an exciting venture that will unite the arts with existing academic and business programmes.

A large studio, equipped with a portable sprung floor, mirrors and barres, has been made available for use by the company. As part of the deal, company teachers, led initially by Barbara Frith, will also provide dance classes for College students. Plans are also well in hand for summer residencies and master classes.

Describing the affiliation as a `first' in the arts community, Jean Hannant says that one of her major concerns, as chairman of the NDTB, has been the welfare and safety of the young girls in the company. "Now, we not only have this wonderful space in which to work, but it's in a central location, with well-lit parking and good support facilities. These things have to be considered, dealing as we do, with young dancers.'' "We're renting the space, but we also have a contract to provide dance classes for the College,'' explains NDTB administrator Conchita Ming. "We are thrilled -- it's a new era for us, and for the College. We are very grateful to Dr. Peters and Dr. Cooke who have been so supportive and helped us to finally find a `home'. We've been looking for a home for ten years now -- and urgently, for the past five.'' "The College cannot exist as a separate entity,'' emphasises Dr. Donald Peters, who is vice president, academic and student affairs at the College.

"We must reach out to the community through involvement in business -- and in the arts. I believe that any institute of higher education should have an holistic approach and, obviously, the arts, including dance, is part of that.'' Dr. Peters, who took up his Bermuda appointment at the end of 1996, and has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, is a keen supporter of the arts. "I used to be an actor in high school,'' he reveals, "and at college, I read a lot of Shakespeare.'' Conceding that, at present, the College's budget is unable to support its own performing arts programme, he says that the partnership with NDTB is part of an overall aim to involve students in all aspects of the arts. "Music is another area which I would like to see developed here. We want to raise standards. Education, I believe, is the most beautiful weapon you can have to resolve problems, so we have to equip our students with the best education -- and that includes the arts. The buildings are now complete -- so let's develop the programmes, and maintain them!'' Mrs. Ming reveals that the College connection came about when Denise Jefferson of the Alvin Ailey Company gave a workshop for the NDTB two years ago. "She asked if Bermuda had a college, as the Ailey company works in conjunction with Fordham University. So we started to explore the possibilities. We were then approached by Fred Ming to assist with a cultural programme and we asked if he would be interested in some kind of affiliation. He leapt at the idea and the whole thing gained momentum with Dr. Peters and Dr. Cooke. So a multi-purpose room was fully equipped for us by the College -- they've transformed it, really. We're also very grateful to Oliver Pitcher who has been a wonderful help with the practicalities involved.'' It is Mrs. Ming's hope that the new facilities at the College will encourage Bermuda's thriving dance community to work more closely together. "Dr. Peters has a vision of an arts centre at the College where all forms of art could be included. We are planning summer residencies, bringing teachers and groups here to do classes and coaching. We believe that if the schools and companies unite, it will simplify funding and provide a much richer cross-fertilisation of dancers and choreographers. We want everyone to be a part of this.'' Master classes will be taken, using some of the Island's best teachers of dance. "The first will be body conditioning, with Sally Wombell. Then in June and July, Sophie Cannonier will be returning home to take Pilates classes. Kim Bears of Philadanco and Will Turner of the American Repertory Ballet will also be doing workshops for our company -- but these will be open to all dancers in the community.'' NDTB held its first summer workshop on campus last year (in the gymnasium) and, says Mrs. Ming, "The atmosphere was wonderful. It was such a good feeling for the dancers to be brought together. There was such a feeling of unity and joy, so we feel the possibilities of this venture are enormous.'' Revealing that Denise Jefferson will be the guest of honour at the official opening of the studio in July, Mrs. Ming adds, "The College is already referring to this as `The Event'.