The Troika Bermuda Glee summer intensive programme opens a world of opportunity for local artsy teens.

The audition, to be held this Saturday, will be taught as a workshop, so even if participants aren’t chosen for Bermuda Glee, they still get to have fun during the workshop while learning about the arts.

Those who are chosen will participate in seven days of intensive drama, dance and vocal training that culminates in a Bermuda Glee performance. And once it’s over several former Bermuda Glee students have gone on to form their own dance groups.

CedarBridge Academy student Kierra Lee, 17, took part in Bermuda Glee last year and is looking forward to auditioning again this weekend.

She first became interested in Bermuda Glee when she saw a flyer posted at her school.

“I said I like to sing and dance so I am going to try it out,” she said. “When I got there I saw a lot of people that I knew.”

The drama part of it was new to her, but she enjoyed it, and can’t wait to go back for a second round. Her only disappointment is that next year she will be too old to participate, as it is for 14 to 18 year olds, and she is about to turn 18. She may come back to help run it in the future. She hopes to become a professional singer.

On Bermuda Day she will be dancing in the Bermuda Day Parade with a group called Rated E, formed by two former Bermuda Glee students.

“Rated E is the second group to come out of Troika,” said Troika Co-Founder Shoa Bean. “Another group that formed is called Crazed Ego. Our goal is to foster and expose students to the arts. We delight in seeing our students take it to another level. Our students sometimes come to us and say: ‘can we start our own group?’. We say: ‘go for it’.”

Miss Lee said she would eventually like to become a professional singer.

Auditions for Bermuda Glee are being held this Saturday at the Berkeley Institute. Those who would like to participate are urged to register as soon as possible.

Once again, the auditions will be held in a workshop format. Students will work in different groups, and then the teachers of the different disciplines, singing, dancing and acting, will decide which students they want to work with. There will be two blocks of auditions, one held in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Bermuda Glee was started by the Argo Foundation four years ago, before it was handed over to dance charity, Troika.

Dance teacher Wanda Maxwell said she has been with Bermuda Glee since its formation.

“The kids used to come in with stuff prepared for audition,” she said. “When Troika took over the format changed. Now, we teach them a dance and then see them perform it. That works out really well. That way they can learn and have fun whether they can dance or not.”

The idea is that even if they are picked for Bermuda Glee, they still get something out of the auditioning process.

“I have been doing it for four years and it has been really great,” said Ms Maxwell. “There is a group that keeps coming back. The kids really enjoy it.”

Ms Bean said she was very grateful that the Argo Foundation had passed the torch to Troika a few years ago.

“We appreciate and are humbled that they chose Troika to take it on and we will hopefully do them proud,” she said.

Auditions will be held on Saturday (May 17). The first audition block is from 10am to 11.30am and the second is from 12pm to 1.30pm. Auditions are free. If the student gets into Bermuda Glee there is a $50 fee.

The summer intensive will be held from June 28 to July 5 and the Bermuda Glee show will be on July 5. Last year, more than 60 students took part, and this year Troika is hoping for more than 70 students.

For more information e-mail info@troikabda.com or to register see the website www.troikabda.com.