#NDA23 Nominated “Best Mid-Scale Company” National Dance Awards

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Summer School 2023

***Applications for 2023 are now closed***


17 - 22 July 2023

Many thanks to all dancers who attended auditions in London.
We are delighted that all places awarded in 2023 will be subsidised thanks to funding from the Leverhulme Trust Arts Scholarship programme.

The Mark Bruce Summer School is an intensive week’s residency held in Frome, Somerset where the company has been based for the last 19 years. It is open to a small group of selected students from vocational schools and recent graduates who are interested in the company and its work.

More information Pre-register interest for 2024

Many thanks to all dancers who attended auditions. Applications for 2023 are now closed.

Pre-vocational Masterclasses

2022-23

Masterclasses are held twice a term on Sundays in our Frome studio. Students can apply to join at any point in the year.

Masterclasses Application Form

Mark Bruce Company are delighted to have launched their new initiative of Contemporary Masterclasses taught by professional freelance dancers over the course of the academic year 2022/23. These sessions are aimed at pre-vocational dance students aged between 15-18 who are passionate about, and aspire to pursue a career in professional dance. (We will consider students aged 14 if recommended by a dance school). Students must have a base in classical or contemporary technique, and demonstrate an eagerness to enhance their dancing with this additional, complementary training. There will be a series of two Masterclasses a term, taught by different teachers. Mark Bruce Company reserves the right to select students based on their ability to ensure they can benefit from the class safely.

This is an opportunity to learn from industry experts, improve skills, build self-confidence, meet other like-minded pupils and above all have fun.

Sunday dates:
2022 Autumn term 2 Oct, 13 Nov
2023 Spring term 29 Jan, 5 Mar
2023 Summer term 7 May, 25 Jun

Times:
Each session will start with a 90-minute contemporary technique class followed by a 2-hour creative session. Students can arrive from 12:30pm, class will start at 1pm. There will be a 15 minute break at 2:30pm and the day will finish at 4:45pm.

Location:
All Masterclasses will be held at BlackBirdRedRose Studios, Unit G, Vallis Mills Trading Estate, Frome, Somerset, BA11 3DT. There is free parking on site and a green room.

Cost:

Sessions cost £40 for one class, £75 per term (two Masterclass days) or £200 for the year billed in advance.

Meet the teacher session 5 - Steven Brett

Born, raised and trained in Australia, Steven joined NDT II where he danced works by Jiri Kylian, Hans van Manen, Phillp Taylor and Nacho Duato. In 1988 he joined Rambert Dance Company under Richard Alston and continued working there under Christopher Bruce and Mark Baldwin. Over a 10 year dancing career he danced works by and created works with choreographers Richard Alston, Trisha Brown, Christopher Bruce, Siobhan Davies, Jeremy James, Glen Tetley and Kim Brandstrup. Later, as a rehearsal director for the company, he worked closely with many of those choreographers along with Wayne McGregor, Javier de Frutos, Twyla Tharp and Rafael Bonchela. He became Associate Artistic Director under Christopher Bruce. In 2004 Steven joined the British Council as a Programme Manager for EU Europe, Latin America instigating programmes such UK Moves, a showcase of British Dance in Roubaix, France. He became Executive Producer for SPILL Festival of Performance in 2008 producing the 2009 festival of over 100 events of Live Performance across London. He co-ran the Nightingale Theatre in Brighton where he lives with his family. He re-joined the British Council where he stayed as Programme Manager in the Theatre and Dance department until 2022. Steven is now a freelance creative and strategic producer. Steven stages the works of Christopher Bruce in dance companies around the world.

Meet the teacher session 4 - Daisy West

Daisy is a versatile performance artist working across the industry in dance, theatre, musicals, opera, concerts and film. She worked with Mark Bruce Company in 2017, touring with the company’s production of ‘Macbeth’. Daisy has danced for Northern Ballet and Yorke Dance Project and worked for choreographers including Drew McOnie, Will Tuckett, Lynne Page and Ashley Page. Musical credits include: ‘Wizard of Oz’ The Curve Theatre, ‘Carousel’ Regents Park Open Air Theatre, ‘On the Town’ Japanese tour. Daisy was a featured dancer for the Pet Shop Boys at BBC 2 Live at Hyde Park and appeared with Jess Glynne at The Brit Awards. She has performed at venues including the O2, Royal Opera House, Latitude festival, Royal Albert Hall, Sadlers Wells, Dubai Opera and Opera De Geneve. Daisy makes an appearance in Disney’s next live action feature film ‘Snow White’ as well as the Take That jukebox movie ‘Greatest Days’ - both to be released. She is passionate that movement should be accessible to all and loves to share her joy of dance and performance with others through teaching.

Meet the teacher session 3 - Antonia Grove

Antonia is an independent Dance artist working in contemporary dance, dance theatre and cross artform collaborations with a career spanning 25 years. She moves between the roles of choreographer, lecturer, performer, dramaturg, mentor and artistic facilitator. In 2004 she founded the Dance theatre company Probe, for which she has produced and performed 6 full length touring works. Moving forwards as a maker under her own name, she continues to be interested in live solo performance, presenting work that she writes, directs, performs and realises in collaboration with other creatives. Antonia trained at the Rambert School and then joined Rambert Dance Company 1998-2003. As performer she danced for companies Walker Dance Park Music, The National Theatre, Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance, Bonachela Dance Company, The Cholmondeleys, Charles Linehan Company, New Art Club, Fabulous Beast, Matthias Sperling, Clod Ensemble, Headspace Dance and Vincent Dance Theatre. She has three times been nominated for a Critics Circle National Dance Award and Timeout Live Award. Antonia recently obtained a Masters (Creative Practice) by distinction from Trinity Laban, researching relationships between female hormones and creativity. She has 3 children and is an activist for mothers working in the Arts.

Meet the teacher session 2 - Carina Howard

Carina trained at Rambert School where she graduated with a first class (hons) degree. Following this, she completed a masters at Northern School of Contemporary Dance with Distinction and the award for most outstanding achievement. Carina has been a dancer with Mark Bruce Company since 2017, touring in their productions of Macbeth, Return to Heaven and Phantoms. She has also been a company dancer with Rosie Kay Dance Company, touring in their productions of MK Ultra and Rosie Kay’s Fantasia. Other choreographers she has worked with include Mark Baldwin, Gemma Payne and Arielle Smith as well as performing her own works for the BBC Young Dancer Award. Carina enjoys collaborating creatively with choreographers and was commissioned to create her own work for The Dancers’ Project. As well as theatre, Carina loves dancing for Film and TV with credits including Aquaman 2, The Witcher and a short film for the Met Police. Carina teaches students from the ages of 4, vocational students, company class and also works as a Creative Movement Therapist for people with Parkinson’s disease. .

Meet the teacher session 1 - Hannah McGlashon

Hannah trained professionally at Rambert School where she graduated with a first class degree in Ballet and Contemporary dance. During her final year she toured with Rambert Company for their autumn season, performing Itzik Galili’s ‘A Linha Curva’ as well as Mark Baldwin’s rendition of Haydn’s ‘Creation’. She has worked with choreographers including Mark Bruce, Jenna Lee and Darren Ellis. As a freelance dancer she has worked with Shobana Jeyasingh, Lynne Page, Kamavera Dance Theatre, as well as with Christopher Thomas Dance for the Sadlers Wells Young Associate programme. She has also collaborated with various musicians for R&D, music videos and live performances. Choreographically she has collaborated with Christopher Thomas and they have taken their duets to both national and international platforms.

Applications for our Sunday Masterclasses series for pre-vocational students are open.

Phantoms - a triple bill

Phantoms

Multi-award-winning Mark Bruce Company presents a stunning Triple Bill of cinematic dance theatre.

★★★★ "All the hallmarks of Bruce’s signature style are on view... an inspired blend of rock ‘n’ roll pop culture, dark and surreal folk mythology and smooth, cinema-influenced theatricality a la David Lynch delivered by a handful of high-calibre dancers." The Times

Green Apples
Bruce's highly popular commanding work choreographed to music by The White Stripes. A visceral and immediate live experience as two dancers perform within the confines of a rope circle, creating a space of powerful physical intensity and magnetic energy.

Folk Tales
Characters from the myths of our past dance to the evocative music of Martin Simpson, including renditions of Beaulampkins, Soldier’s Joy and Betsy the Serving Maid among others. A collection of life affirming pieces; at once mysterious, fiery, and celebrational.

Phantoms
A tale of love and vengeance.
A stunning dance theatre tale of love, tragedy and revenge in a land where our phantoms roam free. Mark Bruce Company presents its trademark cinematic vision; a carousel of dream-like characters in a beautifully savage world falling into chaos, culminating in a surreal, classic showdown on the road. Phantoms features the creative team that brought you Dracula, Macbeth and Return to Heaven, and an originally composed score.

Watch the trailer here Tour dates

Please note that this production includes stylized depictions and images of violence that some viewers may find disturbing.

Multi-award-winning Mark Bruce Company presents a stunning Triple Bill of cinematic dance theatre.

Phantoms trailers

Phantoms




Written, choreographed and directed by Mark Bruce

Dancers: Eleanor Duval, Jonathan Goddard, Carina Howard, Sharol Mackenzie, Christopher Thomas

Camera and Editing: Mark Bruce
Music: ‘The World of Love and Wonders’ written by Mark Bruce, Published by Mute Song
Vocals: Eva Trodd
Guitar: Mark Bruce
Sound recording: John Kilroy
Footage captured at BlackBirdRedRose Studios
Cameras: BMPCC 6K, EOS R
Edited in FCPX

© Mark Bruce Company

Phantoms triple bill trailer - touring early 2022

Green Apples

New production
A commanding ten-minute duet performed in the round.

Choreographed by Mark Bruce to the music of the White Stripes, Green Apples is a commanding duet performed in the round. Separated from the performers by a rope, the audience is drawn into a visceral and immediate experience as the dancers circle themselves and each other in a space of physical intensity and magnetic energy.

Green Apples is available as an educational workshop for schools and colleges. Originally commissioned by the Summer Collection for ROH2 at the Clore Studio of the Royal Opera House, it can be presented in a wide-range of spaces and locations.

Please contact the company for further information.

On Choreography & Making Dance Theatre

Mark's book "On Choreography & Making Dance Theatre" is available from Bloomsbury Books.

On Choreography and Making Dance Theatre is an invaluable insight into Bruce's approach, both artistic and practical, as he documents his process from the beginnings of ideas to the realisation of a full-length production. Bruce provides an explanation of the range of skills he believes are required, and all that needs to be considered in the creation of dance theatre.


Cover image by Nicole Guarino

ISBN: 9781783197774

www.bloomsbury.com

Mark's book "On Choreography & Making Dance Theatre" is available from Bloomsbury Books.

Silver Swans ballet classes

Weekly Silver Swans ballet class in Frome and online
Tailored for the over 55’s


Our weekly Silver Swans ballet class runs on Tuesday mornings from BlackBirdRedRose Studios. The class is delivered by qualified dance teacher Sue McGovern (ARAD), who safely adapts ballet techniques for older adults. Sue delivers a high quality ballet class and is trained by the Royal Academy of Dance to respond to the different needs of participants of a broad age range.  No previous experience needed.

Classes cost £9 per session in person or £5 over Zoom online.

Silver Swans registration form

You can find out more and book your place on our sister website www.blackbirdredrose.com.



Photograph © Mark Bruce Company

Weekly Silver Swans ballet classes running online on Tuesday mornings.

Albums

Girl in a Graveyard and World of Love and Wonders

Mark has released several videos choreographed to songs from his albums.

The videos are raw footage captured in rehearsal at BlackBird RedRose Studios.


The album Girl in a Graveyard is available as a digital release.

Awards and Accolades

We are incredibly proud that Eleanor Duval and Jonathan Goddard have both received National Dance Awards nominations for their roles in Macbeth.

Eleanor has been nominated in the Outstanding Female Modern Performance category for her role as Lady Macbeth and Jonathan has been nominated in the Outstanding Male Modern Performance for his role as Macbeth.



The National Dance Awards have been organised by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle in each year of this Millennium to celebrate the vigour and variety of Britain’s thriving dance culture. They are presented by the Dance Section of the Critics’ Circle, which brings together over 60 dance writers and critics. They are the only awards given by the body of professional dance critics in the UK.

Macbeth photography: Nicole Guarino
Eleanor Duval and Jonathan Goddard receive National Dance Awards nominations.

BlackBird RedRose Studios

Mark Bruce Company is based in our own studios in Frome, Somerset.


The company is based in a fantastic large and versatile space in our home town of Frome, Somerset. Here we create and rehearse our theatrical and digital work, make and store set and costumes, expand our education programme and run the company. Our light and airy studio has a large sprung Harlequin floor and supporting facilities including offices and green room.

If you would like to visit or hire our space please get in touch.

DanceWear Donations

Dance Wear Donations scheme


We are very grateful for the wonderful response we have had this year. Our scheme is now temporarily closed for donations whilst we concentrate on re-distribution. Due to current cost of living challenges, we will be shortly be opening our scheme for UK dance schools who have children in need of dancewear.


The Mark Bruce Company runs a scheme called Dance Wear Donations. We feel strongly that there are many dance clothes that children grow out of that could have a fantastic second life with children in less fortunate circumstances.

Our aim is to link with vocational dance schools in the UK in the hope that students and their families will donate good quality grown out of dancewear and shoes.

If you or your school would like to get involved and start donating please get in touch on 01373 476449.

"It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity on behalf of Yabantu Rural Dance Training Programme to thank Mark Bruce Company for the kind donation of dance clothes received through Dane Hurst. Yabantu Multipurpose and Performing Arts Theatre is a registered NPC Company based in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban South Africa. Running a dance training programme in the rural areas has many challenges and the obvious one is access to a suitable attire for the dancers. This donation of dance clothes (costumes), and shoes not only is making our dancers look decent, it also grows confidence in their bodies physically and psychologically... Thank you so much" Sifiso Kweyama, Artistic Director, Yabantu Multipurpose and Performing Arts Theatre, November 2022


We are sending dancewear and shoes to dance schools in South Africa.
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