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.
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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.
