Summer School

WHAT?

The Mark Bruce Summer School is an intensive week’s residency held in July in Frome, Somerset where the company has been based for the last 20 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. The Summer School provides an opportunity to work in a creative environment with company dancers, learn a wide range of repertoire including pas de deux work and participate in contemporary and ballet technique classes every day. The week culminates with an informal showing for an invited audience. It is a technically challenging week, pushing students out of their comfort zones and providing an extension to their studies in the vocational schools.

​

WHERE?

The week takes place in the company's studio, where our productions are created and rehearsed. There are limited places, participants are selected by audition (invite only).

Students arrive in Frome on the Sunday evening before the week starts and are accommodated with local families. One healthy evening meal is provided every day by local restaurants and caterers supporting the company. Students have access to kitchen facilities with their host families for other meals.

​

COST?

The funding awarded by the Leverhulme Trust provides 18 Leverhulme Scholarships annually. These subsidies are awarded on merit and enable us to offer places to successful auditionees at a heavily subsidised rate which includes UK travel and accommodation for the week.

In addition, we award two means tested bursaries per year to provide fully funded places. These are assessed based on the financial need of the dancer. Please request an additional bursary application form when applying. The bursary assessment process is conducted separately to the audition and the audition panel have no information about bursary applications prior to audition.

​

AUDITION?

Demand for places at Summer School is high and places are awarded via an audition process. Auditions will be held in London in February or March. We will make as many places as possible available for audition over the weekend but spaces are limited so we advise applying as soon as possible. The audition is a contemporary class run by company members followed by a short repertoire session.