We're thrilled to announce the line-up of artists who will be teaching on this year's Summer School. Summer School is an energetic, fun and challenging experience for young dancers aged 12+. From Monday 28 July - Friday 1 August, each artist will lead technique classes, explore choreographic approaches, and collaborate with their assigned groups to create a piece to showcase to family and friends at the end of the week.
This year, students will be working with the following artists:
Sandrine Monin - Strand 1 (ages 12-14)
John-William Watson - Strand 2 (ages 15-17)
Mayowa Ogunnaike - Strand 2 (ages 15-17)
Odette Hughes - Strand 3 (ages 18+)
Sandrine Monin has been a professional dancer for over 15 years and has worked with internationally renowned companies, including Gartnerplatz Theatre and Phoenix Dance Theatre, as well as with choreographers such as Forsythe, McGregor, Galili, and Christopher Bruce.
After graduating from the CNSMD Lyon in France, Sandrine pursued her training in Germany as part of the European programme D.A.N.C.E. and graduated with a Master’s in Dance Practice at Palucca Schule Dresden, and an MA in Choreography from the Central School of Ballet.
Throughout her career, she has also been developing her own choreographic work, supported by Arts Council England. She has created work for dance and theatre companies, youth groups and the screen.
She shares her practice teaching classes and workshops in companies such as New Adventures, Scottish Dance Theatre and NDCWales, as well as vocational training at Elmhurst Ballet School, Northern Ballet and NSCD.
She is the Artistic Director of Unbound Dance Theatre, an inclusive dance company whose focus is on making dance more accessible for blind and visually impaired people who recently advised BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing.
John-William Watson is a choreographer, director and dancer from Beeston, Leeds.
After graduating from The Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp in 2019, they swiftly carved a path for themselves, creating critically acclaimed, surreal, dance-plays – often exploring the interplay between science fiction, dark-comedy and contemporary dance.
Watson has previously received commissions from organisations such as Sadler’s Wells, Messums West and the Riley Theatre. They were a Young Associate Choreographer at Sadler’s Wells 2020-22, Northern Connection Artist at NSCD 2021/22, and Messums West 4×20 Artist 2023.
In recent years, Watson has begun performing in their own work and for UK-based dance artist Beth Emmerson. Their catalyst for performing began with their first solo company work, ‘Why This Chair Does Not Exist’ in 2023, which has since toured nationally and internationally.
Outside of their choreography work, Watson has worked as a mentor for young choreographers, both independently and for One Dance UK’s Young Creatives programme. They are a member of the National Youth Dance Company team, as pastoral support in the company support team and as a facilitator across various projects, most recently within NYDC’s nationwide schools programme.
Mayowa Ogunnaike is a British-Nigerian contemporary dance artist based in Leeds. Her name means ‘brings joy,’ and she aims to embody and encourage that sentiment throughout her practice.
In 2017, she graduated from Trinity Laban with a first-class honours degree and an award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Choreological Studies’. After graduating, she joined Phoenix Dance Theatre as an apprentice dancer and has continued to work as a performer for several dance companies and choreographers, including Uchenna Dance, Ace Dance and Music, and Seke Chimuntengwende. Currently, she is touring new productions with Gary Clarke Company and Léa Tirabasso.
Alongside performing, Mayowa delivers creative and technique classes across the UK, using this practice as an opportunity to share a wide-ranging movement vocabulary, experiment, collaborate with artists, and facilitate cultural exchange.
Odette Hughes joined Company Wayne McGregor in June 1997, where she danced for 10 years, becoming the company’s Rehearsal Director in 2000 and was appointed Associate Director of Studio Wayne McGregor in 2007. Odette is now responsible for the company’s everyday artistic supervision, overseeing performances and directing all rehearsals as well as managing the company’s extensive engagement work.
Odette was Assistant Choreographer to Wayne McGregor on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2004). She has also assisted McGregor in numerous productions such as Michel Ocelot’s musical Kirikou et Karaba, The English National Opera’s Salome, and Dido and Aeneas at La Scala, Milan. She acts as a re-stager for McGregor ballets, including EDEN | EDEN for San Francisco Ballet, Genus for Paris Opera Ballet, Dyad 1929 for The Australian Ballet and the multi-award-winning Chroma for the National Ballet of Canada and Bolshoi Ballet.
Odette has taught numerous workshops and masterclasses both nationally and internationally and has extensive experience in community and outreach work for all ages and abilities, including commissioned work with the Centre for Advanced Training at The Lowry, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, NSCD and École de Danse de Genève.
Odette currently acts as Artistic Advisor for the National Dance Programme at SENSE Touchbase Pear and is Project Manager for La Biennale College Danza Venice under the Artistic Direction of Wayne McGregor.
Find out more about our Summer School and secure your place today.
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