London born Gillian Bruce undertook her early dance and performance studies at Laine Theatre Arts, a leading specialist college for musical theatre. Her exams at both the Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing resulted in her graduation with honours as both a performer and teacher for classical, modern jazz, tap and character dance.
She began to work in Italy as a solo dancer and developed her career there, dancing and choreographing an extensive list of musical stage productions and for television. Her credits for productions all across Europe include several major shows for Disney.
In 2008 Gillian became the founder and choreographer for the innovative Tappers Dance Company. She is also the owner and artistic director for the Milan-based Dance School and Fitness Centre, 360 Gym.
Recently Gillian has been putting her teaching skills to good use, lecturing at The Bernstein School Of Musical Theatre in Bologna and at MTS – Musical! The School, a vibrant training academy in Milan that specialises in the development of young musical theatre performers. There she teaches Musical Theatre, Modern Jazz, and Tap. She is also in demand as a personal trainer for actors, singers and other entertainers seeking to develop their dance and movement techniques.
For Dirty Dancing - “faultlessly fantastic choreography” Upstaged Manchester.
Italian Musical Awards nominations
(Best Choreography) Newsies
Cabaret
Dirty Dancing
Musical Awards 2016 winner
Newsies
CHOREOGRAPHER:
Mary Poppins (Disney and Cameron Mackintosh; Teatro Nazionale, Milan)
La Lustige Witwe (Teatro alla Scala)
Mary Poppins (Disney and Mackintosh)
Newsies (Disney)
High School Musical (Disney)
Dirty Dancing, (Italy, England, West End, Germany, Spain, Austria, Monte Carlo, Mexico, Belgium, Luxembourg, France)
Cabaret
Grease Special 20th Anniversary
Cinderella
Frankenstein Junior (Mel Brooks)
Happy Days
Grease
Sugar
The Little Shop of Horrors (Teatro Oscar, Milan);
Annie
Next to Normal (Italian tour)
Ragtime
Evita
Titanic
Crazy For You
Nine
The Witches of Eastwick (Teatro Duce, Bologna)
Lucky Stiff
The Wild Party
Robin Hood (Teatro Nuovo, Milan)
Anything Goes
All Shook Up
Footloose
Peter Pan
The Jungle Book
Toc Toc a Time For Musical