Susan Bruce-Hammond
Susan is an Honours graduate of George Brown School of Dance, and Applied Arts and Technology (dance program); she was born and raised in Ontario. She began dance training at the age of three after watching the National Ballet of Canada’s performance of “Giselle” and being awed by the experience. She received her classical dance training at many of the top dance schools in Canada including: the National Ballet School of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and the Banff School of Fine Arts, studying R.A.D., Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Bournoville methods. She studied with leading dance teachers: Betty Oliphant, Lois Smith, Gladys Forrester, Peggy Baker, David Adams, & Earl Kraul. Susan is a former performing member and choreographer with The Dance Company of Ontario, Ottawa Dance Theatre, and Gladys Forrester’s Dancers.
In 1983, after retiring due to a back injury, Susan moved to the Island where she met her husband, settled in the eastern end of the Island, and began teaching dance in Charlottetown and Souris. She opened Hammond-Bruce Studios, later becoming the Artistic Director of the former ‘Les Souris Qui Dansent’, a children’s dance company in Souris, P.E.I. Susan retired from teaching to raise her children but continued directing, co-directing, and choreographing theatre productions for many of the local schools, communities, and churches. She often uses her basic art and sewing training to design and make costumes, backdrops, sets, props, and posters for her productions. In recent years, Susan has added playwright to her list of titles; writing and directing a number of works for the former Eastern Kings Consolidated School, and more recently, successfully writing and directing play productions for Don’t Ye Know Theatre. Susan is the Artistic Advisor and Director of DYKT. She is also working with the Kings Playhouse, Georgetown, staging productions.
Although Susan enjoys the many forms and aspects of the performing arts, dance is her love and forte. She is very happy to be returning to the role of dance teacher. Over the years Susan has performed, choreographed, and taught Classical/Lyrical Ballet, Point, Jazz, Modern, Pas de Deux, and Stage Presence.