About Us

Our Heritage

Summerscales is more than a school – it’s part of my family’s story. Founded in 1982 by my mum, Tracey, and inspired by my grandparents’ love of the Golden Era musicals, our roots run deep in music, dance, and theatre. From my very first stage appearance as a baby to performing professionally in the West End and beyond, I’ve grown up surrounded by the joy of the arts.

But Summerscales has never been just a place to teach. For me, it’s about the people – I’ve poured my energy, experience and passion into my students, and in return they inspire me, with their determination and love of performing. We work hard and laugh harder, celebrating every achievement whilst remaining humble. Past students often pop back in to visit, but many have become lifelong friends. Summerscales really is like an extended family.

Our Legacy

Today, I’m proud to carry our legacy with a team who share that same heart and passion. My mum continues her work as a dance examiner, and my sister Laurretta and her husband, Yonah Acosta (both world-renowned ballet stars) remain actively involved.

As a mum of three myself (with very big age gaps, so I know the juggle!) I understand how it feels to want the very best for your child. Which is why Summerscales is more than just a dance school. It’s a place where your child will be supported and encouraged, whether they dream of a career on stage or want a creative hobby.

My hope is for every student who walks through our doors to leave with confidence, a passion and love for theatre and the most wonderful memories to take with them – ready to be the best version of themselves.

Gemma Summerscales – Director

Our Lion – Ferdinand

When you first see our logo, you might not expect it for a performing arts school. It’s not a dancer or a spotlight – it’s a lion. But that lion means everything to us.

The lion represents strength, resilience, excellence and presence – qualities we nurture in every child who comes through our doors. A lion is the king, it prevails, and it carries a certain dignity. That’s exactly what we want for our students: to stand tall, to be proud of who they are, and to approach life with courage.

The lion is also deeply personal to me. It’s a symbol that has followed me throughout my life, particularly in recent years. To me, the lion is a reminder of depth, resilience and the strength to keep walking, to keep moving forward. That’s why it felt so right for Summerscales, in a new era, built on my family’s incredible heritage and carried forward with passion. The design runs deep – just as we do at Summerscales. We don’t just skim the surface of dance teaching, we go deeper, teaching life skills, artistry and resilience.

But What About The Colours?

Our colour palette also tells a story. The gold represents the standard we hold ourselves to – the highest quality of teaching, the aspiration for ‘Gold’ in competitions, and the elegance, a timeless look. The green has been matched to the Porsche paint colour British Racing Green, a nod to my personal love of cars (and maybe one day that dream 911 C4S). It also matches our sustainable, easy-care uniform which we curated with busy families in mind.

Together, the lion and the colours embody who we are, a community who are strong, resilient, aspirational, and deeply thoughtful. At Summerscales we focus on every detail – and every child who joins us becomes part of our story.

Our Signature – Music

There’s a tradition at Summerscales that every student, past and present, holds close to their heart. Our signature routine – Music.

First created in 1999 for a performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Music became more than just a routine. It was the springboard that launched Summerscales onto the world stage, leading to unforgettable opportunities performing at the Sydney Olympic Games, Disneyland Paris, in Spain and Germany, and in the West End at venues such as the London Coliseum.