Urdang Academy

Locations

Urdang Academy was originally based in a church hall in Golders Green until 1978, when it moved to studios in Covent Garden. The Old Finsbury Town Hall in Clerkenwell, Islington, has been the home of the Urdang Academy since January 2007, when the school relocated from its Covent Garden premises.

The newest development is the addition of the new contemporary building Urdang 2, which opened in September 2014. Located in Angel, Islington, a ten-minute walk from the Old Finsbury Town Hall, the premises provide state-of-the-art training facilities in an innovative, urban and contemporary environment, reflecting the modern side of Urdang.

History

Urdang started life as a ballet school in 1970, founded by Leonie Urdang, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1939 and trained at the University of Cape Town with a particular focus on choreography. She immigrated to the UK in 1961.

With a vision to break through the glass ceiling of the dance world, which at that time only accepted a particular type of person, Urdang rented space in two church halls to teach ballet students. She later relocated to an old warehouse school in Covent Garden which was then converted into the Urdang Academy.

Leonie Urdang's commitment to diversity and equality was a founding premise for the Urdang Academy, so that students of different backgrounds would be able to train there. It remains true to this now with its slogan Everyone Individual. Her mission was to ensure that talented young dancers would receive the training they deserved despite economic circumstances. Fundraising through galas and other means, she established a scholarship program, often adding her own personal resources to the fundraising efforts. There were times when as many as ten full-time students would be living free of charge in her house in Islington.

After Leonie Urdang's death in 2001, her daughter Solange has overseen the Academy. It is recognised as one of the UK’s finest performing arts colleges, rated Outstanding by Ofsted and accredited by the Council for Dance Education and Training (UK). In 2015, The Stage named Urdang one of the best places to study degree level musical theatre.

Full-time courses

Urdang Academy offers degree and diploma courses in dance and musical theatre, which both lead to Qualifications and Curriculum Authority-recognised qualifications. The degree is validated by the University of East London (Anglia Ruskin University for students starting in 2016 onwards) while the diploma is validated by Trinity College, London. The academy also offers a one-year foundation course.

Part-time courses

Urdang runs Urdang Connect for students aged 10–21. It runs twice month and provides students and opportunity to train at Urdang on a part time basis, they can choose whether to attend once or twice a month.

The academy also offers pre-audition courses for prospective students aged 14–21 years, who are interested in auditioning for professional vocational colleges. It is an intensive five-day course which culminates in a mock audition, where students are prepared in audition technique with solo songs and acting monologues alongside classes in ballet and jazz.

Accreditation

Urdang Academy is an Accredited School of the Council for Dance Education & Training (CDET) and is an Approved Dance Centre by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Its Diploma course is validated by Trinity College, London and its Degree course by the University of East London (Anglia Ruskin University for students starting in 2016 onwards).

Admissions

Entry to the academy is by audition only. Applicants are expected to attend an audition where they will be assessed in a jazz class, an acting workshop, a ballet class, a solo song presentation, a physical assessment and an interview. Students from the age of 16 may apply for the diploma and foundation courses, but the BA (Hons) degree course requires 200 UCAS points on entry from A levels, BTECs or other equivalent qualifications, which are usually completed at age 18.

Urdang Academy is part of the UK Government's Dance and Drama Award scheme, which awards funding to most deserving students.

Performances

In their third year, students perform in three full scale shows: a dance production, a musical presentation and a graduate revue showcase. First and second year students also take part in an end-of-year show and some smaller in-house productions during their training. Urdang have previously used the Bloomsbury Theatre, the Shaw Theatre, the Hackney Empire and the Pleasance Theatre for performances.

Link Talent

Third year students of the academy are represented by the in-house agency, Link Talent, which helps students gain placements on shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor and auditions for West End shows. Students can be represented by Link Talent for up to six months after graduation allowing students the best opportunity in transition from student to professional.

Patrons

Alumni

Graduates from Urdang regularly perform in musicals in the West End and on UK tours as well as dancing on shows like The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. Some have also choreograhed and danced for pop artists including Beyoncé, Kyle Minogue, Lady Gaga, Little Mix and Take That. Other graduates go on to work as part of cruise ship entertainment.

Notable alumni include: