The Urdang Academy, commonly known as Urdang, is an independent performing arts academy based in Islington, London. Founded as a ballet school by Leonie Urdang in 1970, the academy now provides specialist vocational training in dance and musical theatre at further and higher education level, preparing students for a professional career in the performing arts.
The academy is accredited by the Council for Dance Education and Training and offers Qualifications and Curriculum Authority-recognised qualifications validated by Anglia Ruskin University, University of East London, and Trinity College, London. It was rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted in 2011 and again in 2015 as well as being named one of the best places to study degree level musical theatre by The Stage in 2015. The academy was also shortlisted for School of the Year in The Stage 2017 Awards.
Urdang has a history of feeding graduates into West End musicals, dance shows, UK tours and regional theatre productions as well as more recent commercial dance success with graduates choreographing and dancing for top pop artists.
Video 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.
Maps Urdang Academy
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.
Courses
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.
- BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre
- Level 6 Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre or Professional Dance
- Track A: An equal emphasis in all Musical Theatre Genres
- Track C: A greater emphasis on acting and singing
- Track D: A greater emphasis on dance to produce versatility
- Foundation Course in Dance and Musical Theatre
- ATT Course in Dance and Musical Theatre
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
- Sean Cheesman
- Arlene Phillips CBE
- Wayne Sleep OBE
- Anthony Van Laast MBE
- Brian Friedman
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:
- Nathan Amzi
- Alison Carroll
- Samantha Dorsey
- Aisha Jawando
- Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (Olivier Award nominee)
- Matt Henry (Olivier Award winner)
- Dean Lee
- Antoine Murray-Straughan
- Richard Mylan
- Claudimar Neto
- Saori Oda
- Regan Shepherd
- Ashlie Walker
- Holly Weston
References
External links
- Official website for the Urdang Academy
Source of article : Wikipedia
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