Urdang Schools

Our founder, Leonie Urdang moved to London from South Africa to escape the social effects that Apartheid had on people of all classes and ethnicities. When Leonie started the Urdang Academy in 1970 her vision was to break barriers that segregated the dance world, which at that time only accepted a particular type of person with a certain look. She looked beyond the surface and saw the individual, laying this as the founding ethos of her school. The only thing that has changed since then is that the theatre world has caught up with that vision. Increasingly shows are about characters and personalities – dancers that can sing or singer-actors that can dance – and the performers in demand are those whose personality (combined with talent) shine out. With Solange Urdang taking over from her mother in 2001, Urdang stayed true to its founding vision, constantly seeking opportunities to revitalise and cement diversity and inclusivity in new and exciting ways.