The Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre or Dance

The Urdang Performers’ Diploma encompasses all aspects of the performing arts and looks to give each student an excellent grounding in Singing, Dancing and Acting, alongside developing charisma, individuality and performance skill.

validated by:

Urdang Academy is accredited by the Council for Dance Education and Training

The Urdang Academy provides a supportive environment that fosters artistic, intellectual and personal development with all its students. The intense, rigorous and practical training is enhanced by contextual study that allows the student to understand historical, stylistic and professional aspects of the industry. This holistic approach prepares each student to embark on a successful and fulfilled life in the arts, with the ability to develop along and varied career.

Year 1

Students come from a wide range of experience so the first year is designed to consolidate and strengthen understanding of technique and develop awareness of the level of work required for the course. Selected dance and musical theatre classes are streamed to ensure students develop a clear understanding of technique and progress at the appropriate pace.

Dance: Ballet, Technical Jazz, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary, Street, Tap, Conditioning and PilatesMusical Theatre: Singing Technique, Acting, Acting through Song, Voice, Accent, Articulation, Alexander Technique and Integrated PerformanceContextual Studies: Healthier Performer, Music Theory, History of Dance and History of Musical Theatre

Year 2

In Year 2, the Diploma programme is split into four ‘tracks’ specialising in aspects of musical theatre and dance. After careful monitoring of strengths demonstrated during Year 1, students will be placed in the track appropriate to their career potential. These tailor-made tracks will allow students to develop their individuality, and the following pages describe these in more detail and explain who they would be most suited to.

Year 3

Year 3 focuses on combining technical ability with personality and performance. Technical classes are combined with master classes and mock auditions concentrating on audition technique. This gives students the opportunity to work with current West End practitioners and receive invaluable advice regarding the current requirements of the industry. The curriculum includes seminars on professional and financial development. Year 3 is also a transition from student to professional, and all students are involved in a variety of live performances in both the in-house theatre space and in external West End venues. Urdang’s graduate productions have a fantastic reputation, and consequently are attended by a multitude of major dance and theatrical agencies.

Track 1

This track is designed to support students who are suited to pursuing a career with a focus on both acting and dance based musicals. These could include West End shows (such as Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Wicked), National and International tours and Cruise Ships. Whilst this track will be weighted slightly more towards Musical Theatre subjects (such as Singing, Acting, Musical Theatre Repertoire and Acting Through Song), Dance disciplines will be a strong focus within performance modules. On this track students will be expected to reach a high level in all the disciplines of Singing, Acting and Dance.

Musical Theatre: Singing, Repertoire, Acting (including a Shakespeare module), Acting through Song (including a Sondheim module), Voice, Accent and Integrated PerformanceDance: Ballet, Technical Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Street, Gymnastics and Partner WorkContextual Studies: Production Skills and Performance ProjectGraduate Productions: Dance Production, Musical Presentation and Musical Theatre/ Dance Showcase

Track 2

This track is designed to support students who are suited to pursuing a career with a focus on dance based musicals, (which could include West End shows such as Legally Blonde, Thriller Live, West Side Story), National and International tours and Cruise Ships. This track will be focused on developing a professional standard within Singing and Dance, supported by a strong knowledge and understanding of the Acting techniques required to transfer these technical skills into performance. On this track students will be expected to reach a high level in the disciplines of Dance and Singing and demonstrate a competent ability to integrate their Acting skills across all assessments and performance.

Dance: Ballet, Technical Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Street, Gymnastics and Partner WorkMusical Theatre: Singing, Acting, Acting through Song, Voice, Accent and Integrated PerformanceContextual Studies: Production Skills and Performance Project

Graduate Productions: Dance Production, Musical Presentation and Musical Theatre/ Dance Showcase

Track 3

This track is designed to support those students who will predominantly follow acting and singing based careers which could include the West End, National and International tours, TV, Film and working with leading theatre companies such as the RSC. This course is heavily weighted towards Musical Theatre disciplines such as Singing, Acting for Stage, Acting for the Camera, Shakespeare, Repertoire and Acting through Song. Dance will be used as a supporting discipline to maintain strength and core stability, and to develop performance skills. This track has a strong emphasis towards performance in both Acting and Musical Theatre.

On this course students will be expected to reach an exceptional level in Singing and Acting modules although Dance based modules will also be taught and assessed throughout the course.

Musical Theatre: Singing, Acting, Shakespeare, Voice, Phonetics, Accent, Master Class with Industry Professionals, Acting Through Song, Sondheim, Repertoire, Integrated Performance, Audition Master Class and Acting for the CameraDance: Daily Body Conditioning, additional daily dance class of Ballet, Technical Jazz, Musical Theatre Jazz, Contemporary or TapContextual Studies: Production Skills and Performance Project

Graduate Productions: Actor/Musician Production or Play, Musical Theatre Showcase and Final Musical Presentation

Track 4

This track is designed for those students who will work predominantly within street, hip hop & commercial dance. These styles are expanding hugely within the industry and are quickly becoming the most influential styles of the decade. Urdang is always in tune with the ever changing demands of the industry. The intention of this track is to provide this industry with performers who have the expertise and versatility required to perform in the new genre of hip hop dance theatre, dance films, music videos, television, commercials and for artists in the music industry. Other potential career opportunities for these students would be joining dance companies, musicals (such as Thriller! Live, Flashdance and In the Heights) and touring productions.

Mentored by Kate Prince, founder of ZooNation Dance Company and advised by Flawless.

Dance: Street, Commercial, Technical Jazz, Hip Hop (to include styles such as Popping, Locking, Breaking, Waacking, Krump, Freestyle and Tutting), Tap, Contemporary and Ballet Supporting Subjects: Gymnastics and Body ConditioningMusical Theatre: Acting, Singing and VoiceContextual Studies: Choreography, Music Appreciation and Music Editing

Graduate Productions: Dance Production and Street, Hip Hop & Commercial Showcase