Recent Student Employment

Life after graduation continues to be positive for Urdang’s students, gaining good employment in the West End and beyond. 95% of graduates in 2010 gained professional employment within the industry within six months. 2011 graduates have already gained Lead, Dance Captain and supporting roles in West End and UK touring musicals, see more details below. Many are currently performing in the West End, No. 1 Tours around the UK and internationally, as well as on TV in leading shows such as the X-Factor and So You Think You Can Dance.

Our students continue to gain outstanding employment in the West End and beyond. We are proud and delighted of their successes. Here’s what some of our ex-students are up to:

2011 Graduates have gained these jobs within six months of graduation:

Ghost West End, Kirstie Skivington, Top Hat UK Tour/West End, Hannah Cauchi, Jeremy Batt, Legally Blonde UK Tour – Pilar – Micha Richardson, Gabby/Stenographer – Katie-Marie Hicks, Judge/Sales Manager – Lori Barker Avenue Q UK Tour – Christmas Eve – Rina Takasaki, Starlight Express Germany – Garry Lee Netley, Thriller! Live West End/UK Tour/World Tour – cover Michael Jackson – Janiere Williams, Sammi Grover – Dance Captain, Sammi Lee Jayne, Claudimar Neto, Israel Donowa, Anna Nicole: The Opera, Leanne Blossom, Hair European Tour – cover Burger – Jamal Zulfiqar, Cassandra Lee, Daniel Bailey, High School Mania UK Tour, Daniel Gilvargas, Blues Brothers Italy – Daniel Bailey, Godspell, Union Theatre, Jeffrey – Jeremy Batt, Beth Ditto World Festival Tour – Dancers – Garry Lee Netley, Kieram Mitchell, Claudimar Neto Spirit Productions – Jamal Zulfiqar, Hannah Cauchi, Nicholas Crowley, Abigail Goodchild, Ragtime Fringe London, Aston New, Ultimate Broadway in Shanghai – Featured Ensemble – Joelle Dyson, Sugababes ‘Freedom’ Video – Dapo Coker. 4 in pantomime 8 dancers and vocalists for top cruise lines, 4 for X factor 2011 and many other pop videos including Flawless – Simon Smith, Alan Kabeja – UK Tour, Streetdance 3D

Other graduates from previous years have gone onto:

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt – Alex – Flashdance West End, Rizzo – Grease West End, Oh What a Night!, Mamma Mia!, Fame, West Side Story, Maria/1st Cover Susan -Desperately Seeking Susan. David Page – Fred Casely/Understudy Billy Flynn – Chicago, Footloose, Summer Holiday, Kiss Me Kate, A Chorus Line, Saturday Night Fever, Currently Pippin at The Chocolate Factory. Leanne Pinder – Dance Captain – Matilda, Dance Captain – We Will Rock You, Linda/Patti – Saturday Night Fever Tour, Grease Tour, Matt Henry – Gary Coleman Avenue Q UK Tour, cover Gary West End, Ivan in The Harder They Come UK Tour, Simba in The Lion King West End and Sammy Davis Junior, The Ratpack, West End, Hair West End and Saturday Night Fever Tour, Miss Saigon Tommy Franzen – Some Like it Hip Hop, Blaze, Choreographer for Cher Lloyd Videos and Performances, So You Think You Can Dance runner up. Holly James. Dean Lee – Choreography credits include assisting Brian Friedman for X-Factor Live Shows and UK Tour, So You Think You Can Dance for Poland and UK, Here Come The Girls Tour, Take That Circus Tour 2009, Beth Ditto World Tour 2011. James Collins – winner of Dirty Dancing- Time of Your Life, Dancer for Janet Jackson tour and American Idol 2009, XFactor UK, and Laga Gaga video ‘Alejandro’.

And it goes on:

So You Think You Can Dance finalists 2011- Charlotte Scally, Israel Donowa, We Will Rock You West End – cover Scaramouche – Kayleigh Stephenson, Dance Captain- Leanne Pinder, Richard Jackson, Sarah-Louise Warden, Trina Hill, Richard Jackson, Oliver West End – Bet – Victoria Charlwood, Lion King West End – Dance Captain – Aaron Morgan, Aisha Jawando, Craig Williams, Desmond Harris, Nicolas Norman, Aisha Pryce, Rocky Horror Show UK Tour – Eddie/Doctor Scott- Nathan Amzi, Phantom- Marc Leslie, Thriller! Live UK Tour and Tours, Sean Williams, David Olaniyi, Laurie Delaney, Aaron Witter, Yasmin Yazdi (Dance Captain), Dean Lee (Dance Captain), Grease UK Tour/West End, Jake-Matt Jeans, Danielle Crockford, Patty – Suzanna Allman, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK Tour, Danielle Crockford, South Pacific UK Tour – Ensemble – Nyron Levy, Fela! West End – Ensemble – Aisha Jawondo, Nyron Levy, Wicked West End, Saori Oda, The King & I West End, Saori Oda, Azumi Uno, Jersey Boys West End – Swing- Trina Hill, Priscilla Queen of the Desert West End, John Phoenix, Spamalot West End – Seth Bailey, Rock of Ages West End – Mayor/Paul Gill – Nathan Amzi, Hair European Tour – Kayleigh Stephenson, Joseph UK Tour – Narrator- Trina Hill, Hairspray West End- Seaweed- Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Peaches – Holly James, Hairspray UK Tour – Little Inez – Seliza Sebastian, Mary Poppins UK Tour – Ensemble – Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton, Into The Hoods West End – DJ Spinderella – Sarah Richards, Swing – Kieron Providence, Ensemble- Kendra Horsburgh, Dreamboats and Petticoats West End/UK Tour- cover Daisy/Laura- Sophie Byrne, Lorna Sullivan, Mamma Mia! West End – Ensemble – Ben Jennings, Marc Leslie, Flashdance West End – Ivan Blackstock, La Cage aux Folles West End, Dane Quixall, Daddy Cool West End, Kerissa Samuel, Never Forget UK Tour – Ensemle – David Olaniyi, Miss Saigon UK Tour – Ensemble – Nathan Amzii, Guys and Dolls UK Tour – Mimi- Sophie Byrne, Our House UK Tour- Ensemble – Tamsin Laverick, The Ratpack UK and World Tour – Sammy Davis Jr. – Darren Charles, Scrooge UK Tour – Helen/Isabel – Leonie Heath, Hair European Tour – Ensemble – Stephen Sinclaire, Yasmin Yazdi, On the Town France – Ensemble- Kyle Millanaise, Wizard of Oz Royal Festival Hall – Ensemble- Kyle Millanaise, Saori Oda, Shoes West End, Holly James, We Will Rock You Germany, Lucy Glover, Karina Rapley, Cats Germany, Dane Quixall, Starlight Express Germany, Melanie Fawcett, Jean Claude Pelier, Chicago Sweden – Ensemble – Joel Brekke, Robert Bengston (Billy Flynn), Jesus Christ Superstar Spain, Alberto Escobar, Guildford Shakespeare Company, Leonie Heath, Britain’s Got Talent, Jimmy Essex, Sarah Richards, Flawless, Beijing Olympics Ceremony – Simon Smith, Tommy Franzen, Beyonce resident dancer, Aaron Witter, Kelly Rowland Dancer – Aaron Witter, X-Factor Dancers – Alex Jackson, Dean Lee, Whitney Houston- Kieron Providence, Israel Donowa, Cherelle O’Donnell, Yasmin Crotch, Leanne Hodgson, Holly Cooper, Jimmy Essex , Boy Blue Entertainment – Sammi Lee Jayne, Janiere Williams, Kendra Horsburgh, Pet Shop Boys World Tour – Sean Williams, Ivan Blackstock Simeon Qsyea – choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance 2010, and resident choreographer for JLS.

West End & International Tours

Victoria Hamilton-Barritt (2001) recently finished playing the leading role of Alex in Flashdance, the Musical, West End. Victoria has also played Rizzo in Grease, West End after many West End and Touring leading roles including Flashdance Tour 2009.

David Page, currently performing in Chicago, West End.

Aisha Jawando (2010) just ended performing in the production of Fela! at the National Theatre and is soon to join the cast of Lion King, West End.

Holly James Currently performing in the musical Shoes at Sadlers Wells, having also played Peaches in Hairspray, West End and more recently Hair, West End with a short run on Broadway.

Saori Oda (2008), currently in Wicked West End after Wizard of Oz at The Royal Festival Hall and The King and I, The Royal Albert Hall.

Leanne Blosson (2011) joins the ensemble of Anna Nicole at The Royal Opera House this Spring.

Matt Henry (2002) is currently playing Gary Coleman, Avenue Q UK Tour. Having played Ivan in ‘The Harder They Come‘ UK Tour. Prior to this he played Ivan in ‘The Harder They Come’ UK Tour, Simba in ‘The Lion King’ West End and Sammy Davis Junior, The Ratpack, West End and appeared in ‘Hair’, West End and Saturday Night Fever Tour.

Nyron Levy (graduate 2010) joins the production of Fela! at the National Theatre in September.

Trina Hill (2009), currently Jersey Boys, West End after narrator in Joseph, UK Tour.

David Olaniyi (2009) joins Thriller, West End, along with Sean Williams (2008).

Victoria Charwood (2009) plays Bess in Oliver, West End

Suzanna Allman (2007) plays Patty in Grease, West End

Kayleigh Stephenson (2009), We Will Rock You, West End understudy to Scaramouche.

Tommy Franzen (2003) runner up of ‘So You Think You Can Dance 2010, BBC ‘ and is now rehearsing for ‘Blaze‘ at Sadlers Wells.

Dean Lee (2007), Dance Captain and Swing, Thriller, West End after appearing and assisting Brian Freedman for  X-Factor‘ (TV & UK Tour) including Janet Jackson. So You Think You can Dance, Poland and UK, Assistant choreographer for ‘Here Come The Girls Tour‘ featuring, Anastacia, Lulu and Chaka Khan. More recently Take That Circus Tour 2009.

James Collins (2009), the winner of ‘Dirty Dancing Time of Your Life’ . Brian Freedman assistant USA Tour. Currently dancer Janet Jackson Tour and American Idol 2009. James also danced for the TV series of ‘X Factor’ 2008, 2009 and 2010 and has a featured part in Lady Gaga’s new video Alejandro.

Alan Kajeba (2011) and Simon Smith (2009), Flawless members (finalists of Britain’s Got Talent 2009), Street Dance 3D movie and currently on their UK Tour.

Simeon Qsyea (2005), Choreographer of ‘So You Think You Can Dance 2010’ and resident choreographer for ‘JLS’.

Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton 2008) is joining the world tour of Riverdance.  Rohan played Seaweed in Hairspray, West End after being part of the Mary Poppins, UK Tour.

Darren Charles (2008) plays Sammy Davis Junior, The Ratpack – World Tour and West End

Kieron Providence (2008) playing one of the ugly sisters in Into The Hoods, West End.

Kendra Horsburgh (2008) will be performing in Into the Hoods, Royal Festival Hall (summer 2010)

Laura Delaney (2008), Thriller, West End

Sean Williams (2008) ensemble and understudy to Michael in ‘Thriller’, West End. Now dancing with the Pet Shop Boys World Tour

John Fenix (graduate 2007) ensemble and swing in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, West End.

Leanne Pinder (graduate 2005), dance captain, We Will Rock You, West End

Sophie Bryne (graduate 2005), plays Daisy/Brenda in Dreamboats and Petticoats, West End


“I am so grateful to have trained at the Urdang academy, it truly has helped me to go on to have a very successful career in the arts, doing leads in many hit West End shows such as Lion King, Saturday Night Fever, Miss Saigon, Hair, Avenue Q and performing Shakespeare at The Globe theatre.” Matthew Henry (2010)

“When I heard I had won a place at the Urdang Academy I was over the moon and filled with such delight! I truly feel that it is because of them and many others that I am where I am now after just completing my first show Fela! at the National Theatre and now going onto Lion King, West End as my second.” Aisha Jawando, (2010)

Ben Jennings (graduate 2004), ensemble, Mamma Mia, West End

Dane Quixall (graduate 2005), ensemble, La Cage Aux Folles, West End

Richard Jackson (graduate 2007), ensemble, We Will Rock You, West End

Marc Leslie, plays Phantom in Rocky Horror Show, UK Tour, recently Mamma Mia, West End

Sarah-Louise Warden, ensemble, We Will Rock You, West End

Aaron Morgan (graduate 2005) dance captain, The Lion King, West End

Sarah Richards (graduate 2005), lead role, Into the Hoods, West End

Craig Williams (graduate 2005), The Lion King, West End

Seth Bailey (graduate 2005) has finished his run with Spamalot, West End

Danielle Crockford (graduate 2004) ensemble in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang UK Tour, Grease, West End

Seliza Sebastian (2008) plays Inez in the forthcoming 1st UK Tour of Hairspray

Melanie Fawcett (2008), Starlight Express, Germany

Lorna Sulivan (2008) Dreamboats and Petticoats UK Tour

Aaron Witter (2009) ensemble, Thriller The Musical, World Tour

Nathan Amzi plays Eddie/Dr Scott in Rocky Horror Show, UK Tour

Tamsin Laverick (2008), Our House, UK Tour

Stephan Sinclaire (2008), Hair, Germany

Kyle Millanaise (2008) “Wizard of Oz”, Royal Festival Hall and “On The Town”, France

Lucy Glover (2006) We Will Rock You, Germany

Karina Rapley (2005), We Will Rock You, Germany

Joel Brekke (2004) Chicago, Sweden

Alberto Escobar (2007), Jesus Christ Superstar, Spain

Jimmy Essex (2009) and Sarah Richards (2005) were dancing in Britain’s Got Talent 2010.

Simon Smith (2009) Closing Ceremony, ‘Beijing Olympics‘, Dancer for George Samson promo video and ‘The Royal Variety Show 2008.’ Member of the renowned Britain’s Got Talent finalist dance group ‘Flawless‘.

Nadya Persaud and Seliza Sebastian featured dancers in Paolo Natini’s recent video, Pencil Full of Lead

Kieron Providence and Israel Donowa, Whitney Houston, X factor

Sade Edwards (2009) Royal Variety Show and other appearances dancing for Alexandra Burke

Yasmin Yazdi (graduate 2002), Dance Captain, Thriller, European Tour and Dancer for West End

Ivan Blackstock,  ensemble of Flashdance, the Musical, West End.