About Us

Welcome to The Dang. This is an exciting new venture for Solange Urdang and a team of exceptional individuals with an abundance of experience across dance, theatre and performing arts education.

Following in her mother, Leonie’s footsteps, Solange Urdang has dedicated most of her adult life to The Urdang Academy in the pursuit of bringing musical theatre and dance training to young talented students no matter their economic socio background, their shape, size, or the colour of their skin.

This passionate mission has been extremely successful and thousands of Urdang graduates have found their way to leading roles in West End, Broadway, Number One Tours, TV, Film and Cruise line shows with many more who have gone on to teach the next wave of eager students. After running a highly successful and renowned Performing Arts Academy (Urdang Ltd) for the last 30 years Solange has decided to start a new Arts and Education Company which she is naming “THE DANG COLLECTIVE LTD”. Solange has assembled one of the most talented arts educational teams in the industry, which will ensure that the growth of the new company is both innovative, progressive and prolific.

A COLLECTIVE

 

The Dang is a collective which encompasses several divisions, with many formerly a part of Urdang Academy. These divisions are focussed on pre-vocational and professional training in dance and musical theatre. The Dang will provide opportunities for performers and creatives across the world to inspire and educate one another and drive true inclusivity and diversity in these industries.

OUR DIVISIONS

Officially launching on 1st August 2022, The Dang will include the following:

MEET THE TEAM

Solange Urdang

Solange Urdang

CEO and Founder

Biography

Solange trained at the Urdang Academy Lower and Upper Schools and The High School of Performing Arts in New York. She enjoyed a successful career in dance, theatre and music before going on to study art.

Becoming CEO of the Urdang Academy in 2001, Solange has made it into one of the UK’s most prolific vocational colleges. She implemented the move to The Old Finsbury Town Hall in Islington from Covent Garden, the expansion into the Urdang 2 premises, and the recent acquisition with City, University of London.

Solange has spent her career pushing boundaries, building cultural bridges and sits on various panels promoting and developing diversity in the performing arts. She is co-founder and co-director of The Black British Theatre Awards, The Black Theatre & Film Directory, founder of Link Artists Agency and patron of several organisations.

Dr Nathan James PhD MA

Dr Nathan James PhD MA

Managing Director

Biography

Nathan comes from the Midlands and has had a career that has encompassed performing, teaching, choreographing, examining, and adjudicating.  As a specialist in tap and musical theatre dance Nathan taught at Urdang Academy for 12 years and was the Director HE Programmes.

In his role as Managing Director for the Dang he oversees the development of the syllabus and the running of the academy.  In addition, he is an adjudicator for BIFF, a trustee for All England Dance, and an ISTD Examiner.  He was awarded a MA from Middlesex and a PhD from Roehampton Universities.

DIRECTORS

Sam Francis

Sam Francis

Omar Okai

Omar Okai

Richard Pope

Richard Pope

The Dang Academy

Ami Henderson
Ami Henderson

Course Leader

Claudimar Neto

Claudimar Neto

Industry Advisor

Crystal Nicholls

Crystal Nicholls

CTNC - Pastoral Care Manager

Operations

Karen Farrell

Karen Farrell

Director of Operations & Executive PA

Georgina Alexiou

Georgina Alexiou

Theatre and Dance Syllabus Administration Manager

Sumara Goumain-Thorpe

Sumara Goumain-Thorpe

Marketing & Communications Assistant

Katie Hart

Katie Hart

Financial Controller

Facilities

Natasha Lay

Natasha Lay

General Manager

Tamzin Cook

Tamzin Cook

Receptionist / Coordinator

Ebby Gallant

Ebby Gallant

Caretaker

Sammi Swinton

Sammi Swinton

Receptionist