SOLANGE URDANG has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year 2024 Honours List for services to Dance and Musical Theatre.
Solange is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Dang Studios in London and Co-Founder/Director, of the Black British Theatre Awards. Until recently, Chief Executive Officer of Urdang Academy. She will be invited to attend an Investiture later in the year to receive her award.
Born into theatre and activism, Solange is best known as a pioneer in diversifying performing arts training in the UK, supporting grassroots projects and providing outstanding performers to theatre and film productions worldwide, as well as being an influential figure within the theatre industry.
Solange Urdang says: ‘I’m touched to receive this honour in recognition of my work. The Theatre sector is fragile at this time, as are the training institutes that strive for excellence. I can sincerely say my passion for making a change in Dance and Musical Theatre is relentless. I hope this acknowledgement will help open conversations to redress the lack of representation in this globally recognised and resilient industry I am proud to be part of.’
Her late mother, Leonie Urdang, emigrated from South Africa to the UK in the 1960s. From her abhorrence of apartheid and her passionate love for dance, came a deep commitment to breaking down the cultural and racial barriers which permeated the dance world at the time. In 1978 she established the Urdang Academy in Covent Garden which by the time of her death in 2001 was a highly regarded institution. Building on her mother’s vision and harking back to her training at The School of Performing Arts in New York, Solange transformed the 90-student academy with its focus on ballet and modern dance into a thriving all-encompassing 500-student school for the performing arts.
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Solange’s education was steeped in the performing arts from an early age. Covent Garden was her playground, theatres her hiding spots, shows her pastime and meeting internationally renowned performers was the norm. She studied at The Urdang Academy from the age of nine to eighteen, after which she embarked on a career in contemporary dance, commercial dance and as a recording artist.
In 2006, she oversaw the move to The Old Finsbury Town Hall in Islington from Covent Garden as well as co-writing the new Degree course. In 2011, her Academy was graded ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, referencing her as being an inspirational leader.
Before COVID-19, Solange raised between £350,000 to £500,000 a year for student scholarships as well as discretionary maintenance bursaries to provide, where necessary, financial aid to her students. By 2015 when the academy had outgrown its current premises she oversaw the opening of a second site while at the same time launching Urdang International. The Urdang was absorbed by the City University of London in 2022.
Solange recognises how important it is for younger performers to get the opportunities to train at top vocational conservatoires, In 2021 she launched The Dang Theatre and Dance Syllabus to support teachers and nurture young talent from all demographics globally.
In 2018, she co-founded The Black British Theatre Awards CIC to highlight black excellence in UK theatre and inspire the next generation of theatre professionals. The BBTAs has recently celebrated its 5th Ceremony at The National Theatre. Attached to the Awards, she champions The Black British Theatre Academy and Engagement Programme and the Black Theatre and Film Directory. –
Solange is also a founder of Link Artists Agency, The Global Performing Arts Alliance, patron of many dance schools and most recently became a trustee of Education Africa.
