Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER Published: 07 November 2008
Arts school gets a big cash boost
URDANG Performing Arts Academy, based in the old Finsbury town hall, has been awarded one of the largest public grants for access to training ever received by a school. The vocational dance and theatre school received £135,000 from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)to continue its ground-breaking ADAPT project.
ADAPT, which stands for Accessing Dance And Performance Training, aims to recruit young people from under-represented groups including those from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds as well as those with disabilities.
Funding has been received to enable these students to attend top performing arts colleges and go on to a successful career in the entertainment industry.
As part of the “Widening Participation Programme,” it will include part-time workshops, classes, teacher training and audition techniques to identify, encourage and develop the potential talents of young people who might have a future in the world of dance and musical theatre. There may also be an opportunity to take part in Urdang’s prestigious summer school in 2009.
The college has joined forces with Candoco Dance Company, the world’s leading dance company for disabled and non-disabled dance, to deliver the project.
Urdang managing director Solange Goumain said: “The staff and I are proud to be able to prepare these talented students to achieve the professional training they deserve and give them this unique opportunity to succeed in the performing arts industry. “The ethos behind making vocational training accessible has always been at the heart of Urdang’s mission and through working with CandoCo on the ADAPT project and with help of funding from the LSC this can be achieved.”
For more information email: adapt@theurdangacademy.com or ring the school on 020 7713 7710.