The Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Examinations provide a structured and progressive pathway for dancers to develop strong technical foundations alongside expressive performance skills.
Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Examinations
The programme is available from Entry Level and Preparatory Grades through to Advanced Grade 8, supporting dancers at every stage of their artistic and technical development.
The programme is available from Entry Level and Preparatory Grades through to Advanced Grade 8, supporting dancers at every stage of their artistic and technical development.
The syllabus combines the fluid, expressive qualities of lyrical dance with the grounded, dynamic movement vocabulary of contemporary dance, enabling candidates to develop versatility, creativity, and performance confidence.
The syllabus combines the fluid, expressive qualities of lyrical dance with the grounded, dynamic movement vocabulary of contemporary dance, enabling candidates to develop versatility, creativity, and performance confidence.
Programme Overview
Programme Overview
Lyrical and Contemporary dance are expressive dance forms that integrate technical control, emotional interpretation, musicality, and physical awareness. These styles encourage dancers to explore movement as a form of communication, using the body to express narrative, emotion, and artistic intention.
Lyrical and Contemporary dance are expressive dance forms that integrate technical control, emotional interpretation, musicality, and physical awareness. These styles encourage dancers to explore movement as a form of communication, using the body to express narrative, emotion, and artistic intention.
The Urdang International Awards programme focuses on developing:
The Urdang International Awards programme focuses on developing:
Technical control, alignment, and coordination
Musicality and phrasing
Expressive performance and emotional communication
Fluidity, dynamics, and movement quality
Spatial awareness and performance presence
Artistic interpretation and individuality
The syllabus provides a safe and progressive structure, ensuring candidates develop strength, flexibility, and technical competence alongside expressive performance skills.
The syllabus provides a safe and progressive structure, ensuring candidates develop strength, flexibility, and technical competence alongside expressive performance skills.
Aims of the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Programme
Aims of the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Programme
The programme aims to:
Promote an understanding of the key technical and expressive qualities required for lyrical and contemporary dance
Provide a safe and progressive training pathway for dancers to develop technical skill, artistic expression, and performance confidence
Encourage dancers to explore movement as a form of emotional and artistic communication
Develop strong technical foundations including alignment, balance, coordination, and controlled movement
Foster creativity, musicality, and individual artistic identity
Prepare candidates for progression into advanced training and performance opportunities
The programme aims to:
Promote an understanding of the key technical and expressive qualities required for lyrical and contemporary dance
Provide a safe and progressive training pathway for dancers to develop technical skill, artistic expression, and performance confidence
Encourage dancers to explore movement as a form of emotional and artistic communication
Develop strong technical foundations including alignment, balance, coordination, and controlled movement
Foster creativity, musicality, and individual artistic identity
Prepare candidates for progression into advanced training and performance opportunities
Objectives of the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Programme
Objectives of the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance Programme
The objectives are to enable candidates to:
Develop technical control, coordination, and movement quality
Demonstrate expressive interpretation and emotional engagement through movement
Perform with musical sensitivity and awareness of phrasing
Integrate technical and expressive skills in performance
Develop strength, flexibility, balance, and spatial awareness
Perform confidently both individually and within group settings
Demonstrate understanding of performance intention and artistic communication
The objectives are to enable candidates to:
Develop technical control, coordination, and movement quality
Demonstrate expressive interpretation and emotional engagement through movement
Perform with musical sensitivity and awareness of phrasing
Integrate technical and expressive skills in performance
Develop strength, flexibility, balance, and spatial awareness
Perform confidently both individually and within group settings
Demonstrate understanding of performance intention and artistic communication
Examination Structure
Examination Structure
Examinations are designed to assess both technical proficiency and performance ability, and may include the following components appropriate to the grade level:
Examinations are designed to assess both technical proficiency and performance ability, and may include the following components appropriate to the grade level:
Technical Set Studies
Technical Set Studies
Technical exercises are guided by Urdang International Awards and assess:
Alignment and posture
Transfer of weight
Port de bras
Turns and pirouettes
Elevation and travelling
Floor and standing integration (higher grades)
These studies ensure consistency of technical standards across all examination centres.
Technical exercises are guided by Urdang International Awards and assess:
Alignment and posture
Transfer of weight
Port de bras
Turns and pirouettes
Elevation and travelling
Floor and standing integration (higher grades)
These studies ensure consistency of technical standards across all examination centres.
Performance Routines
Performance Routines
Candidates perform teacher-set routines in:
Lyrical Dance
Contemporary Dance
These routines allow candidates to demonstrate:
Artistic interpretation
Musicality and expressive communication
Performance confidence and presence
Stylistic understanding
Teacher-set routines encourage creativity while allowing candidates to apply their technical training within a performance context.
Candidates perform teacher-set routines in:
Lyrical Dance
Contemporary Dance
These routines allow candidates to demonstrate:
Artistic interpretation
Musicality and expressive communication
Performance confidence and presence
Stylistic understanding
Teacher-set routines encourage creativity while allowing candidates to apply their technical training within a performance context.
Progression Through Grades
Progression Through Grades
The graded structure provides a clear and supportive progression pathway:
Entry and Preparatory Levels
Introduction to movement and musical awareness
Development of coordination and confidence
Exploration of expressive movement
Foundation and Intermediate Levels (Grades 1–5)
Development of technical control and coordination
Introduction of more complex movement patterns
Increased focus on expressive interpretation and performance quality
Advanced Levels (Grades 6–8)
Advanced technical control and integration
Sophisticated expressive and artistic performance
Strong performance presence and technical maturity
Preparation for advanced training and performance opportunities
The graded structure provides a clear and supportive progression pathway:
Entry and Preparatory Levels
Introduction to movement and musical awareness
Development of coordination and confidence
Exploration of expressive movement
Foundation and Intermediate Levels (Grades 1–5)
Development of technical control and coordination
Introduction of more complex movement patterns
Increased focus on expressive interpretation and performance quality
Advanced Levels (Grades 6–8)
Advanced technical control and integration
Sophisticated expressive and artistic performance
Strong performance presence and technical maturity
Preparation for advanced training and performance opportunities
Skills Developed Through the Programme
Skills Developed Through the Programme
Through participation in the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations, candidates develop:
Technical dance skills and movement control
Musicality and expressive performance ability
Confidence and stage presence
Physical strength, flexibility, and coordination
Artistic interpretation and creative expression
Discipline and professional performance awareness
These skills support progression into:
Advanced dance training
Specialist Skills and Diploma qualifications
Vocational performing arts education
Professional performance pathways
Through participation in the Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations, candidates develop:
Technical dance skills and movement control
Musicality and expressive performance ability
Confidence and stage presence
Physical strength, flexibility, and coordination
Artistic interpretation and creative expression
Discipline and professional performance awareness
These skills support progression into:
Advanced dance training
Specialist Skills and Diploma qualifications
Vocational performing arts education
Professional performance pathways
Examination Formats and Availability
Examination Formats and Availability
Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations are available:
From Entry Level and Preparatory Grades through to Grade 8
For dance schools, performing arts schools, educational institutions, and private candidates
The flexible structure allows centres to support both individual dancers and ensemble training.
Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations are available:
From Entry Level and Preparatory Grades through to Grade 8
For dance schools, performing arts schools, educational institutions, and private candidates
The flexible structure allows centres to support both individual dancers and ensemble training.
Centre and School Registration
Centre and School Registration
If you are interested in offering the Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations at your school, college, or dance organisation, please contact us
If you are interested in offering the Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance examinations at your school, college, or dance organisation, please contact us
Our team will be pleased to support you in introducing the Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary syllabus and integrating it into your training programme.
Our team will be pleased to support you in introducing the Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary syllabus and integrating it into your training programme.
The Urdang International Awards Lyrical and Contemporary Dance syllabus provides a progressive and supportive pathway for developing technically skilled, expressive, and confident dancers prepared for further training and performance opportunities.
Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs and find the right pathway for you
Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs and find the right pathway for you
Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs and find the right pathway for you
Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs and find the right pathway for you
