Helene Odner

What motivated you to pursue a degree in Dance & Musical Theatre?

I always wanted to go to university, I was just never really sure what to pursue. It wasn't until I was 20, that I knew what I wanted, and how I would get there. I had thought of different degrees or subjects and did my research, but nothing felt right for me. I was exposed to musical theatre at 19 and decided to train in performing arts at 20. I loved the way I was able to express myself in front of a live audience. It gave me a lot of joy, and I gained so much confidence I had never experienced before. I saw that I was capable of improving myself, and I finally found a hobby that turned into something I could do as a profession. With this goal in mind, I knew that a degree in Dance & Musical Theatre would be the best to develop my career.

What subjects did you study before applying to Urdang?

Before Urdang, I did a 2-year musical theatre degree in Oslo, my hometown. I really fell in love with musical theatre there, and figured it was something I wanted to pursue further. My classes mostly consisted of singing, ensemble work and acting. We also had some weekly jazz technique classes to support our training. This was my first proper introduction to the world of musical theatre. However, I didn't feel that two years was enough! I also wanted to study abroad. The UK seemed to be the most logical decision - it was close, convenient, and offered a wide range of possibilities for training within performing arts.

I originally applied to a university located in a small town in South England, and I went to study there for a year. At this university, I did an equal amount of dance, singing, and acting. As I didn't have that much dance experience from my previous course in Norway, the new school gave me the push I needed in my dance training to excel as a versatile artist. I was able to explore ballet, tap and other styles of dance I had never been exposed to before.

But I missed city life. So, London was an obvious choice. Here I could access the West End theatres in no time, I could do dance classes in the evening, and explore the city. I also realised that the course at my previous university wasn't the perfect fit for me after all. I wanted to study at a place where I could explore my singing and acting potential in greater detail, and this is the reason why I fell in love with Urdang. Urdang offers 3 different tracks, where singing/acting is one of them. Thankfully, I managed to secure an audition last minute and got in! I was very lucky to be able to transfer directly into 2nd year here at Urdang, and I couldn't have made a better decision.

Did you encounter any challenges coming to the UK as an international student? If so, how did you overcome them?

After Brexit, coming to the UK wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I suddenly had to get a visa and do several checks to be able to study here, while all my friends who came to the UK before Brexit didn't have to do any of it or pay as much as I did for the right to study. Although it all felt like a daunting, long and expensive process, I am now finally able to enjoy what my course and this country has to offer.

Being able to study at Urdang has been very rewarding, and studying abroad has really improved me as a person and let me gain independence. Although it has been a challenge coming in as an international student, I have gotten so much out of the course already, and like to look at it in a positive light - embracing the fact that I get to study my dream course.

How are you finding studying in the UK?

I absolutely love London! There is so much to do here, you are really in the heart of everything. With musical theatre, you have so many possibilities just around the corner, and it is really inspiring and motivating, especially while coming from a country where performing arts isn't as big as here.

As a transfer student, I have now lived in two places in the UK. I thought it was really hard being an international student in a small town. I was the only student in my year who didn't speak English as a native language. I struggled with the language and social norms – it was a bit of a culture shock. In this regard living in London is easier – this city is very international, and I can meet up with people from my country outside of university. I have even met several people from Norway at City St George's too, though studying other degrees. Knowing that I'm not entirely alone is such a relief, but at the same time, I can explore local culture. It is truly an amazing balance between the two.

What has been your favourite module or aspect of your course so far?

My favourite module so far must be the jazz classes this term. I feel like I am pushing myself, and it is always a good feeling knowing you've done your very best. Our teacher is super motivating and makes us work really hard in her classes. As a singer/actor it's very easy to fall into the "I'm not a dancer" mindset, but she is pushing us to look beyond that because we can all dance well! Everyone has improved in her classes this term and it is just amazing to watch.

Another favourite of mine is the acting through song classes. They are so fun, and I love how the teachers focus on the "acting" rather than the singing in these classes. We play around so much, and you can really see the improvement in everyone.

What advice would you give someone considering doing a degree in music theatre or a similar field?

Musical theatre is super fun! It is a challenging, but interesting and amazing industry to explore and go into. When choosing where to apply for a course like this, my advice would be to go to as many Open Days as you can, do auditions, read interviews from students, and know what you are looking for as a performer.

Each school has something special to offer, and for me Urdang was perfect. Previously, I had made the mistake of applying to a university I didn't know much about, I also didn't go to an open day to see if the course was actually right for me. When I first arrived there, I knew I would rather stay in a big city, and although the course was good, it didn't fit my needs. Thankfully I was able to transfer to Urdang, and I am really thriving here. However, I would advise to research as much as possible, so you can the perfect school and course for you.