It started off as a way of getting kids off the streets – now they’re heading for one of the biggest stages in the world
In a village too often defined by stereotypes, a burst of rhythm is starting to change perceptions. Caerau in Bridgend borough may have made headlines as one of Wales’ most deprived communities but inside the doors of UDC Dance the story is entirely different.
Led by Tracey Newman, the school’s dancers are proving that talent and determination can thrive anywhere – even across the Atlantic. “Caerau is just known for crime, violence – it is such a deprived area,” Tracey told WalesOnline. “But I always say the kids at UDC put Caerau on the map for the right reasons.”
That belief was brought into sharp focus earlier this year when the group took a chance on entering the National Entertainment Awards – after initially dismissing it as a scam. “They’d messaged me a couple of years in a row and I genuinely didn’t believe it,” Tracey laughed. “But then I saw other dance schools we know had been involved and I thought: ‘If this comes up again we’re going for it.’”
What followed exceeded all expectations. UDC won best newcomer, progressed through to perform at the O2 in London after a golden buzzer, and then came the biggest surprise of all.
“They said, ‘Your journey doesn’t stop here…you’re going to New York,’” Tracey recalled. “We were screaming, the kids were crying, parents were crying – it was incredible.
“We have proud moments at every competition, just watching them dance is enough. Then when they win, that’s another level. But to see these kids get the chance to dance on Broadway… there will be nothing like it. I’ve been teaching for around 26 years now and this is the biggest thing we’ve ever experienced.”
To understand the scale of such an achievement you have to go back to 2009. UDC grew from Tracey’s original school, Noddfa Dance, which she ran alone for ten years. “Towards the end I was going through a difficult period. My father passed away and I couldn’t fully commit to running the school on my own anymore,” she said.
At that point Karl, one of her students, stepped up and opened UDC, allowing the dancers to stay together and continue their training. “I was still involved, and within a few weeks I was back coaching, but it wasn’t all on me anymore. It was shared between me and Karl. Over the years we worked together to build something really special. The kids have always been brilliant.”
After the pandemic Karl stepped back but Tracey continued. “Dance is part of who I am. I’ll never be done,” she said. Now the school is led by Tracey, Shannel Mort, and Finley Quinn, with older dancers beginning to take on coaching roles themselves.
It has since grown into a close-knit community. “We’ve got about 120 dancers on our books at the moment, ranging from two years old up to adults,” Tracey said. “I think the oldest is in their late 50s or 60 now. We’ve got a wide variety of ages and they just love it.”
Although the school is based in Caerau the dancers are reshaping perceptions of the area. “I always say these kids put Caerau on the map for the right reasons,” she said. “They are just incredible.”
The school’s reputation has spread far beyond the village. Dancers travel in from Maesteg, Garth, and further along the valleys into Port Talbot and Cymmer. Some come from even further afield, with one student making the journey from Llanharan.
For Tracey, who grew up in Caerau, creating UDC was always about more than choreography – it was about offering young people an alternative.
“It was massive,” she said. “When I was a teenager I didn’t start dancing until I was 14. Before that I was just hanging about on the streets – not causing trouble, but doing nothing with my time. Dance got me off the streets and on the right path. I thought if I could get more kids into this it could make a real difference.”
Parents of children going to the classes said they began noticing real changes in their children, from increased confidence to stronger friendships. “Some children came in painfully shy and they wouldn’t even speak to us,” Tracey said. “But as soon as they started dancing, everything changed.
“They came out of themselves, made friends, and discovered a side of themselves they didn’t know was there. They went from avoiding us to running to us and telling us about their day in school. It’s been a lovely thing to see.”
For Tracey those changes are what matter most. “They’re off the streets, they’ve got a hobby, they’re not just sat behind a screen. They’re living a healthy lifestyle, making friends, building confidence, and learning teamwork and structure. It’s so much more than just dance.”
UDC is rooted in street dance, though Tracey explained they occasionally branch out. “When I was younger my mainstream was more disco, so we do a little bit of that now and again. But mainly we’re street. And street is like an umbrella, under it you’ve got whacking, voguing, hip hop, light feet, lock, house… all these different styles.”
The school runs open classes on Mondays for all ages and team classes on Wednesdays. “The dancers do team auditions once a year and that’s their team for the season. Seasons run like school terms, from September through to the following August,” she said.
Extra sessions are added when needed – particularly in the lead-up to competitions. “For the British Championships we were in the studio more or less every day; after work, before work, weekends, we’re just there on the clock. And it’s all voluntary – we do this because we want to do it.”
All of the people behind the scenes at UDC have full-time jobs. “We all work full-time in other jobs,” Tracey said. “I’m in support care, working with adults with learning difficulties. Finley works in McDonald’s, Shannel in a nursery… It feels like we have two full-time jobs. But dance is a hobby, a passion. We love it so we make it work.”
Parents have also shown the same level of dedication despite financial challenges. “As I’ve said, where we are from is very deprived and some parents can’t afford to take their children to national championships,” Tracey said.
“Some parents have three children in the school. Tickets for the British Championships are £105, kit T-shirts are £20 each, plus travel costs. We fundraise as much as we can to make sure the children can compete for Wales.”
The effort has been extraordinary. “We recently raised £20,000 within four months,” she said. “We’ve done fundraising nights for the children, sponsored walks at Pen y Fan, and events for adults like a Mr and Mrs Valentine’s night. Parents organise their own raffles too, including Christmas hampers – it’s all the little things that add up.”
That same community spirit is now driving the next challenge – getting as many dancers as possible to New York. The school is set to perform on Broadway in June 2028 with 95 dancers currently planning to go.
“For some of the kids and even for myself it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tracey said. “It’s every dancer’s dream to dance on Broadway. You see it in films and big shows – it’s the place to be. Some of the little ones don’t fully understand, but even they’re saying, ‘New York – I’ve seen that on TV.’ It’s really special.
“I was upfront and said I know it’s expensive and it’s optional – you don’t have to go. But the response has been incredible. A lot of parents are saving up and turning it into a family holiday. They’re thinking, ‘They’re going to Broadway, let’s make the most of it.’
“We’ll be there for four days but many want to stay longer and see everything they can. You never hear of it – coming from such a small area and getting the chance to go to New York, even for one dance performance. It’s just amazing. We can’t wait.”
While Broadway is still over two years away UDC shows no signs of slowing down, maintaining a jam-packed schedule. Their most recent competition, the British Championships, saw them walk away with 16 titles including four first place finishes.
“It was insane,” Tracey added. “I’ve never seen standards like this in my life… every team that came on, I kept thinking, ‘Oh my god, the talent is incredible.’
“But when our names were being called in first place positions? My god, the kids were crying, we were crying, everyone was crying. It was just unbelievable. Hopefully 2026 will continue to be our year.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login