Performing Arts Courses & Classes in London and Online
City Lit offers performing arts courses in the heart of Covent Garden in Central London during the evening, daytime and at weekends. Explore our range of subjects including acting, (including accredited acting courses), dance, radio and screen, and voice, speech and communication as well as a full range of music courses, such as piano, singing, strings and wind instruments to jazz and pop, music technology, music theory and history
Our courses are labelled clearly for beginners or those with previous experience and you can speak to a specialist advisor to help you choose the right level. If you would you like some help or advice:
For music courses email music@citylit.ac.uk. You can also view our music auditions and advice page.
For drama, dance and speech courses email drama@citylit.ac.uk
- Piano/keyboards: revision for levels 1 and 2Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ana Claudia MagalhaesStudy pieces from the current Grade 2 piano syllabus. Learn the required scales and try some aural tests. An ideal way to boost your learning over the summer.
Tutor: Ana Claudia Magalhaes.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £76.00 - Piano/keyboards: revision for levels 3 and 4
Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ana Claudia MagalhaesStudy pieces from the current ABRSM Grade 3 piano syllabus. Learn the required scales and try some aural tests. An ideal way to boost your learning over the summer. Tutor: Ana Claudia Magalhaes.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £76.00 - String ensemble: summer seasonCourse start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyCome and play string repertoire in a friendly group, and develop your confidence in ensemble playing. Suitable for those who have been playing violin, viola, cello or double bass for at least two years, playing at Grade 3 standard or above. Please click the 'start interview' button to apply. This is to make sure we have a balanced array of instruments for our ensemble. Break week 27 May 2025.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Recorder ensemble: study dayCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Caoimhe de PaorLearn to play ensemble music for recorders, with repertoire ranging from early to present day. Suitable for recorder players who have been learning for at least a year and can read music. - Ballet: technique and repertoire Course start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alexander SimpkinsThis is a great opportunity to learn sections of repertoire from a well-known classical ballet. These will be group or solo dances, including some mime sequences. As preparation, a condensed ballet class will be offered, focussing on technical aspects that will occur in our repertoire section. You should have attended regular ballet classes for at least 1 year and have good knowledge of classical ballet vocabulary. - Sing opera workshopCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trevor AlexanderA lively short workshop class for singers with some solo experience: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing. This workshop will have a focus on Operatic repertoire and the techniques required for this demanding genre. - Classical singing workshop: summerCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trevor AlexanderA lively short workshop class for singers with some solo experience: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Debating: intensiveCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin IllsleyDebating requires the ability to speak English persuasively in public and, crucially, to respond rapidly to other people’s objections to what you say. In this shorter, intensive version of our highly popular course, we will cover the theory and practice of debating, and you will progress quickly in areas of content, strategy and style. A great mental workout. - Jazz piano: introductionCourse start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Della RhodesMeet the jazz idiom as you explore time feels and harmonic progressions at your piano. For pianists at grade 5 and above, with some knowledge of chord structures (triads and 7ths), this session in our pianos room will give food for thought and practice.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Great composers: Louise Farrenc Course start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Trish ShawDiscover the musical life and work of Louise Farrenc (1804–1875), the celebrated French pianist, composer, teacher and scholar. Learn about her delightful chamber music, her important piano etudes, and her impact on French music and culture in the 19th century.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Opera appreciation: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is opera? And how do you approach watching and listening to it? Explore the ostentatious, sometimes overwhelming, world of opera through study of two major works and styles.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Musicianship for singers: introductionCourse start date: Fri 25 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth BeckmannImprove your understanding of theory and musicianship in relation to the singing. This introductory course is for any singer who would like more understanding about the music they sing. - Singing solo for beginnersCourse start date: Fri 25 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ruth BeckmannA beginners workshop style class for singers who are looking to take the first steps into singing solo. Learn how to sing confidently with an accompanist through manageable exercises and challenges building to an entire song.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £69.00 - Flute and clarinet choirCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lindsey FillinghamOpen to intermediate/advanced flutes and clarinets to play ensemble pieces in a range of styhles. Great for sight-reading and ensemble skills! Alto flute, piccolo, Eb and bass clarinets welcome. - BurlesqueCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gwendoline LamourBurlesque is an empowering and expressive performance art. Learn the basics of burlesque movement and dance in this glamorous and fun one day workshop. We will explore the posture, deportment, style and elegance of showgirl movement.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00
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