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
- Exploring the music of Rebecca Clarke
Course start date: Wed 15 Jan 2025Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonComposer and virtuoso violist Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) was an internationally-renowned performer and pioneer in professional music-making at a time when British musical life made precious little space for women intent on pursuing a musical career. We explore her career as a violist in the UK and further afield, as well as studying her numerous chamber works and songs, which are finally beginning to enjoy wider recognition.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00 - Floor barre: general levelCourse start date: Wed 15 Jan 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dilek TaptikFloor-Barre is a wonderful conditioning programme for everyone, regardless of age and ability. Work through all the important muscle groups while safely supporting the body on the floor. All levels welcome. - Exploring the music of Gabriel Fauré Course start date: Wed 26 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonGabriel Fauré was born twelve years after the birth of Johannes Brahms, and died six years after the death of Claude Debussy. In his long life he witnessed a remarkable series of aesthetic changes in the music of France, Austro-Germany and beyond, and his own career as a composer, teacher, pianist and organist embraced a tremendous range of influences – as well as having a huge impact on the next generations of Ravel, Nadia Boulanger and Georges Enescu. We explore his life and music in celebration of the 180th anniversary of his birth. * this course has no break week.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00 - Great works: Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilègesCourse start date: Wed 2 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trish ShawThe fantastical opera L'Enfant et les sortileges, by Maurice Ravel, was first performed in March 1925 at the Monte Carlo Opera. Come and explore this delightful work, with plot and libretto by the novelist Collete, and its magical characters and even more magical music.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Great works: Smetana's Ma Vlast Course start date: Wed 9 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonAmong the numerous operas, piano pieces, choral and chamber works composed by Bedrich Smetana, surely the best known is his depiction of the river Vltava from his cycle of symphonic poems, Má Vlast. This session explores the origins of Smetana’s six-movement cycle composed across several years, the stories that he conjures in such vivid orchestral colours, and its meaning for Czech national identity in the later nineteenth century.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Great works: Allegri's Miserere Course start date: Wed 9 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Edward BreenExplore the history of this most famous choral work and trace the story of the famous high C from the castrati of the 18th century to today’s professional early music vocal ensembles.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - The art of negotiatingCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gavin IllsleyNegotiation is a communication skill essential in solving problems and reaching your goals. Learn to prepare well and to feel confident using logical and emotional tools to achieve great outcomes. The course will be taught in the college.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - Speak Shakespeare monologues and scenes: comediesCourse start date: Wed 7 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vernon ThompsonWhether you are preparing a Shakespearean monologue for audition or simply have an interest in their structure, rhythm and poetry, this course enables you to work on and speak monologues from the Comedies with confidence. There is also an opportunity to rehearse duologues/ scenework from A Midsummer's Night Dream and Much Ado About Nothing specifically. This term the course is held at the college with an opportunity to practise speaking text in the open air.
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