Performing arts

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)danceradio and screen, and voice, speech and communication as well as a full range of music courses, such as pianosingingstrings and wind instruments to jazz and popmusic technologymusic 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

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between online and in-person learning. All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you. See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

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  1. Introduction to music production
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 3 Dec 2023 (and 2 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Max La Villa
    Come and learn the basics of recording and editing so that you can turn your musical ideas into completed songs you can share!
    Full fee £149.00
  2. Jazz piano: a history from blues to bebop and beyond
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 4 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Sara Dhillon
    Trace the development of jazz piano from its origins in New Orleans to later styles, including boogie woogie, stride,



    bebop, post bop and abstraction, and look at key influential pianists of the period.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £77.00
    Rating:
    90% of 100
  3. Mask technique and the physical body
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 4 Jun 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    This playful and creative mask course, suitable for students at any level, introduces you to the mask. You will be carefully guided to explore the principals and techniques required to bring a character to life, to create speech with the body and without the voice. Masks will be provided but why not bring along some different style outfits and a variety of hats with you, then you’ll have more to play with on the day.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £0.00
  4. Acting: beginners
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 14 Jan 2024 (and 14 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gemma Kerr
    Explore the fundamentals of acting on this practical course, designed for people with little or no experience of acting. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and creative environment.
    Full fee £219.00
    Rating:
    95% of 100
  5. Acting: improvers
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 14 Jan 2024 (and 7 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    Continue your development as you explore a range of exercises and acting techniques that will illuminate and enliven a variety of scripts and scenes. Consolidate techniques and deepen your understanding in a safe and supportive atmosphere.
    Full fee £219.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  6. Shakespeare and the body
    Last Few Places, Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 2 Jul 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    Unlock Shakespeares hidden physical language through the work of Lecoq, Meisener, Michel Chekhov and Grotowski as we discover a deeper, more physically rooted and emotionally driven connection with Shakespeares work. No experience is needed for this short intensive course however an openness to explore and to develop text and physical performance simultaneously is necessary.
    Full fee £89.00
  7. Stage combat: workshop
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 23 Jul 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    Explore unarmed combat and develop a selection of moves to combine in to a choreographed sequence!



    A well-executed fight scene can make stage combat look easy but, much like dancing, it must be intricately choreographed and extensively rehearsed, to provide that authentic feel while remaining safe. Suitable for everyone.
    Full fee £59.00
  8. Flamenco: power and performance
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 30 Jul 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Danielle Allan
    This course, separate but complementary to the other summer Flamenco dance course, will focus on archetypal Flamenco dance steps and moves with emphasis on dancing style, performance presence and panache. The course will culimate in a short dance sequence with live guitar accompaniment. Suitable for men and women of all ages, from beginners to improvers.
    Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
  9. Mime: workshop
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 30 Jul 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sean Croft
    There’s so much more to Mime than the striped jumper, beret and box!



    The course will cover basic techniques in Mime towards developing and creating worlds alongside opening your body up to expressionistic styles. Through technique and improvisational based classes we will play and explore some of the most renowned exercises in Mime and build on them. Engaging your imagination and developing your awareness of your body as a tool for theatre craft.
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £41.00
  10. Chamber music: advanced
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 14 May 2023 (and 4 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Gisela Meyer
    Discover the pleasure of playing in small, mixed instrumental ensembles, one per part, in a variety of repertoire in this short 5 week weekend intensive. For classical instrumentalists at grade 6 or above, with good sight-reading skills. Break week 28th of May 2023.
    Full fee £169.00
    Rating:
    94% of 100
  11. Drumming: advanced
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 24 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Mark Huggett
    Our advanced class is a great chance to practise all the essential popular grooves. Enhance and maintain your technique, reading and stamina. Sessions will be delivered online so you will use your own kit, acoustic or electronic.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £189.00
  12. Jazz woodshedding online
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 1 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Della Rhodes, Angele Veltmeijer
    Explore, transpose and rehearse patterns of scales and chord tones relevant to improvising over jazz progressions. Ideal if you have completed 'Jazz harmony and ear training' and want to keep up your practice at home in a live group class.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £109.00
  13. Transcribe jazz solos
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 15 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Tim Richards
    A study and sharing group for experienced jazz players with a good working knowledge of harmony and experience of improvising. We will focus on in-depth listening and transcription of recorded examples by jazz musicians. Sessions will include demonstration and performance opportunities. Course dates: 15 October, 12 November, 3 December, 21 January, 18 February, 17 March 2023.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00
  14. Contemporary dance: styles and techniques
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 5 Nov 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Francis Angol, Orley Quick
    This eight session series led by professional teachers Francis Angol and Vivian Triantafyllopoulou, will explore different approaches to the practice of Contemporary dance, working through different styles and techniques. Each session has been designed to give students an understanding of the fundamental principle and techniques of each approach taken. Working through fundamentals of movement, properties and the stylistic features of form.







    By the end of the course, we hope you will have gained greater confidence, knowledge and appreciation of Contemporary Dance practice and be able to differentiate between the various styles and technique you may encounter.
    Full fee £129.00
  15. Viola workshop
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 31 Mar 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Robert Puzey
    Focus on technique and musicianship especially for viola: on playing on the C string, reading alto clef fluently, left-hand work and more. For viola players, and violin players who wish to add an extra string to their bow!
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
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