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
- Ballet body conditioningCourse start date: Fri 19 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alexander SimpkinsBallet body conditioning combines specifically sequenced exercises including elements of barre, floor work and centre practice and is designed to complement studies in ballet and acting. Ideal for those who already have good physical awareness and have studied a dance discipline at a basic level.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00 - Storytelling: tell your personal storyCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanTell your own personal story to others, and in so doing gain some perspective on how past events have shaped your life and how they will affect your future, while at the same time inspiring and informing others about life choices. The course will take place in a safe environment in the college.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00 - Recorders: return to playingCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrIf you already know the fingering for C to G (or F to C), can read music and play in tune and time, this course will develop your technique and musicianship further. Please bring your own instrument(s). The class is for all recorder types (descant, treble, tenor and bass). Break week 27th October 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Ballet at the barre: onlineCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alexander SimpkinsAn online barre class from the comfort of your own home. The work you do at the ballet barre is the foundation for all the other work you do as a dancer. Improve your strength, balance and coordination. Not suitable for complete beginners.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £127.00 Concession £111.00 - Early music ensembleCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrAn ensemble for musicians interested in learning the skills of playing consort music in different instrumental combinations (broken consort). It will be a journey exploring the variety of sound combinations in 17th century repertoire. To apply for the ensemble please click the pink 'Start your interview' button and someone from the music department will be in touch. Break week: 27th Oct 2025.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00 - Keyboard harmony and performance workshopCourse start date: Mon 22 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ricardo GosalboA practical workshop integrating keyboard harmony with piano performance skills. Taught in-person on a grand piano, this workshop is aimed at classical pianists with a music theory standard of grade 6+ and good sheet music reading skills. We shall deepen our understanding of musical works by studying the harmonic constructs that underpin them, tackle the technical challenges they present, and explore how harmonic analysis can inform our interpretative choices. Break week 27th October 2025.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £258.00 - Acting: beginnersCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cara JenningsExplore 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 £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00 - Salsa dance: beginnersCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
This workshop is about having fun, recreating and learning famous TikTok dances. To get you in the mood we will start each class with a 15-20 minute warm up, our professional dancer will then break down the steps and teach you how to execute and perfect them. Don't worry if you're a beginner and have two left feet - this class is for anyone and everyone and welcomes all abilities.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £83.00 - Jazz dance: beginnersCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clinton GoldsmithThis class is suitable if you are new to dance or if you want to develop your existing skills and confidence.
You will discover the basics of modern jazz dance, learn about posture, co-ordination and essential technique. Learn warm-up exercises, turns, steps and basic kicks along with amazing dance routines. It will help to build your fitness and tone your body too.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Silver Swans ballet class improversCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate ScottThis improvers course will focus on expanding existing knowledge of ballet technique and vocabulary and is designed to enable you to learn and execute more varied and complex movement sequences. There is an emphasis on delivering ballet technique to facilitate healthy joints, flexibility, movement quality and core strength.
Silver Swans® classes have been specifically designed for the over-55s and the improvers course is suitable for older leaners with at least 1 year of foundation ballet or Silver Swans experience.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00 - Silver Swans ballet classCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate ScottSilver Swans® classes have been specifically designed for the over-55s. If you are looking for a new way to keep fit and active, Swans ballet classes will put a spring in your step, whether you’ve never danced before or want to reboot your ballet skills. Classes focus on building the core technical principles and learning specially adapted repertoire from the popular ballets.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00 - Charleston: general levelCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosaria SativaThe Charleston is a fun, easy and uplifting dance and this solo dancing course will have you moving with speed, vitality, and expression. With toe tapping Jazz music from the 1920s and beyond you will learn original Charleston dance steps and moves, improve your musicality and improvisation. A great way to get fit whilst learning a unique and impressive new skill.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Acting: improversCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftContinue 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 £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00 - Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonStudy how to improvise in popular music. These two practical sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonics, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Sing musical theatre workshopCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierThis popular course explores musical theatre singing. Grow your knowledge of the repertoire. Suitable for singers and actors wanting to improve their singing and acting through song technique. Be guided through the basics to find the right singing qualities for this repertoire.Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £230.00
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