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
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- Jazz piano: a history from blues to bebop and beyondCourse start date: Sun 4 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sara DhillonTrace 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 - Mask technique and the physical bodyCourse start date: Sun 4 Jun 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftThis 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 - Acting: improversCourse start date: Thu 27 Apr 2023 (and 7 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 £209.00 - Shakespeare and the bodyCourse start date: Sun 2 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftUnlock 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 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - Whispering ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response)Course start date: Sun 16 Jul 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueHow can the impact of what we hear and feel enhance our connection to our voices? Learning the skills of ‘quieter’ activities in such a loud, fast-paced world can result in improved wellbeing. Through body-mind connection and the use of vocal sounds, whispering, gestures, rhythms and touch, you can not only reset your nervous system, and better manage stress, but also find a deeper connection to your voice in this afternoon workshop.Full fee £29.00 - Stage combat: workshopCourse start date: Sun 23 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftExplore 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 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £41.00 - Mime: workshopCourse start date: Sun 30 Jul 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftThere’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 - Chamber music: advancedCourse start date: Thu 27 Apr 2023 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gisela MeyerDiscover the pleasure of playing in small, mixed instrumental ensembles, one per part, in a variety of repertoire. For classical instrumentalists at grade 6 or above. Due to the demanding nature of most piano parts, pianists should play at Grade 8 level or higher. Good sight reading skills and experience in chamber music are required.Full fee £219.00 - Drumming: advancedCourse start date: Sun 30 Apr 2023 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Mark HuggettThis next term of our advanced course 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 play your own kit.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.Full fee £149.00 - Jazz woodshedding onlineCourse start date: Sun 1 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Della Rhodes, Angele VeltmeijerExplore, 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 - Transcribe jazz solosCourse start date: Sun 15 Oct 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tim RichardsA 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 - Viola workshopCourse start date: Sun 31 Mar 2024
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyFocus 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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