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
- Sing Broadway
Course start date: Wed 16 Jul 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard Hartley-WilsonLearn to perform ensemble numbers from popular Broadway and West End shows, from standard classics to modern musicals. Gain confidence in performing as a group, and enjoy singing solo within an ensemble.
- Cell Block Tango – Chicago
- Old Friend-Merrily we roll along
- Ex Wives- Six
- Nothing like a dame- South Pacific
- Welcome to the rock-Come from away
- Will I?- Rent
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00 - Flamenco: style and graceCourse start date: Wed 16 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Danielle AllanThis course, separate but complementary to the other Summer Flamenco dance courses, will focus on the graceful execution of archetypal flamenco arm & wrist movements combined with foot placement. Featuring a live guitarist this is an intensive course suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced student. Men and women of all ages are welcome.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Music, sound, and the moving image Course start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas about music for the screen, covering a broad range of examples, techniques, and ideas.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - Sing a song in different stylesCourse start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryExplore how to set a song in more than one musical style, song interpretation and solo performance. For singers who have completed courses in contemporary singing, or who have equivalent experience and
musical ability. Live sessions online.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £99.00 - Charleston intensiveCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosaria SativaBuild a foundation of basic dance skills on this fun intensive which will have you dancing the energetic Charleston. You will be dancing to original jazz music from the 1920s and 30s as well different music styles to show that you can dance the Charleston to almost any beat.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Drama therapy: intermediateCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dan SkiliInvestigate the role and function of drama therapy as a working model on this intensive course. Looking at a range of drama tools that can be used in therapeutic settings, you will explore aspects of Playback Theatre and Forum Theatre as methods for engaging with others. Fun, insightful and packed with tools you can use, this is a great introduction to applying theatrical processes to therapy.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Jazz repertoireCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys Hogg, Della RhodesEnjoy playing and improvising on familiar and new jazz repertoire in a mixed ensemble. For players with substantial experience of jazz playing, ear training techniques and harmony study. Tunes will be announced and charts sent out two weeks in advance of the course. Only front line places available now.
Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Stage combat: unarmed Course start date: Sun 20 Jul 2025
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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Classical actingCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyBroaden your skills and discover the freedom to act with classical text in a safe and fun environment, playing with a range of texts from Ibsen to Oscar Wilde. Gain the confidence to tackle different styles of language and performance through practical exercises and scene work.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Classical music: an introduction Course start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneAre you interested in finding out more about classical music but not sure where to start? This taster course will introduce you to the history of music through a careful choice of works.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Actor summer school: beginners Course start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean Croft, Juliet PragueThis is a five day intensive encounter with the acting process. Designed for beginners to explore the fundamentals in a safe and supportive enviroment. Also suitable for those with some prior experience wanting to refresh and focus their skills.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £349.00 Concession £244.00 - Vocal recording: production techniques Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max La VillaLearn how to make recordings of sung and/or spoken voices, then edit them, add effects, or mix with other tracks. Suitable for those with some previous experience in digital audio.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - Piano: managing performance anxiety part 2Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lorraine AugustineThis is the second part in our practical workshop series for pianists of all levels on understanding and overcoming performance anxiety.
Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £31.00 Concession £27.00 - Piano/keyboards: revision for levels 1 and 2Course start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ana Claudia MagalhaesThis course is designed for students who have had at least 6 terms of piano lessons and is an ideal way to consolidate and 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 2025
Location 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.
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.
Repertoire will include:
• Bassano - Pavan & Galliard arr. Norrie Williams
• Gabrieli - Canzon Seconda
• Scat Singer - Andrew Challinger
• Beep Beep -Nicholas Wynne (includes sopranino and Great Bass line)
• Pieter Campo - The Willow Tree
• Gabrieli - (two part choir) Canzon Septimi Toni a 8
Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Mixing and music production workshopCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max La VillaAn intensive workshop on the stages involved in achieving a professional sounding mix. Ideal for those with some mixing experience who would like to identify existing weaknesses, improve their skills and learn new techniques.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - 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.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - 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.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Classical singing workshop: summer Course 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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
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