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
- Piano: Alexander Technique for pianists
Course start date: Mon 7 Jul 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Shelagh SutherlandThis brand new Summer School workshop is designed specifically for pianists who wish to improve their technique, reduce tension, and enhance their overall performance.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - Great albums: Kind of Blue Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerDiscover everything you have always wanted to know about this extraordinary recording, one of the most critically acclaimed but also commercially successful in the history of jazz.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £20.00 - Acting: improvers Course 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 - Tap intensive (improvers)Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Benjamin BaileyIf you have a strong foundation in tap, come and improve your technique, and increase your understanding of syncopation and your confidence in a variety of rhythms and tempos. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £55.00 - Ballet intensiveCourse start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dilek TaptikAn intensive course that will help adult ballet students not only to watch ballet repertoire but to actively take part in it. You will be able to transfer movements from your ballet class directly into ballet choreography.
The choreography will be part of a well known narrative ballet and will have a storyline that you as a dancer can understand. A fun, relaxed yet challenging course which culminates in a small work-in-progress showing on the last day. - Tap intensive (beginners)Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Benjamin BaileyIf you are new to tap then this is the place to start. An intensive course suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.
Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Orchestra workshop Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
A fun, intensive workshop for players of orchestral instruments of Grade 6 level upwards, with good music reading skills. Please click the 'Start interview' button, follow the login instructions, and the Music Department will contact you.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00 - Chamber music: introductionCourse start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gisela MeyerDiscover the pleasure of playing in small ensembles with varied instrumentation, with repertoire ranging from early to modern. For instrumentalists at Grade 3 standard or above who can read music confidently.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £55.00 - Introduction to prepared piano for pianists Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward Henderson, Lewis KestertonThis brand new Summer School course offers a comprehensive introduction into the world of prepared piano, with a focus on the groundbreaking Sonatas and Interludes by John Cage.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - 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. - 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 - 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 - String Summer School Course start date: Sun 20 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyLearn technique, repertoire and ensemble skills for all orchestral strings. Develop your confidence and make new string friends. For players at grade 3 or above.
Sunday 20th July
Friday 25th July
Sunday 27th July. - 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. - Summer choirCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard Hartley-WilsonSinging with others is great fun, and has been proven to be good for your health. Join us for this short course and get started over the summer to see how it can benefit you. Suitable for all levels, no audition required.
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