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
- Acting Shakespeare (intensive)Course start date: Sun 29 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyA one-day workshop exploring scenes from two Shakespeare comedies, Twelfth Night and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Broaden and develop your acting skills in an intensive encounter with Shakespeare! - Introduction to acting
Course start date: Sat 5 Jul 2025 (and 3 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftA fun one day intensive encounter with the acting process. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £55.00 - Combining voice and PilatesCourse start date: Sat 12 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueThis innovative and one-off workshop shows you how to integrate modified Pilates movements with voice training as a holistic approach to voice, starting at breath release and progressing into phonation and resonance. Through this combination you may begin to find a link between body and voice through the core muscles of support. A fun but intensive Saturday workshop in the college.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £55.00 - 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 - 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. Rhythm section places are available for guitar, bass and drums. Piano places have been taken.
- 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 - 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 - BurlesqueCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gwendoline LamourBurlesque is an empowering and expressive performance art. Learn the basics of burlesque movement and dance in this glamorous and fun one day workshop. We will explore the posture, deportment, style and elegance of showgirl movement.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Flamenco: power and performanceCourse start date: Sun 27 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 archetypal flamenco dance steps and moves that accompany ‘Seguirillas’ music. 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. - Mime: workshopCourse start date: Sun 27 Jul 2025
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 £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Charleston: general level Course 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 - The holistic voiceCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueYour voice should be an extension of your character. This Saturday workshop offers accessible and empowering mind-body techniques to deepen your awareness and connection to your voice so that the message you give out is true to your intention.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Afrocentric drummingCourse start date: Fri 10 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversExplore and indulge your enthusiasm for drumming with African rhythms and their variations. Enjoy improving your individual and group playing skills and learn how to apply a variety of percussive instruments to any musical style or setting.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00 - Stage combat: armed knifeCourse start date: Sun 12 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sean CroftThis one-day workshop leads on from our unarmed stage combat course and examines one of the most exciting weapon sets to explore - knife combat. Used in dynamic settings in both contemporary and classical theatre and film, it is a valuable introduction into learning knife combat and how to use this in performance settings, ensuring you are learning skills and techniques safely and effectively.
Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £55.00 - Contemporary African dance Course start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francis AngolA dynamic and vibrant class that combines West African dance and music with some Contemporary dance influences. The movements, energy and music will leave you energised and rejuvenated.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00
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