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
380 courses available
Clarinet: intermediateThis course is for students who have played Bb clarinet for at least 2 years. Come and improve your technique and performance skills, and explore a variety of styles and repertoire.
Break weeks
Term 1 26th - 30th Oct 2026
Term 2 No scheduled break week
Term 3 31st May -4th June 2027Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00- Tap dance: beginnersIf you are new to tap then this is the place to start. Come and find your dancing feet. Suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00
- Silver Swans ballet class improversThis 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 £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Storytelling: tell your personal storyTell 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 £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00
- Silver Swans ballet class improver plus
This Improvers Plus course will focus on expanding existing knowledge of classical ballet technique, introducing new and more technically challenging vocabulary and movement sequences. Participants will continue to develop their understanding of musicality, artistry and performance as well as gaining the skills and experience to dance as part of a corps de ballet. The improvers plus course is suitable for older leaners 55+ with a minimum of 2 years experience of ballet at improver level.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Ballet at the barre
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 beginners.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Guitar: fingerstyle workshopFor classical guitar players, this online class will work on technique and fingerstyle versions of Baroque, Spanish and popular music.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
- Contemporary dance: improversThe course aims to give you a further embodied understanding of Contemporary dance that is underpinned by Somatics practice, and other contemporary dance techniques, to bring greater flow and dynamics to your expression as you allow yourself to move from your inner space and to negotiate the flow of weight, rhythm, breath, space and time.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
- Jazz harmony, ear training and ensembles: intermediate
Develop your jazz musicianship, playing and improvising. Practise ear training, study jazz harmony, learn challenging repertoire. For players with established jazz education at foundation level. Assessment for entry to this course can be arranged when you apply to music@citylit.ac.uk. n.b. piano places have been filled.
Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £499.00 Concession £349.00 - Piano: workshop 8
If you play piano at around grade 8 standard, join one of these workshops to develop your playing by studying a wide repertoire, learning to make your own stylistic and interpretive decision under your tutor's guidance. This course is suitable for students working towards ABRSM Grade 8.
Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £379.00 Concession £265.00 - Dance 60+ performanceOur aim is to inspire older men and women within the community to get creative through dance and movement, and to inspire others through performance. An ideal opportunity to flex both mind and body in this uplifting creative experience where you will get the chance to explore and discover your creative potential through dance and performance.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
- Piano/keyboards 1D
This is the second year of our beginners piano programme and is suitable for students working towards ABRSM Grade 1. Improve your eye/hand coordination, your reading and technique.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Piano/keyboards 1B
This is the second course in our series of classes for beginner pianists. If you have completed Piano/keyboards 1A or have basic keyboard and music reading skills, this course will help you build on your knowledge and pianistic ability.
Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - City Lit wind ensemble: advanced
Explore the wonderful repertoire for mixed wind ensemble, developing your technical, musical and ensemble skills. You need to play an orchestral wind instrument at grade 5 standard or higher. To apply for the ensemble please click the pink 'Start your interview' button and someone from the music department will be in touch.
Break weeks
Term 1 26th - 30th Oct 2026
Term 2 No scheduled break week
Term 3 31st May- 4th June 2027Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music
Study how to improvise in popular music. Produce musical solos using aural skills, an increased understanding of scale types, and an appreciation of stylistic elements that go to make a ‘sound’.
Keeley Street
Tue 15 Sep 2026David HarrisonFull fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
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