Perform Drama, Dance & Singing Classes
Perform runs weekly drama, dance and singing classes for children aged 4–12 at St David's Preparatory School on Woodcote Valley Road, Purley — Saturdays at 9:30am for the 4–7s and 11:15am for the 7–12s. Every child can attend a free trial session before committing.
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About this class
Perform classes at St David's Preparatory School run on Saturday mornings. The 4–7s session starts at 9:30am and finishes at 11:00am; the 7–12s follow immediately from 11:15am to 12:45pm. Gemma is both Producer and Teacher for the Purley venue.
Each session weaves together three strands. Younger children move through dance, reaction games and yoga-inspired mirroring in the first section, before shifting into specially composed songs, tongue-twisters and raps, and finishing with character explorations and storytelling improvisations. For the 7–12s the material deepens: acting games build vocal projection and physical presence, movement work progresses toward more technical coordination, and the speech and singing section — run in small groups — means most children get a solo or featured moment. Class sizes are capped at 22, with two Perform staff in the room at every session.
This summer, the 4–7s are aboard the Jammy Dodger for Mermaids & Pirates, while the 7–12s are working through The Dream, Perform's retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The curriculum runs on a rolling basis, so there's no need to wait for a new term to start. Gemma sends a weekly email detailing that week's focus, and each child receives a personalised written Feedback Form signed by Principal Lucy Quick. A free trial session is available before any commitment is made.
When it runs
Good to know
Common questions
Can we try a session before signing up?
Yes. Every child is entitled to a free trial class, so you can see how your child responds before committing. Book through the Perform website — search for St David's Preparatory School, Purley.
What age groups are catered for here?
The Saturday morning classes cover two groups: 4–7s (9:30–11:00am) and 7–12s (11:15am–12:45pm). In the younger group, a mixed age range is part of the approach — older children gain from supporting the group, younger ones are stretched by it. For the 7–12s, previous experience matters less than character and enthusiasm.
What actually happens in a session?
Each class moves through drama, dance and singing. The 4–7s session starts with physical warm-up games and yoga-inspired mirroring, moves into songs, tongue-twisters and raps, and finishes with character work and storytelling improvisations. The 7–12s cover acting games, movement and dance, and speech and singing — with small groups so most children get a featured role. Every week has a different focus. This summer the themes are Mermaids & Pirates (4–7s) and The Dream (7–12s).
How do blocks and booking work?
Classes are bought in blocks of 10 or 20 sessions. You can also renew to the end of term or pay monthly by Direct Debit. Missed sessions cannot be added to the end of a block, though a make-up system allows attendance at another Perform venue when space is available. Cancellations made with at least three days' notice result in a credit to your account rather than a refund. New customers who join the Perform mailing list receive £30 off their first block of 10 classes.
Summary drafted with AI assistance from the provider's published details and reviewed before publishing — how we use AI.
Where it is
Approximate location (postcode area)