Perform Drama, Dance & Singing Classes

Perform has been at St Andrews Islington since January 2016 — every Wednesday during term time, with sessions at 4:00 pm and 5:05 pm. The class is for children aged 4–7. Producer Kara runs the sessions alongside teacher Scott, and Area Partner Sophie visits regularly. The current term runs from 15 April to 15 July 2025, with no session on Wednesday 27 May (bank holiday).

This summer's theme is Mermaids & Pirates: the children set sail on the good ship the Jammy Dodger, with songs, characters and stories built around that world. Perform writes its own songs, games and dances for each termly theme, and the focus shifts every week — so there is always fresh material to work with. Class size is limited to 22 children, and two staff members are present throughout.

Each session follows three sections. Move & Feel opens with dances, rapid-reaction games and yoga-inspired mirroring exercises, developing coordination, balance and core stability. Listen, Speak & Sing follows, using specially composed songs, tongue-twisters and raps to build confidence, concentration and projection. Create & Imagine closes the session with character explorations, storytelling and role-playing improvisations.

The curriculum is organised around what Perform calls The 4 Cs — Confidence, Concentration, Communication and Coordination — woven into every activity. Because Perform runs a rolling curriculum, children can join at any point in the year rather than waiting for a term to start. During the term, parents receive a weekly email from the Producer detailing that week's focus, and a personalised Feedback Form written by the Producer and signed by Principal Lucy Quick. Three times a year, family and friends are invited to Open Workshops and end-of-term Presentations to see what the children have been working on.