Perform Drama, Dance & Singing Classes
Perform runs weekly drama, dance and singing classes for children aged 4–12 at Kingsland Church, 86 London Road, Colchester (CO3 9DW) every Friday — the 4–7s group meets 4–5pm and the 7–12s follow immediately at 5:05–6:05pm. Every child can attend one free trial session before committing to a block.
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About this class
Perform has been running on Friday afternoons at Kingsland Church since January 2020. The local Producer is Charlotte, with Jasmine teaching in the room each week and Area Partner Sophie visiting regularly to support the team. Two Perform staff members are present every session, and class numbers are capped at 22 — small enough to feel personal, structured enough to keep a full ensemble moving.
Each hour-long session divides into three sections. The 4–7s (4–5pm, running until 17 July with no class on Friday 29 May) are following this summer's Mermaids & Pirates theme: the group sets sail aboard the Jammy Dodger through songs, dance games and storytelling improvisations. For the 7–12s, who start at 5:05pm, the summer theme is The Dream — a retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream explored through acting exercises, movement and vocal work. Both age groups follow Perform's four-strand curriculum — Confidence, Concentration, Communication and Coordination — woven into everything from tongue-twisters to role-playing improvisations.
Because Perform runs a rolling curriculum, children can join at any point rather than waiting for a new term to begin. Charlotte sends a weekly email after each class explaining what the group covered, and every child receives a personalised written feedback form signed by Perform's Principal, Lucy Quick.
When it runs
Good to know
Common questions
Can we try before signing up?
Yes. Every child is entitled to one free trial session at Kingsland Church before you commit to anything. Book through the Perform website (search for Colchester), contact Charlotte directly, or call the Perform office.
How do I book a place?
You can enrol online, through Charlotte as the local Producer, or by phone. Classes are purchased in blocks of ten consecutive Fridays; there is also a 20-session block, an end-of-term renewal option and a monthly Direct Debit scheme. A bursary scheme is available, and Perform accepts childcare vouchers.
What if we miss a session?
Missed classes cannot be added to the end of a block. A make-up system allows your child to attend a session at another Perform venue instead, subject to availability — ask Charlotte for details.
Which age group is right for my child?
The 4pm class is for children aged 4–7; the 5:05pm class is for 7–12s. Perform designs both groups to be intentionally mixed in age. In the younger group, that range stretches and stimulates the children at every level, while the older group is assessed more on character and previous experience than on hitting an exact age.
What actually happens in a session?
Both classes move through three distinct sections. The 4–7s cover a physical section (dance games and yoga-inspired exercises), a listening and singing section (specially composed songs, raps and tongue-twisters), and a creative section of storytelling and character improvisation. The 7–12s work through acting and improvisation, movement and dance, and speech and singing — including vocal projection, accents and basic musical reading. The themes change each term: this summer the 4–7s are working through Mermaids & Pirates while the older group are exploring The Dream.
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)