Crystal Palace Performing Arts (CPPA) 
Singing, dancing and drama classes for young people 6-18 years old

What is CPPA? Our performing arts classes offer young people a safe space to express themselves, develop their passion, make friends and grow in confidence. There are 3 terms a year, approximately 11 or 12 weeks per term for 2.45 hours per week. Our terms focus on gaining confidence and technique while allowing students to build and cement their skills. Pupils will have opportunities to take part in a minimum of two full scale productions and one end of term sharing for friends and family. Other performing opportunity will be explored throughout the academic year.

CPPA Classes: Tuesdays 3:45pm – 6.30pm or Saturdays 10.30am - 1pm 
Classes will cover the three disciplines of 1) singing, teaching students how to comfortably use their voice, focusing on support, breath control and confidence, 2) dance to develop skills across contemporary, ballet and jazz techniques and 3) acting exploring, improvisation, role play, character and script work. The course encourages and nurtures creativity, building confidence, team work and performance skills.

Each performance term will have a different focus from musical theatre, scripted plays and improvisation to teach a wide range of genres.

Students will have the option to study for their LAMDA qualifications.

Courses are suitable for any student, who love to move, work in a group, develop their skills for fun or to be a professional performer. All course leaders are fully trained performers of the West End, TV/Film and Dance and have full and up to date DBS checks.

Spring Term: 11 Jan - 29 March 2022: This term focuses on skills development, building confidence and stage craft culminating in an informal sharing/open workshop showing some of the techniques, skills and exercises the students have been learning. Students can join at any point during the Spring term and the fee with be pro rata. 

The term runs from Tuesday 11th January - Saturday 2nd April 2022. Half term runs from 14th February - 19 February 2021.

Come along for a free taster session: please come and join us for a free tasters session, you will find the option on the ticket page. 


Meet the CPPA team

Vanessa Heine (Singing) is an opera singer and musical director. She has performed all over the world, from Beijing and Shanghai to Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as venues all over Europe. She’s also sung on over 100 film soundtracks and albums, both classical and pop, most recently on Coldplay’s Everyday Life. As a Musical Director, she has worked with adults in the West End but it is working with young people that she most enjoys, having musically directed shows such as Annie, West Side Story and Into the Woods in both London and New York.

Ania Straczynska (Dance) Ania is a choreographer specialising in Contemporary Dance and Dance Theatre, with a Master of Fine Arts (distinction) from Trinity Laban. Her work was performed in Bonnie Bird Theatre, The Place, P21 Gallery and commissioned by DanceWest (Lyric Hammersmith and Rose Theatre Kingston). She has extensive experience working with young people in a community setting and both further and higher education levels. In 2020 she was nominated for a Community Practitioner One Dance UK Award. Since 2017 she has run classes for our local community under the umbrella of SE19 Dance Project.

Emily Jewell; (Drama) BA (RWCMD) MA, (CSSD). Emily has over 15 years experience in the performing arts including treading the boards for several years in rep, touring shows across the UK, 5 years at the Edinburgh Fridge, cast and crew of the Theatre Bus.  Stage credits include: The Duchess of Malfi (Duchess), Look Back In Anger (Alison) , Antigone (Ismene) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Martha), Saint Joan (Joan of Arc), Guys and Dolls (Assemble), TV and film credits include; Lewis, Skins, Bleak House (TV) The Duchess (film). Emily has worked extensively with the Royal College of Surgeons improving communication skills through drama, co-founded her own children's drama school, is a qualified drama workshop leader and has been known to try her hand at stand up comedy. 

Boris Witzenfeld (Drama) BA hons trained at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.  He has facilitated and directed work with and for young people for; The Almeida Theatre, Stagecoach, Churchill Theatre Bromley, Hoxton Hall, Brindley Arts Centre and Royal Albert Hall. He is a performer, director and improviser who specialises in developing the talents of young people. 

Details for the end of term sharing will be provided nearer the time.

There is a 20% sibling discount, please use the following discount code at checkout when buying: SIBLING

There is a 20% discount for booking both Tuesday & Saturday sessions, please use the following discount code at checkout when buying: TUESAT (SIBLING discount is not available if you are booking for both Tuesday & Saturday)

Please email us info@unlt.org if you have any questions or would like to enquire about setting up a payment plan.