Class up 2010! Learn to act, dance, cook + DIY
January 11, 2010 by karenvitt
Filed under Neat STUFF
Here we go with the mid-January blahs. You know the drill – every year we come crashing down from our holiday highs into these low, mopey months of blah, boring winter. What’s a girl to do?
“It’s great to start out the new year with a class – especially an acting class – because it’s sure to challenge you, feed you, and reward you,” said Jessica Wallenfels of Portand Actors Conservatory, where new winter classes start next weekend. “Those oblique yearnings that run underground when you’re busy with your life all come to the surface at New Year’s, and you think, ‘I really want to act!’ It’s a great moment of clarity, and that’s the perfect awareness to take into a learning process.”
Whatever your inner yearnings, from acting and dancing to cooking and crafting, we’ve rounded up these classy ideas to combat the winter blues.
Acting classes – Portland Actors Conservatory offers some especially neat incentive to start the new year learning a new skill: Just mention The Neat Sheet to save 20 percent when you sign up for any Studio Class in acting study by Friday, Jan. 15. “We’re here to help people grow in a new direction, return to an old love or conquer a lingering fear,” Wallenfels said.
Portland Actors Conservatory’s next 10-week session of once-a-week classes starts Saturday, Jan. 23, and you can choose from Acting 1, Improvisation, Voice and Movement,? Meisner Scene Study or Acting for Film.
Check out the Portland Actors Conservatory Winter 2010 Studio Class offerings and register with Maureen@actorsconvervatory.com to cash in your Neat Deal.
Jewelry classes – New this year, DIY Lounge (founded by local designer Jen Neitzel of Knot Ugly Designs) will offer online classes taught through video tutorials instead of in a physical classroom. Starting today, you can take an online jewelry class on wire wrapping techniques, which Neitzel says is way to wrap inexpensive wire and semi precious stones together to create a high impact, unique fashion statement (above).
The DIY wire wrapping jewelry class is lead via online video by local jewelry designer Amanda Horton, who will demonstrate projects including rings, earrings, patinas and more. The class in available now at DIY.com for just $19, which includes repeat access.
Neitzel, who says the online classes are both more affordable and better for accommodating busy schedules, will add one video class each month as her new classroom model grows. Check back in the next couple of months for more classes in painting and crafting.
Dance classes – Northwest Dance Project classes start this week, offering daily classes for dancers and non-dancers of all abilities. You can learn to dance ballet, jazz, creative movement or even hip-hop.
“The studio is so beautiful and full of light and energy that it just inspires people to dance,” said Sarah Slipper, Project founder and artistic director. “Whether people are looking to learn ballet basics, or they’re a professional dancer, or a kid wanting to move or just someone looking for an enjoyable way to stay fit, we really have it all.”
Check out Northwest Dance Project’s Winter Schedule here.
Cooking classes – Here’s the best idea yet for eating away those winter blues! A new year of culinary classes starts this week at In Good Taste, which operates gourmet retails stores-slash-cooking schools in both the Pearl District and Lake Oswego.
One-night cooking classes are an easy choice for commitment-phobes – you can just sign up for a class here and there, or round up a few friends and make a group night out of it.
Classes tend to fill up fast, but if you’re eager to get cookin’ there’s still room to sign up for this month’s classes in Hands on Stir Fry 101, Elegant French Winter Soups and Homemade Fresh Pasta. Or how about Hands-on Advanced Knife Skills? Talk about sharpening your talents in 2010.
View the complete In Good Taste Cooking Class Calendar here.
