Authentic Belly Dance, or raks sharqi, is an ancient form of dance. Raks sharqi means “dance of the east” in Arabic. Belly dance celebrates every body type and every stage of life. The dance is proud and powerful and soft and sinewy with elegant and isolating movements emanating from the core. It’s the Pilates of dance. And so much fun! This is a great refresher class for experienced dancers and suitable for dancers new to belly dance. Please wear comfortable clothing, similar to what you might wear to a yoga class that will allow for free movement and the ability to see your movement. Hip scarves make it even more fun. You can dance barefoot or in a pair of comfortable dance shoes in the studio. Zills (finger cymbals) will be used in class. Check in with the instructor before you purchase any. As an added bonus, you will also have access to a video library with instruction, drills, and ongoing choreography during the length of the session. The class fee is per person and for 10 sessions. Class meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month: 9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/13, 12/11, 1/8, 1/22, 2/12, 2/26. *No Class: 11/27 & 12/25.

BECOME A PREMIER MEMBER TODAY! Join the Merrymeeting PREMIERE Membership Club for only $25! *membership fee is annual.

Membership benefits include:

Early Access: Premier members receive a copy of our catalogs prior to public distribution, for exclusive early access to class schedules and offerings (actual registration still limited to public release).

Loyalty Program: Premier members receive $5 off every class they take with Merrymeeting (applies to all classes under $100, excluding certain programs).

Catalog Opportunity: Premier members may submit announcements in our future catalogs, as we are dedicating a page for announcements by our Merrymeeting Premiere members. (restrictions apply, contact us directly for details).

Discount Offer: Premier members receive a 10% discount on any Merrymeeting Youth & Family program (excluding DE and any program over $400; can only be used once annually).

Subscription Service: Premier memberships include a free subscription to our latest Merrymeeting Premiere Magazine (exclusive annual online publication emailed directly to club members).

Special Invitations: Premier members will enjoy access to special workshops and events developed especially for them.

This six class course of instruction is designed for those that wish to become a beekeeper. The course will cover the what, why, and how of beekeeping. Topics include but are not limited to bee biology, equipment requirements and setup, seasonal management techniques, diseases, pest management, honeybee environmental benefits, and hive products. The goal of this course is to develop a foundation for new beekeepers to be prepared to keep bees. A course textbook will be provided to each student. Meets in Rm 160. *NO CLASS: 2/20.

Classes run on TUESDAYS. Even though the catalog says Thursdays, that was a printing error.

Voulez-vous apprendre le français? Learn French essentials or revive French learned from decades ago! We’ll cover pronunciation, basic phrases, structure and vocabulary with the textbook Barron's E-Z French. *No Class: 11/26.

Beautiful objects are created in this class every semester by beginners. You can create a stained glass window or lampshade using the copper-foil technique. Learn acid etching and drilling. This is a fun and rewarding course. A complete list of materials will be discussed on the first night of class. The cost of materials is not included in the course fee and can vary depending on choice of glass and what your imagination will create. Note: You will also need to purchase your own tools, which can run between $45-$95. *No class: 10/14, 11/11, 2/17, 2/18.

"Paint and Pass Night" is a collaborative art experience where participants engage in a unique form of artistic expression. In this class, attendees start with a blank canvas and are encouraged to freely express themselves through painting. However, there's a twist – after a set amount of time, participants rotate to the next canvas, adding their own touches to the artwork started by someone else. This cyclical process continues until each canvas has been touched by every participant, resulting in a collective masterpiece with layers of individual perspectives. Through this playful and interactive approach, Paint and Pass Night fosters creativity, encourages spontaneity, and celebrates the diversity of artistic styles within a supportive community environment. Join us for a night of creativity, connection, and collaborative artistry with Artist Shirley Anderson. Canvas and paints are supplied.

Working with Silver Clay is an exciting process where the inexperienced can explore their artistic abilities and create unique one of a kind items. Come join this exciting class where beginners can easily learn to create earrings, pendants, charms, beads, bracelets, and rings. Experience a new creative adventure and learn how easy and fun it is to make beautiful items from Precious Metal Clay (PMC) or Art Clay Silver (ACS). Materials fee of $80 is payable to the instructor on the first night of class.

How confident are you with your investment strategy? Did you know many people find themselves making common mistakes that can cost them their retirement? Join us to learn the power of compound interest and strategies to protect our assets, avoid common pitfalls investors face, and how to get our money working hard for us!