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Merrymeeting Community & Adult Education



Music & Dance

Middle Eastern Belly Dance Mixed Level Drills & Thrills

$150

with Josephina Gasca

Calendar Current session started Sep 11, 2024 at 6 pm, runs for 10 weeks

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.

Full Course
Bucket Drumming
Registration Unavailable

Bucket Drumming

$75

with Nina Andersen

Learn to play percussion through the fun and engaging art of bucket drumming. This is a fun and accessible way to enjoy making music with others. Participants need to bring a plastic bucket. Written materials provided and we’ll create our own customized sticks during the first session. No prior musical experience is required. Nina Andersen has 30 years of experience facilitating and supporting adults making music at whatever level they can. She is the Founder and Music Director of the Southern Maine New Horizons Band, Music Director of the New England Adult Music Camp and the Associate Conductor of the Harpswell Concert Band. She was also the Music Director of the Maine Pops Concert Band from 1997-2017. This program will run out of Bowdoin College, Gibson Hall, Room 10. *No class: 1/20, 2/17.

Social Event Dancing: Waltz, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing

$75

with Barbara McGranahan

Calendar Next available session starts Jan 6, 2025 at 6:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

Do you go to weddings, family and school reunions or planning a cruise and would like to participate when dancing is offered? Maybe you participated in the past and feel a bit rusty with certain dance moves? How about learning basic foxtrot, waltz, and swing (jitterbug) moves and enjoy getting your groove back. Also dance has additional benefits related to active aging such as improving posture, balance, and cognition. Come with a dance partner or solo. The summer social engagements are right around the corner. See you on the dancefloor. *No Class: 1/20 & 2/17.

American Tango and West Coast Swing

$75

with Barbara McGranahan

Calendar Next available session starts Jan 6, 2025 at 7:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks

American Tango: The Tango came to America in the last century and has been featured in many memorable movies. The dance is smooth, slow and slinky with open positions, fans, and dips. It progresses around the dance floor and uses catlike walks and staccato foot movements. West Coast Swing: This dance consists of six and eight count patterns, which are done in a slot. This dance is usually done to medium tempo swing music, frequently slower than East Coast swing. However, those who achieve a high skill level in this dance can and do dance it to faster tempo music. This dance has no bounce and a very smooth feel. *No Class: 1/20 & 2/17.

New Horizons Concert Band
Registration Unavailable

New Horizons Concert Band

$120

with Nina Andersen

Would you like to learn to play an instrument - do you have an instrument you used to play and want to try it again, or maybe you just want a fun, supportive place to play music? The Midcoast New Horizons Concert Band is a fun, supportive and non-competitive setting. All levels of musicians are welcome! Instructor Nina Andersen has 30 years of experience facilitating and supporting adults making music at whatever level they can. She is the Founder and Music Director of the Southern Maine New Horizons Band, Music Director of the New England Adult Music Camp and the Associate Conductor of the Harpswell Concert Band. She was also the Music Director of the Maine Pops Concert Band from 1997-2017. *No Class: 2/18.

Cuban Salsa: Level 1

$75

with Anna Golendukhina

Calendar Next available session starts Jan 8, 2025 at 7 pm, runs for 5 weeks

In this class, students will learn the basics of the Salsa footwork and some simple, fun moves that will get you out on the dance floor. You will learn how to connect with any partner, and build confidence dancing to different styles and tempos and music. Students will be introduced to the famous Salsa Rueda. Partner is recommended. This is a 5 session class.

Play the Ukulele, Your Journey Begins Here!

$79

with Duncan Perry

Calendar Next available session starts Feb 5, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 4 weeks
2 additional sessions through Mar 4, 2025

Learn to play the ukulele! It has never been more popular and you don't even have to know how to read music! On the uke you can knock out folk music, rock, blues, jazz, pop, country, tunes old and new -- even classical music. Duncan Perry, who has taught more than 700 students of all ages, will introduce you to essential chords and playing techniques using commonly known songs. Oh, and there are lots of laughs along the way. And, learning to play an instrument is good for your brain! You will need a playable ukulele and an electronic tuner or a tuner app. And when folks hear you play this happy instrument, well, they just have to smile! If you don’t own a ukulele, please contact Duncan at uketime24@gmail.com for information. What are you waiting for? Grab a uke and get ready for a musical adventure, then spread the joy!

Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People

$65

with Craig Coffman

Calendar Next available session starts Feb 17, 2025 at 6:30 pm, runs for 1 week

In just a few hours, you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give you years of musical enjoyment. Learn to play piano the way professionals do-using chords. The chord method is LOTS of fun and dramatically easier to learn than reading notes. Fee includes the online book, online follow up lessons, a recording of the class and also an optional periodic question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom and is partly hands-on instruction and partly lecture demonstration. *This course includes ONE live online session, and students follow up on their own with provided video lessons.





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