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.

Compassion meditation helps to bring more understanding and empathy toward others and yourself. Join this 2-hour mini-retreat to explore variations of Loving-Kindness meditation and a compassion practice which can be integrated informally into daily life. We will close with a brief period of discussion. All levels of experience are welcome. Please bring a yoga mat and a journal. Facilitator: Heather Shaughnessy-Cato.

Have you ever felt like Medicare regulations are a black box? There’s an alphabet soup of plans, a book of fine print and a calendar full of dates to remember. The whole thing seems like a mystery with too few clues to solve. Aaron Manning, a Licensed Insurance Agent with HealthMarkets, can answer many of the questions you may have about Medicare, from the beginning of the process on. He will discuss: when you are eligible, what is the timeline for enrollment without penalties, what original Medicare covers and what it doesn’t, what additional plans work in conjunction with original Medicare, and your financial assistance options.

Learn basic sign language communication, including the manual alphabet, fingerspelling, numbers, vocabulary, Deaf culture, and familiar phrases to enhance communication with Deaf and hard of hearing family, friends, co-workers, students, clients, and customers. Previous sign language experience, textbooks, and a dictionary are not required. Your instructor will supply all materials. Martin Samelson has taught ASL to college and high school students in private lessons, corporate programs, and job development with Deaf clients. ASL is a visual language, so no textbook is required. The instructor will supply all materials. Our IN-PERSON instruction will include Deaf culture, hand-shapes for the A-B-Cs and number systems, vocabulary and simple sentence structures. Each class will include time for you to practice and suggestions for at-home practice. We will NOT be using ZOOM for any portion of this class.

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!

Join our immersive cooking class where you’ll learn the time-honored secrets behind New York’s iconic bagels. In this hands-on experience, you’ll craft your own bagel dough from scratch, knead it to perfection, and master the art of hand-rolling. As the dough transforms into those chewy, golden rings, we’ll guide you through the traditional boiling and baking process—the very same steps that make Brooklyn bagels legendary. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious food enthusiast, this class promises a delightful journey into bagel bliss. All ingredients, materials, equipment and recipes will be provided. Program is presented by Jeff Mao of Knead & Nosh in Topsham, ME.

Delve into the iconic style of pop art, characterized by bold colors and striking compositions. Choose either a person or a pet to immortalize in bold brush strokes and brilliant colors. After signing up for this class you will need to email shirl.art5050@mail.com with 5 good quality photos of your person or beloved pet.

Get hands-on with Needhams, an iconic Maine candy made from our state's top crop - potatoes! Learn the story behind this tasty treat, while whipping up a batch of your own with potatoes grown right here in Maine. In addition to learning the original and classic recipe, participants will learn easy ways to customize their potato candy with non-traditional mix-ins and flavors. Each student will leave with potato candy recipes and their own batch of handmade Needhams to share with family and friends for Valentine’s day! Taught by Liz Gross, Presented by Maine Tasting Center.