Class act
LEARNING CURVE Time to add to your repertoire. Learn the language, brush up on your artistic skills, write that bestseller, play more than ‘chopsticks’ on the piano. We’ve tracked down the local heroes who will help you score top marks
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o your golf handicap is on the up, and your bridge-playing is improving, but what other talents lurking there that could do with a polish? Now’s the time to feed your mind and body and take up new interests…
ART BJ (that’s Barbara Jane) is the first port of call for budding artists, whether absolute beginners who have yet to learn the difference between acrylics and watercolours, or practised talents ready for some professional tutoring. The groups are small, which means you get the attention of BJ herself, an artist and qualified teacher, or Fabiano Nonato who specialisies in photorealism drawing. The spacious studio is in the International Church in Vale Judea; classes cover acrylics, water colour, drawing, mixed media and pastels. Costs are ¤12 for a two and a half-hour session, evening classes are ¤10 for two hours. 916 103 050 Bernadette Martins runs a tile-painting workshop for groups (kids included) of up to six. Part of Loulé Creativo, her workshop is conducted in Portuguese, English and French and focuses on the techniques of the 17th century. Think blue cobalt pigment, fauna, flora and figures. The cost is ¤15. 914 184 801 / bernadetteceramics@gmail.com for details of where and when the next session is planned. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Vitor Pena shares his knowledge and passion for capturing life around him as he walks his groups around Loulé. The next three-hour session is in May but you need to book early as he will only take a maximum of ten keen snappers (with their own equipment). His programme includes framing stories through the use of light and shadow, portraying strangers in their daily lives, capturing stories and connecting thm to the city and the street. A wonderfully spent ¤10. 929 112 824 / vitordasilvaphotography@gmail.com DANCE Fábio Henriques (six times National Champion of Ballroom Professionals) is Vice President of Clube de Dancas João de Deus and runs one hour tango classes at their studios in Loulé (Tuesday 9.30pm) and São Brás (Wednesday 7.20m). One class session a week will set you back just ¤20 a month, or you can pay ¤7 a class. Private lessons can be booked in Faro. Call Fábio on 964 769 423 for details, then think about the dressing up opportunities (though he recommends comfy clothing and “shoes that can slide without effort on a wooden floor”. Ballroom, flamenco, salsa etc are also on offer. STRETCH David Gallego runs twice-weekly classes at ASCA in Almancil, combining stretch with a bit of yoga and pilates. Once you get into the swing of it, you’ll feel great. The one-
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hour sessions start at 11.45am and the cost is ¤35 a month. David is the man to ask about ballet classes in Vilamoura, too. 918 392 896. YOGA Casa Vida’s August and September two-hour sessions include 90 minutes of Yogaflow – restorative and Yin style yoga practice based on the traditional hatha yoga system – followed with 30 minutes of Mindful meditation and yoga Nidra relaxation. Healthy snacks are provided. ¤25 cost per session. Also planned is a five-day residential retreat, 26 September to 1 October that begins with early morning meditation, Mindful yogaflow, healthy homecooked vegetarian cuisine, creative workshops, rest time by the pool, early evening restorative yoga, finishing with yoga Nidra relaxation under the stars. There’s a special offer to Simply Algarve readers for the residental package – contact Annie Moore at moorwellbeing@gmail.com for details. QUILTING CLASSES Gillian Stapleton’s Thursday morning quilting classes in and around Tavira are pretty packed, but it is always worth calling incase someone pulls out. However, big things are planned for later in the year when the new Quinta da Fonte do Bispo in Santa Caterina is completed. There Gill will take charge of a purpose-built- studio for quilting, sewing and other needlecrafts. Call her now to get your name on the list but be warned if you have never quilted before that once you get started you will develop a passion for it, and huge pride in what you create. 966 006 437 / gillstap@aol.com
PIANO LESSONS John Evans teaches piano on a one-to-one basis, mostly in the homes of his students. He accepts pupils of any age, from children to senior citizens, including complete beginners. He does require that his students have access to a suitable instrument – an acoustic upright or grand piano, or a touch-responsive electronic keyboard with an authentic piano voice and a compass of 88 notes. Adult beginners usually have a clear idea of what kind of music they ultimately want to tackle (classical, popular, jazz, standards etc) and John will always try to accommodate preferences. 916 206 792 / jevans@oninet.pt MAC MAN Russell Newton, as one of the only three AppleCare Mentor Trainers outside of the US, delivers official training to technicians and Support Professionals around the world. Here on the Algarve he focuses on one-to-one, and group training for individuals and companies. Whether an elderly person wants to learn how to text their family on
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