lifelong LEARNING

IF YOU’VE BEEN YEARNING TO TAKE UP A CRAFT, HARNESS A TALENT OR LEARN A NEW SKILL, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. WE’VE ROUNDED UP ENJOYABLE AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS IN THE UPPER HIGHWAY AREA – WITH EVERYTHING FROM WEEKDAY CLASSES TO EVENING COURSES AND WEEKEND WORKSHOPS story and pictures jess

Discoveryourunique stylewithanartclass

Make space on your wall for a personal masterpiece! Artist and interior designer Sandra Badenhorst has started running weekly art classes from her Kloof studio, and her lessons are wonderfully inspiring.

Suitable for beginners and more advanced artists, Voila Studio’s students will learn about various painting styles and experiment with different mediums, such as acrylic, charcoal, pencil and oil paints.

There are weekday morning and evening classes, with a small class size (maximum of eight students per class) ensuring that students become a dab hand at drawing and mixing colours.

Voila Studio also offers weekly art classes for children, as well as being a superb party venue for young and old alike.

FOR MORE INFO

082 922 2692; voilastudio.co.za

Master the waltz with ballroom dance classes

If you don’t know your promenade from your shadow position, let Dance With Me Shirley show you the art of ballroom dancing.

For over 15 years, former championship ballroom dancers Peter Jordaan and Shirley Meintjes have been holding weekly social dance classes for all ages at Clifton Hills Lifestyle Estate.

The emphasis is on social dancing, which is a great way to meet new people and learn popular ballroom dance steps, all while getting in some exercise. However, they cater to advanced dancers as well, with choreography tailored accordingly.

The eight-week foundation course is the ideal introduction to ballroom dancing and will see you mastering the quickstep in no time. Private lessons are also available, perfect for first dances and weddings. Fancy a whirl?

FOR MORE INFO

082 495 6244; W dancewithme

Pursue the age-old craft of woodworking

Rediscover this time-honoured skill with teacher Max Kilroe-Smith at his Hillcrest workshop.

Woodpeckers Carpentry Workshop has its roots in teaching children how to make toys, but has grown to offer basic to advanced private carpentry lessons for adults.

Picture frames, planter boxes, headboards and wine racks are just a few of their most popular projects, with one student even making an Adirondack chair over the course of a few lessons!

Using recycled Baltic pine as the basis for your creation, you’ll get to grips with set squares, chisels, mallets, planes, clamps, power tools and more. Safety comes first and lessons are tailored to suit individual requirements and abilities, making it the ideal setting for aspiring carpenters. »

FOR MORE INFO

082 854 4754; W woodpeckerscarpentryschool