Have you made any New Year resolutions?
The arrival of a new year often inspires many of us to embark on new challenges, learn new skills or take up a new hobby. Dorset boasts a wealth of talented artists, authors and performing artists and this is reflected in the many venues offering classes and workshops in an eclectic mix of creative, energetic and unusual activities and skills; so why not try something new this year and discover your inner artist and express yourself through the medium of sculpture or paint, or get your dancing shoes on and learn ballroom dancing? You can even have a go at making your own garden furniture? To inspire you, here’s a small selection of what’s on offer:
- Guy Mallinson’s woodland workshops are a range of two and five day courses set in woodland near the Jurassic Coast. You can learn how to carve a bowl or a totem pole, or how to making a coracle, a chestnut gate or a chair from a tree, as well as learn pottery skills. The courses are suitable for everyone: from complete novices to experienced green woodworkers. They also offer one day courses for children from aged 8 years. The courses are available from April to November and booking is essential.
- The Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis offers Ballroom dancing classes from 5th January. Classes are £4 each and take place every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm. Beginners and improvers are all welcome.
- The Monkton Wyld Court centre for sustainable living is presenting a very wide range of courses for 2011, including Introduction to Beekeeping, How to Set Up a Low-Impact Smallholding, Wild Food and Medicinal Plants, and Permaculture Design.
- The Dorset Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is open to all, and both informal and formal teaching takes place at their monthly meetings and workshops. They meet on the last Saturday in the month at the Youth Association Hall in Lubbecke Way, Dorchester. Admission is free.
