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. ***Course Fee is for 10 sessions between June and August.

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created. Please note: There is a $60 cancellation fee for this program.

*More about the retreat location: Escape to a Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artists, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy-balloted sing-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordan Ward. For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/. **Lodgings not included in price.

*More about the retreat location: Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight access to accommodations in the park. **Lodgings not included in price.

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together! Please note: There is a $60 cancellation fee for this program.

*More about the retreat location: Escape to a Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artists, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy-balloted sing-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordan Ward. For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/. **Lodgings not included in price.

*More about the retreat location: Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight access to accommodations in the park. **Lodgings not included in price.

Let our Adult Ed program make the arrangements for the tickets, transportation, food (all you can eat) and parking, so you can enjoy a baseball game watching the future stars of the Boston Red Sox. Seats are in the Gifford’s Home Maine Ice Cream pavilion located in right-field. Modeled after the iconic “Monster Seats” at Fenway Park, the Pavilion offers some of the most unique seats in Minor League Baseball.  The Portland Sea Dogs are the double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Sea Dogs will be playing the Hartford Yard Goats (Colorado Rockies affiliate) with a start time of 6:00. Book your nine inning vacation as soon as possible, we have only the capacity of 08 fans for this trip. Instructor: Chris Chessie

Learn to create your own set of three sterling silver stacking rings in this fun, hands-on workshop! You will start with a selection of different shaped sterling silver wires. Then you'll be guided through the basics of soldering, shaping, texturing, and polishing your rings to make a custom stack that’s uniquely yours. No experience needed—just come ready to create!

Enjoy a relaxing evening sipping hot chocolate or tea while carving thoughtful designs into pre-made pottery by Janna and Zachary. Learn the sgraffito technique—scratching through colored slip to reveal the clay beneath—and leave your piece for firing. Finished work ready for pickup two weeks later. All tools and materials provided. $20 materials fee payable to the instructor. No experience needed.

Learn to shuck like a pro with a local oyster farmer. In this relaxed, hands-on class, practice shucking with your own dozen oysters, test out raw and grilled preparations, and learn about oyster farming straight from the source. Your local oysters are some of the best in the world - start shucking them yourself! Taught by Jean Vande Moortel, presented by Maine Tasting Center. *All equipment provided for use during class. If you would like to purchase a set of gloves and shucking knife to take home ($10), please let us know in advance by emailing Maine Tasting Center at sara@mainetastingcenter.com.

In this two-part workshop, you’ll explore the dramatic and hands-on process of raku firing. In Part 1, you’ll sculpt a piece in clay and watch a live raku firing demo. Three weeks later in Part 2, you’ll glaze and fire your own work using the raku method—removing red-hot pieces from the kiln and placing them into combustibles for stunning, unpredictable results. No experience necessary. All tools and materials provided. $20 materials fee payable to the instructor. This class is 2 sessions. Finished pieces will go home after the second session. *Rain Date for the June Session will be 6/27.