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. *This class meets on the following Thursdays: 9/3, 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 12/3, 12/17 (8 sessions total).

Discover the Spanish language through conversation, culture, and cooking! In this beginner-friendly class, you'll learn practical vocabulary and phrases for everyday situations while building confidence through interactive discussions and activities. Each session also features a hands-on cooking experience, where you'll prepare traditional Mexican dishes while practicing Spanish in a relaxed and supportive environment. Whether you're new to the language or looking for a fun way to refresh your skills, this course offers a delicious introduction to Spanish and Mexican culture.

What You'll Learn

Week 1: Spanish Basics & EnchiladasLearn how to introduce yourself, talk about your interests, and practice basic conversation while preparing traditional enchiladas.

Week 2: Everyday Verbs & Sopes de TingaBuild your vocabulary with common verbs and simple grammar, then put your skills into practice while making authentic sopes de tinga.

Week 3: Building Sentences & Bistec RancheroLearn how to form questions and complete sentences, gain confidence speaking Spanish, and prepare a classic bistec ranchero meal.

Week 4: Spanish Cooking Challenge & PresentationWork as a team to prepare a traditional dish and agua fresca using the skills you've learned throughout the course, then present your creation in Spanish.

MEET JUANA!
Juana Williams is an Environmental Engineer, native Spanish speaker, and fluent English communicator who has called Maine home for the past three years. Passionate about nature and the environment, she also enjoys cooking authentic Mexican cuisine. Inspired by a longing for the flavors of home, Juana began preparing traditional Mexican dishes and loves sharing them with family and friends.

Learn proper punches, kicks, and combinations with a NASM Certified Personal Trainer! This fun, high-energy series combines bag training, 1:1 mitt work, and adjustable cardio conditioning for all levels. Free glove and wrap rentals included. Sweat, learn, and crush your goals in a supportive environment! Led by Meagan Rudge of DöRū Fitness, NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Head Trainer.

*DATE CHANGE: This program was originally scheduled to run on Friday 9/25. It will now run on Friday 10/2.

Create your own signature perfume in this hands-on workshop. Explore the art of scent blending, learn how fragrance notes work together, and design a custom fragrance that reflects your personal style. Enjoy a fun, elevated experience and leave with a beautifully bottled scent that’s uniquely yours. What’s Included: All materials and supplies (vessels, fragrance oils, tools, etc.), guided step-by-step instruction, and a unique and memorable experience for participants. Led by Shannan Heacock of Northista Scent Bar in Saco.

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. *A $20 materials fee is payable to the instructor. No experience needed.

Tis the spooky season and time to build a monster of a story for chills and thrills. Learn how to stitch the parts of a plot, setting, and character together into hair-raising tales of things that go bump in the night. Class takes place on Zoom. Students must have reliable internet, and an audio and video enable computer, tablet, or smartphone to participate.

Families face many hurdles during the college admissions process. Many of those hurdles are related to money and the question “can I afford it?” Don’t let money block your son or your daughter from attending their dream school. Allow AI to lift the strain of finances during the college admission process. AI such as Chat GPT and Google Gemini can burst open doors for parents, students, high school college admission counselors, during this process. Learn how to find scholarships, grants, community awards, at a fraction of the time. Learn 24+ killer prompts to give AI to get the best results. Get specific financial aid info from the university of your choice. Preethi Fernando is the author of “Free Money: A Guide to Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grants.” Objectives include: 1. How to give great prompts to AI to get focused answers related to college financial aid; 2. How to write persuasive grant proposals for college using AI; 3. How to search for colleges that you have never heard of, that give awards and grants.

Interested in the night sky? Join us for an enchanted evening of star-gazing! Hosted by members of Southern Maine Astronomers (SMA), these ‘star parties’ include naked eye, binocular, telescopic, or electronically-aided telescopic viewing with the support of trained volunteers, as well as brief talks or demonstrations focused on the how-to's of observing. SMA is a community of folks interested in astronomy, a few of us even do that as a job. We learn and exchange ideas at meetings that include an astronomy talk and open mic discussions of recent observing experiences or other astro-bites. The tone is light, we're in this for fun. We look at (or photograph) stuff in the sky at our star parties, talk about the objects we see, share views and information about our gear. *Rain/Cloud Date: 10/17.