Students in WVU’s Community Arts Program now have the opportunity to take summer classes in the beautiful Bructeon Mills and Brandonville areas of Preston County. Registration runs now through June 16th.

Parents can drop off the kids for a dance class at the quaint new Mill Stone Ice Cream Shop in Bruceton Mills and go next door to browse the unique gifts at Hostetler’s Country Store. They can also stop by one of the lovely antique shops in town.

Others may want to take a drawing, painting or digital photography class in the picturesque Brandonville Town Hall, while some may enjoy the serenity of T’ai Chi, an ancient and gentle martial art, at the Mill Stone.

Summer classes being offered in Preston County include:

Ballet: (ages 4-5) Tuesdays, June 22-July 27 from 3:00-3:45 p.m. and (ages 6-8) from 4:00-4:45 p.m. at the Mill Stone Ice Cream Shop in Bruceton Mills

Creative Modern Dance: (ages 9-12): Tuesdays, June 22-July 27 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and (teen through adult) from 6:15-7:15 p.m. at the Mill Stone Ice Cream Shop in Bruceton Mills: This class emphasizes use of imagination and creativity as expressed in the movement of the body. Moving rhythmically to music and percussive beat develops students dance technique and body control. Students are encouraged to express their own ideas and feelings through dance movement experiences.

T’ai Chi: (ages 13 to adult) Wednesdays, July 7-August 11 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the Mill Stone Ice Cream Shop in Bruceton Mills: T’ai Chi is both a martial art and a form of gentle exercise practiced in China for hundreds of years. A versatile art form, it is found to be complimentary to a number of other movement and meditative practices, such as Pilates, weightlifting, sitting meditation, yoga and other martial arts. T’ai Chi allows for a deeper connection to the wisdom of the body, instilling feelings of balance and calm.

Drawing Fun for Kids: (ages 7 to 12) Wednesdays, June 23-July 28 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Brandonville Town Hall: This is a fun class that helps kids understand the fundamentals of drawing. Children will develop individual skills and explore their own creativity. The benefits of drawing extend throughout many facets of learning and provide the basis for other creative activities. Drawing helps students learn the art of self-expression and how to develop important communication skills.

Classical Drawing Fundamentals: (ages 13 to adult) Wednesdays, June 23-July 28 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. at Brandonville Town Hall: This is a fun class that teaches the fundamentals of classical drawing. Students will develop their individual skills, master the art of self-expression and navigate their own creativity by exploring their inner artist!

Beginning Painting: (ages 7-12) Wednesdays, June 23-July 28 from 3:45-4:45 p.m. and (ages 13 to adult) from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Brandonville Town Hall: This class is designed to introduce young students to the basic and most important principles of painting, such as color theory, design and studio practices, as well as the balance between form and color. The class will utilize classical approaches to painting and students will gain a better understanding of history through painting, from past to present. Students will be taught according to their individual abilities.

Fashion Design Sketch: (ages 10 to adult) Wednesdays, June 23-July 28 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Brandonville Town Hall: This fun new class will focus on learning various drawing techniques of fashion sketching and design to help students bring their creative ideas to life. Looking back at the history of fashion sketch and learning these special techniques, students will gain the knowledge needed to help inspire them to create and communicate their own contemporary fashion ideas.

Introduction to Digital Photography: (ages 13 to adult) Mondays, July 12-August 9 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Brandonville Town Hall: This informative class will teach students basic photographic skills. Topics include equipment, lenses, focusing, ISO, depth of field, shooting modes, how to use artificial light, composition and basic editing on the computer.

For more information, call the WVU Community Arts Program at 304-293-4841 ext. 3168.

Interested students may also email CommunityArts@mail.wvu.edu, or visit http://communityarts.wvu.edu for class and registration information, registration forms, policies and teacher bios.

Students may pay by check, Visa or MasterCard, through the mail, fax or in person. Students are encouraged to register via mail. The mailing address is: Community Arts Program, P.O. Box 6111, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6111.

Office hours in Room 401A of the WVU Creative Arts Center are Monday-Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

-WVU-

06/11/10

CONTACT: Jeanne Frieben, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4841 ext. 3185, Jeanne.Frieben@mail.wvu.edu

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