Best of
Chatham
Family
fun
s at these readers’ Create lasting memorie t spaces and adventure favorite art studios, evenes for all ages havens that offer activiti By LEAH BERRY
Bust a Move
et grooving at 7 Dance Centre, a Pittsboro dance school that provides a creative environment where participants learn to express themselves and find their personal strengths. The studio’s full season starts Sept. 3, with classes running through May 2025, and there’s a wide variety of programs for all ages and skill levels – from ballet, jazz and contemporary to clogging, hip-hop, acro, combination classes and more. Sign up for a “My Grown Up & Me”
106
C H AT H A M M AG A Z I N E
class for ages 2-3 – where tiny dancers can explore the possibilities of dance – or become a student yourself and meet some new friends in an adult dance class. Visit 7dancecentre. com to see the comprehensive list of classes and register your little – or big – ones! The school’s resident youth theater program, 7 Dramatic Arts, also hosts a “Spooky Songs” camp for ages 3-10 from Oct. 1-29, or join the audience for a production of “Six: Teen Edition,” following the six wives of Henry VIII, Sept. 27-29.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
Get Your Hands Dirty
C
layworx Studios in Pittsboro offers creative
clay classes suitable for all ages and levels, where you can start – or continue – your journey with clay. Older kids can stop by the studio for a ceramics or throwing class, with sessions held regularly throughout the year. The “Teens on Wheels” program caters to ages 16-20 and explores the process of crafting functional ware and art with clay, including how to center clay on the wheel, surface decoration, the drying process, trimming, glazing and firing. A new session begins Sept. 3, continuing for four weeks, and another starts Oct. 1 and concludes on Oct. 22. “Youth Clay Explorations” is a ceramics program for ages 8-16 that teaches participants different handbuilding techniques for creating and finishing projects in clay, with the last session giving students a quick introduction to throwing on a potter’s wheel. A new group kicks off Sept. 5 and runs through Sept. 26, followed by a session from Oct. 3 through Oct. 24. Or, join your teens for a “Morning in the Mud” workshop – a three-hour session open to anyone ages 16 and up that encourages beginners to discover their inner potter. Participants will explore several different methods of working with clay, including wheel throwing, slab building and modeling. “These are perfect for those who want to do something with the family, and get a starting taste for clay,” Jane Burgess, Clayworx instructor and co-owner, says. Check out the studio’s website, clayworxstudios.com, for exact dates to come!
Clayworx’s “Teens on Wheels” program is designed for young adults aged 16-20 who are interested in exploring the art of throwing clay on the wheel. Learn a new skill and have some fun – no prior experience required!