<cal1>Art
<cal2>Winter Art Classes. Registration is now open for art classes in Burke in drawing and watercolor painting for youth, teens and adults. Classes take place at the Woods Community Centre, Burke Centre, as follows: Art Lessons for Youth 8 and up, starting Feb. 1; Art Workshop for Teens/Adults, starting Feb. 1; and Chinese Brush Painting (Sumi-e) for Teens/Adults, starting Feb. 1. All classes run for eight weeks. Call the instructor, Carol Zeitlin, at 703-250-6930 for details and registration.
<cal1>Dancing
<cal2>Learn to Dance. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Partners not required. Learn salsa, merengue, cha-cha, pop and more. At Rene’s Night Club, 3251 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Party follows, $5 per person. Proper attire required. Free parking. For information or reservations, call 703-759-9380 or 703-856-1139.
Tap-dance lessons for Fairfax County Senior Citizens 55 and older will be held at Little River Glen Senior Center, Barker Court, located just off Route 236 and Olley Lane in Fairfax, on Wednesdays. Free. Call 703-370-1466.
Latin Dance will be held at Rene's Supper Club, located at 3251 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax, every Thursday from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. $5. Ladies free before 9 p.m. Proper attire required. Over 21 with ID. Call 703-759-9380 (day) or 703-385-0077 (evening).
Circle/Folk Dancing. Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church in Burke at 10125 Lake Haven Court will host a mixture of traditional folk dance and modern choreography from 7:45-10 p.m., on Feb. 1; March 1, 22; Apr. 5, 19; May 3, 17, 31; and June 7, 21. Cost: $35 for the series; $10 person/class (AE Boosters: $25 for the series or $5 person/class). For additional information, call Judi at 703-451-2595.
<cal1>Languages
<cal2>The New World Bilingual Institute offers classes in English as a Second Language, Chinese and Chinese painting, calligraphy and knotting arts at Thompson Hall at George Mason University in Fairfax. Children and adults. Classes meet Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1-6 p.m. and weekday evenings from 7-10 p.m. Registration required. Call 703-978-7905. New World Bilingual Institute (NWBI) opens its 2003 spring semester to the general public. Spring semester starts on Sunday, Jan. 26, at noon, with a Chinese New Year Celebration. Stage performances, lucky money, door prizes, riddles, prizes, food, cakes, drinks, refreshments and more. The event takes place at the Johnson Center ground floor multipurpose room on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University.
Greenspring Village’s “English As a Second Language” (ESL) program provides instruction to assist employees who want to improve their language skills. ESL classes meet twice a week. Volunteers who wish to enroll are asked to pay a $20 registration fee to be refunded at the completion of the course. Follow-up ESL courses for students who wish to continue are now in the planning stage. Greenspring Village, developed and managed by Erickson Retirement Communities, is headquartered in Catonsville, Md. For more information, check out their Web site address: www.ericksonretirement.com.
Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered by Hogar Hispano of Catholic Charities at 24 sites in Northern Virginia. $35 per semester. 703-534-9805, Ext. 222. Se habla espanol. Starts January.
<cal1>Knitting
<cal2>Finishing Class. Saturday, Feb. 8, 1-3 p.m, at The Yarn Barn, 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. Fee: $35. The difference between Hand Made or Home Made from an expert needle arts finisher. Call 703-978-2220 or visit www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
Honeycomb Technique. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The Yarn Barn, 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. Fee: $45. A class designed to enhance the visual effect of yarns similar to the honeycomb that bees make. Call 703-978-2220 or visit www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
Knitting. Five-week class beginning Thursday, Feb. 13, 6-8 p.m., at The Yarn Barn, 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. Fee: $70. Learn how to create knitted garments. Call 703-978-2220 or visit www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
Beginning Crochet. Five-week class beginning Saturday, Feb. 15, 1-3 p.m., at The Yarn Barn, 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. Fee: $70. Learn crochet to embellish knitted garments or create crocheted items. Call 703-978-2220 or visit www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
Sock Knitting on Two Circular Needles. Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 17 and 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The Yarn Barn, 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, Burke. Fee: $40. Learn a technique that can be used not only for socks but anywhere double pointed needles are called for. Call 703-978-2220 or visit www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
<cal1>Safety
<cal2>Lt. John Henderson teaches the City of Fairfax Fire Extinguisher Training program in Room 8 at the John C. Wood Municipal Complex, 3730 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax. Hands-on training will be offered using a fire simulator, which creates a small fire. To schedule classes, call the City of Fairfax Building and Fire Code Administration Office, 703-273-8109.
<cal1>Seniors
<cal2>Mature Operator's Driver Improvement Program (MOPDIP). This eight-hour class for Virginia residents 55 and older covers safe-driving information. The course is sanctioned by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and is presented by certified Fairfax County Auxiliary Police officers. On completion of this course, drivers are eligible for the Virginia state mandated insurance premium reduction (check with individual insurance carriers for the amount). The classes take place the second Saturday of each month. The next MOPDIP class will meet at the Franconia District Station located at 6121 Franconia Road, on Feb. 8. Registration is required. Call 703-924-6588. The fee for this course is $10 per person for books and materials.