<cal1>Dancing
<cal2>Israeli Dance Class. Tuesdays, 8-10 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Beginners, intermediates and advanced. $5/session/JCCNV member; $6/non-member; $4/student or senior. Reservations not required. 301-982-0937.
Learn to Dance Salsa and Meringue at Rene’s Club, 3251 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. For beginners and advanced students. Learn basics and advanced techniques, Latin moves, combination footwork, spinning, breaks, timing, style and shine. Group class meets Thursdays and Fridays, 8-9 p.m. Partner not required. Proper attire. Call 703-759-9380.
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.
Learn the Social Dances. Cy Richardson's group classes teach ballroom, Latin, swing, night club and country-western/polka on Tuesday nights at the Oaks Community Center, 5708 Oak Leather Drive, Burke. Six-week sessions (eight hours) are $52 per person. Free make-up class. Singles and couples welcome. Next session, ballroom I and swing/night club, starts Sept. 2. Call Cy at 703-250-5360.
<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 on Saturday, Sept. 13, from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Franconia District Station located at 6121 Franconia Road. A subsequent seminar is scheduled for Oct. 11, at the same time and location. Call 703-924-6588. The fee for this course is $10 per person for books and materials.
<cal1>College Prep
<cal2>Focusing in on College. A workshop to help frame skills, interests, personality style. Develops a college plan. Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 3018 Javier Road, second floor, Fairfax. $50 for the series. 703-204-9100.
<cal1>Languages
<cal2>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.
<cal1>Safety
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Power Squadron will be offering boat safety classes conducted by certified instructors. Classes will cover boating rules, navigation and more. Courses will cost $39. Family rate available. Classes will take place on Sept. 9. at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, and Oct. 20 at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield. Register with Fairfax Parks and Recreation at 703-222-4664 or 703-449-8639. For more class times and locations, visit www.usps.org/localuspsp/nva/.
<cal1>Art
<cal2>Fall Art Classes. Registration is now open for classes in drawing and watercolor painting for youth, teens and adults. Carol Zeitlin, the instructor, is a member of the Springfield Art Guild and Sumi-e Society, D.C. chapter. For more information or to register, call the instructor at 703-250-6930 or visit www.geocities.com/czeitlinschneier. Sessions will be offered at the Woods Community Center. Art Lessons for Youth 8 years and up start Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 4:30 -5:45 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 18, at 5:15-6:30 p.m.; or Saturday, Sept. 13. at 9:15-10:30 a.m.; classes continue for eight or seven weeks. Drawing Plus Color for 5-8 years starts Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 5:45-6:30 p.m. or Thursday, Sept. 25, at 4:30-5:45 p.m.; classes continue for five weeks. Art Workshop for Teens/Adults starts Saturday, Sept. 13, at 11-12:15 a.m.; classes continue for seven weeks. Chinese Brush Painting (Sumi-e) for Teens/Adults starts Saturday, Sept. 13, at 11-12:15 a.m.; classes continue for seven weeks.
<cal1>Knitting/Crochet
<cal2>The Yarn Barn, located at 9413-C Old Burke Lake Road, is offering classes in knitting, crocheting and basket weaving. For more information contact Penny Sampson, at 703-978-2220 or 1-800-762-5274. The Web site is www.geocities.com/theyarnbarnonline.
$5 Project Help Workshops: Wednesday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday mornings, 8 to 10 a.m.
Beginning Knitting. Five lessons. Thursdays 6 - 8 p.m. $70 plus materials. Learn how to create knitted garments. Participants learn to cast on, knit, purl, increase, decrease, cable, bind off, pick up stitches for neck and seam pieces together. Dates: Sept. 11-Oct., 9; Oct. 16-Nov. 13; Jan. 8-Feb. 5.
Beginning Crochet. Five lessons. Saturdays, 1-2 p.m. $70 plus materials. Learn crochet to embellish knitted garments or create crocheted items. Participants learn to chain, single crochet and double crochet as they crochet a granny square and a woven-effect scarf. Dates: Sept. 13-Oct. 11; Nov. 15-Dec. 20; Jan. 10-Feb. 7.
Yarn Making. Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Participants learn to combine colors and textures to create a unique signature yarn.
The Purse Class. $20 plus materials. Participants learn to make a small seed stitch purse with a fringed top. Skills taught include seed stitch, loop stitch, three-needle bind off, I-cord. Pattern included. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills. Offered on Mondays, Oct. 6 and Nov. 3. Times: 3-4:30 p.m., 6-7:30 p.m., or 7:30-9 p.m.
Two Circ Socks. Two lessons. Mondays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., $40 plus materials. Participants learn to knit a small tube on two circular needles to join a round, to turn a heel, and to close a toe with kitchener stitch or a three-needle bind off, if preferred. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills. Dates: Sept. 22-29; Nov. 10-17; Dec. 1-8; Jan. 5-12.
Toe Up Socks. Two lessons, Mondays, Oct. 20 and 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m. $40 plus materials. Follow up the Socks on Circs class with a different approach. Learn a “figure 8” cast on, increasing for the toe and gusset, a new way to turn the heel, and a stretchy bind-off. The pattern is written for two circular needles. Prerequisite: Socks on Circs class or equivalent skills.
Honeycomb. Tuesday, Sept. 2; Tuesday, Nov. 4, and Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Participants learn a two-yarn technique that produces a fabric resembling a bee’s honeycomb. Participants also learn knitted smocking. Class handouts include a pattern for a honeycomb cardigan sweater with smocked yoke and rib finish, which one can start in class. Prerequisite: beginning knitting, or equivalent skills.
Entrelac. Tuesday, Sept. 16 or Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30-8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Participants learn to knit a fabric that consists of a series of interlocking squares that look as if they are woven together. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.
Shardigan. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. A unique and graceful garment with interesting construction. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.
Geometric Rectangles. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Knit rectangles and squares, joining them to create a sweater of individual design and style. This class will create a garment using the technique of Horst Schultz. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.
Mitred Squares. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Learn the art of knitting diamonds and half diamonds, joining them as they are knit to form a garment or afghan. The design relies on different colored stripes, one dark and one light per square. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.
Triangle Adventure. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $45 plus materials. Learn to create a garment or afghan constructed with knitted triangle motifs, joined as they are knit. Prerequisite: beginning knitting or equivalent skills.