<cal1>Fiction Writing
<cal2>Novelist and short story writer Richard Bausch teaches a free fiction-writing workshop for the community beginning Monday, Jan. 27, at George Mason University. Entry into the 14-week workshop is by manuscript approval. The class will meet from 7:30-10 p.m. on the Fairfax campus each Monday during the spring semester. People interested in taking the workshop should submit manuscripts to Barbara Gomperts, Mail Stop 3E4, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Manuscripts should be a complete short story written in the style of literary fiction. No genre fiction will be accepted. The deadline for manuscripts is Friday, Jan. 10, 2003. For more information contact Gomperts at 703-993-1180.
<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 for the following classes: Art Lessons for Youth 8 years and up, starting Jan. 21, 23 and Feb. 1; Drawing Plus Color for 5-8 years, starting Jan. 21; 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/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 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Jan. 18; 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.
Ballroom I and Latin Dances classes will take place at Oaks Community Center, 5708 Oak Leather Drive in Burke starting Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. The six-week session (8 hours) costs $52 per person. There is a free make-up class. For singles and couples. Call Cy 703-250-5360.
<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
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 x222. Se habla espanol. Starts January.
<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 Jan. 11 and Feb. 8, 2003. Registration is required. Call 703-924-6588. The fee for this course is $10 per person for books and materials.