If you are looking for something fun and creative to do to help dispel the boredom of those dull winter days, we’ve got just the thing for you!
Arts organisation Kaleidoscope will be kicking off the new year in style with a brand new programme of online creative classes and workshops exclusively for older people. The classes are presented by Imagine Arts and will be hosted right here on Greysnet.
The classes will cover a selection of colourful and creative pursuits from sketching to singing, movement to mindfulness. Each of the courses will be led by experienced professional tutors and will be fully interactive so participants can engage with the tutors and the other participants. And best of all the classes are completely free, thanks to the support of the Community Foundation and the Arts Culture and Heritage Fund.
The classes will begin in January 2021 and will continue until the end of March. We’ll be added new classes each month. Here’s a look at what’s in store in the first few weeks.
Feel Good Moves (starts Monday 4th January 3pm weekly)
Get the week off to a positve start with a little light movement and music in the company of the wonderful Charmaine. Charmaine uses the power of dance and movement to create a positive sense of physical and emotional wellbeing. “Listening to your favourite music and getting the body moving helps to lift your spirit and makes the body and mind feel good. So join me for a series of workshops – moving to feel good.”
Learn To Draw (starts Tuesday 5th January 11am weekly)
Robert Peters is an artist and facilitator with over thirty years of experience. This course is designed to improve participants’ observation skills, hone their control of drawing media and deepen their understanding of shape and form through a series of exercises, drawn from art history. The six sessions concentrate on rendering 2-dimensional forms to increase pencil control and eye-hand coordination. Previous participants have commented that engaging with pure form through drawing leads to a calming of the mind, producing an almost meditative state that bolstered their sense of wellbeing.
Singing with Vessie (starts Thursday 14th January 11am weekly)
Join award winning choir mistress Vessie Ivanova as she helps participants to improve their singing voice and experience the pure joy of singing with others. Participants will learn breathing and body exercises, expression and storytelling to improve their performance skills. The group will explore songs from different genres and learn about different styles of singing.
The Sound Healing Spa (starts Friday 8th January 11am weekly)
Tessa Anne from The Sound Healing Spa leads an online sound relaxation experience using the concept of therapeutic sound to provide a space for participants to relax using the medium of sound. The sessions will combine guided relaxation, recorded sounds and instruments played live, so the participants may experience a real-time relaxation session.
How to Take Part
The Imagine Arts classes are free to participate in and there’s no need to sign up in advance just use the ZOOM link on the classes page to join the class at the start time. It’s easy and fun so why not give it a go!
You can find out about all of the courses by logging on to the “Classes” section of the Greysnet website and searching for the one you want. You’ll find the Zoom links for each weeks class and all the other information you’ll need.
Mary Cunningham
Absolutely Delighted with this innovative project! Can’t wait to attend these classes.
Thank you so much.
Pauline Bailey
Sounds a brilliant idea. Will definitely give it a try. Many thanks
Jeanne Couch
Sounds wonderful thank you so much
Bernadine Livings
What a lovely surprise when I opened up the email, will definitely give the classes a try, especially the mindfulness one
Iris cannon
Looking forward to music and dance.
Hazel Jones
Looking forward to taking part in some of these classes. Thank you for bringing them to us oldies.
Hazel Jones
Looking forward to taking part in some of these classes. Thank you for bringing them to us oldies.
Anne Galbraith
Interested in the singing project, also the relaxation.
Carol Pirie
Did you mention Mindfulness at one stage?
Lynne Billingham
What good news!!
Kathryn Edgerton
Tried the dance and exercise today really enjoyed and felt the benefits. Kathryn in Scotland
Mary Cunningham
Hi Kathryn ! This is Mary from Newry! Delighted to see you are from Scotland! Our daughter lives in East Lothian. I love Scotland! Will look out for you next Monday! Loved that class! Charmaine is amazing.
Rosemary
Looking forward to to taking part
Janice delaney
How do you join ‘feel good moves’
Kerry Rooney
Hi Janice
It’s easy, just go to the page each Monday just before 3pm and click on the Zoom link to join the class.
Greys
John Wills
Came across this interesting site via a link in a U3A email. Are there age restrictions that prevent people under a certain age from joining the Zoom presentations?
Kerry Rooney
Hi John
We don’t really have any strict age restrictions. The site and the classes are intended for older people.
Greys
Valerie Eckett
Will be hoping to join in a few classes looking forward to relaxation abnd maybe a bit of drawing and just experimenting. Thank you
IAN STYLES
THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THIS INFORMATION. I DO NEED ASSISTANCE QUITE OFTEN IN COPING WITH ASPECTS OF GOOGLE DOCS/SHEETS. I DOUBT VERY MUCH IF SUCH ADVICE FALLS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THAT WHICH YOU CAN OFFER. IF I AM INCORRECT PLEASE ADVISE ME. THANK YOU .
June Russell
Will you be doing the drawing classes again, as I’ve only just learned about them?
Kerry Rooney
Hi June
The drawing class will be running for six weeks so there’s still plenty of time to participate. If you missed the first class there’s a link on the Pencil Drawing page where you can watch it again.
Greys
Carole tyrrell
Please tell me how I can access all the courses as unclear
Kerry Rooney
Hi Carole
Just go to Greysnet, go to the Classes section (at the top) click on a class you’d like to join. See the date and time for the class and click on the Zoom link to join the class at that time.
Greys
Mary Keenan
Very interested in some of these,, Thanks so much hope I’m not too late as I see some already started?
Sharron
Thank you 🙏
What better way than to do something that we enjoy 😊
Arti Kumar
I have been doing the Feel Good Moves since the beginning and so enjoy the sessions with Charmaine. I want to thank her for making my Mondays so enjoyable — she is so very uplifting and cheerful.
Doreen Lowe
I am so grateful for these classes. I have been joining zoom cafe with Teresa and feel good moves with Charmaine. since the start. Both quite different but equally good. A Monday morning chat, hosted by the lovely Teresa, with a lovely group of people, particularly during lockdown has been something nice to look forward to. It’s been great to hear from other people about life in there part of the world and ways in which they are coping. Who doesn’t feel their spirits have been lifted by a cuppa and a chat?
The feel good moves with the absolutely delightful Charmaine has been fun but also uplifting for which I am very thankful. In addition to that the exercise is beneficial to us all. I will be so sorry when these sessions end but am thankful that I have been a part of them.