Registration under way for exciting fall semester at Renaissance Center

Release Date: 8/15/2008. Expired: 9/1/2008

Registration is under way for the fall semester of classes at The Renaissance Center, which begins the week of Aug. 25.

Dozens of classes in visual arts, music, dance and theatre are available during the center’s 15-week fall session. Registration will continue through the first week of classes.

“As with each semester, we have several new offerings as well as all of the usual favorites on the schedule for fall,” said Bob Kucher, senior director of fine arts at The Renaissance Center. “We continue to be responsive to what people tell us they are interested in by finding qualified instructors and adding to our list of fun and enriching classes and workshops.”

Some of the new class offerings for fall include:

A scrapbooking class;

A knitting class for ages 7-13;

An advanced knitting techniques class;

A machine quilting class;

An advanced darkroom photography class;

A beginning ballroom dancing class for ages 6-12;

Advanced tap and ballet classes;

An advanced ballroom dance class focusing on foxtrot and swing;

An intermediate piano class for adults;

A songwriting class with professional songwriter Steve Leslie;

Vocal performance classes for kids and adults with Wendy Bledsoe-Payne, and;

An introduction to creative writing class.

The schedule also includes a long list of past favorite offerings such as:

Palette Playhouse, Learning from the Masters, Artful Adventures, American Indian Art, pottery classes for children, teens and adults, knitting and crocheting classes, a variety of drawing and painting classes in different mediums, portrait painting, stained glass and photography in the Visual Arts Department;

Creative dance, beginning dance, tap, ballet, musical theatre song and dance, jazz, yoga, T’ai Chi, Zumba and a variety of group and private ballroom classes in the Dance Department;

Kindermusik, Harmony Road, group piano classes and private lessons in bagpipes, brass, banjo, bass, cello, clarinet, composition, dobro, drums, dulcimer, flute, guitar, harmonica, harp, mandolin, piano, saxophone, sound recording, studio singing, music theory, viola, violin and voice in the Music Department;

An acting class for ages 11 and up in the Theatre Department.

“We have several new instructors joining the faculty for the fall semester, each bringing a wealth of experience and opportunities in their classes,” Kucher said.

Tricia Bolden and Tim Pafford join the faculty in the Visual Arts Department while retired Dickson County teacher Gwen Daniel returns for a variety of pottery classes. Wendy Nash-Remick and Matt Stewart have been added to the Dance Department faculty. Wendy Bledsoe-Payne, Steve Leslie, Patrick Clark, Derrick McCullough are new to the Music Department.

“The fall promises to be one of our most exciting semesters ever as we continue our effort to bring new life-enrichment and educational opportunities to The Renaissance Center,” said Kucher.

For a full list of classes available in The Renaissance Center’s fall 2008 semester, pick up a copy of the Fall Program Guide or visit www.rcenter.org. To register for a class, call (615) 740-5533.

The Renaissance Center is a fine arts education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.