It’s time to dust off the ballet slippers, rediscover a foreign language, learn how to cook, or even pick up a whole new hobby.
East Lansing Recreation & Arts offers classes to both resident and student communities without the risk of being graded.
Located in the Bailey Community Center, 300 Bailey St., the center offers courses in more than 30 different departments ranging from fine arts, sports, and fiber optics.
“We offer many high quality opportunities for people of all ages in the community,” Fine Arts coordinator Leslie Donaldson said.
But the center isn’t just an opportunity to learn the finer points of activities like rock climbing. Students and other members of the community can apply to plan and teach a course for the center, or they can volunteer.
Human biology senior Ronald George volunteered at the center in the past with children’s programs.
“I would definitely go back,” he said.
But other students around campus are still unaware that the center is open to them, or that it even exists.
Ellen Rinck, a parks and recreation senior, had never heard of the center but was intrigued by it.
“It’s a good idea, we really don’t have anything like that (around campus),” she said.
“I might go there in the future.”
Sharen Furman, a Charlotte resident, has been teaching dance and a combination class of yoga and dance at the center for a little over a year. She has also taken several classes at the facility.
“They have a very wonderful selection of course and a very wonderful facility,” Furman said.
Another key benefit to the courses is their smaller size. The average East Lansing Recreation & Arts course has 10-12 students with a maximum of 24, Donaldson said.
“You get really good hands-on direct instruction,” she said. “It’s more intimate and you learn a lot more that way.”
Classes range in cost from $16-$100 per session, but most of the more expensive courses run for a longer period of time and are more advanced courses, Donaldson said.
“The courses usually work out to an average of $7 per class, but you do have to enroll and pay for the entire session,” she said.
For more information on the center, its programs, or to register for one of their courses, contact the offices at (517) 337-4442 or register online at www.elra.org.
