Portrait students meet on an informal basis on Tuesdays, 12 - 2.30 pm, to practise. Students take turns at modelling.

Saturday 8 August, 10.30 am - 3.30 pm, $14

Starts 6 August, 10 - 11.30am, 6 Thursdays, $28

Starts 31 July, 10 am - 12 noon, 8 Fridays, $73
New and experienced artists are welcome. Model fee included, class size limited to 16. Bring your preferred materials and your own easel if possible. Lucille is a trained artist and a very experienced art tutor.

Starting late July, 5.30 pm for free tea and coffee, followed by speakers and discussion dealing with current issues. Gold coin donation. More details from WEA in July.

Starts 29 July, 1.30 - 2.30 pm, 8 Wednesdays, $25

5 Aug What to do about North Korea? - Commander Robert Green RN (Retd)
12 Aug Fiji: Unpacking the complexities of a nation in crisis - Raijeli Nicole
19 Aug Antibiotic resistance - Daron Callander
26 Aug When are we likely to get back to normal? - John Peet
2 Sep To be confirmed
9 Sep Project Lyttelton - Wendy Everingham
16 Sep The Hutton Shearwater project at Kaikoura- Geoff Harrow

Starts 27 July, 10 - 11.30 am, 8 Mondays, $38
All over the world, people love to dance. In this class we focus on the rich dance tradition of south-eastern Europe, with excursions further afield. In addition, Katy will give you some understanding of the cultural context of the dances by sharing her knowledge of Balkan history and traditional costumes. These classes are suitable for complete beginners as well as those with more experience. Wear comfortable shoes (no high heels); no partner required.

Starts 12 August, 11.45am - 1.15 pm, 8 Wednesdays, $38
Israeli Folk Dancing is ideal for improving ones general well-being. It is good exercise for physical fitness and pleasurable, because of the lovely music and learning to move with it. As one concentrates and tries to remember the different movements, it shuts out the rest of the day, which is both relaxing and counters stress. There are different styles from different parts of the world, some vigorous and some gentle and graceful, but all dances are written for joyful occasions. Val has been dancing and teaching Israeli Folk Dancing for nearly twenty years and the pleasure hasn't faded. No partners required.

Starts 6 July, 10 - 11.30pm, 2 Mondays, $10
English Country Dancing was popular in Europe for more than 150 years. This course will include some information on the history and technique of English country dancing as well tuition in the steps and some of the simpler dances. Nicola Rooney is the dance tutor for the University of Canterbury Medieval and Renaissance Society, and a member of the Christchurch Society for Creative Anachronisms. Please note this course will be running during the term break.

Saturday 15 August, 10am - 4pm, $18
Globalisation, liberalisation, productivity, economic crisis - whatever the buzzwords, 'mainstream' economic discussion focuses on 'what is good for business' rather than the interests of workers and society as a whole. Today, workers in most of the globe are working longer, faster and harder, often for less. This course looks at the situation of working and workers globally in the 21st century, drawing on books such as Paul Mason's Live Working or Die Fighting, Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine and Karl Marx's Capital. Dr Philip Ferguson has a PhD in history and teaches at Canterbury University.

Starts 6 August, 7 - 8 pm, 8 Thursdays, $25
The Feldenkraise Method is a gentle approach that teaches you how to release habits which create pain and tension in your body. Explore movement sequences designed to give you more understanding of yourself. Learn to move with less and less effort. Daily movements can become a pleasure and specialized skills can become easier. By improving movement of the back, neck, hips and shoulder joints, these eight introductory classes can reduce everyday fatigue and stress, and are likely to improve flexibility even if you don't think you have a problem. Denise Renaud is a certified Feldenkraise Awareness Through Movemente teacher with over 10 years of experience in the method.

Starts 29 July, 7 - 8.30pm, 10 Wednesdays, $47
Hatha Yoga provides immense 'whole body' benefits through an extensive programme of loosening flexibilities; thorough, stimulating postures; revitalising breathing and soothing relaxation techniques. Yoga optimises and improves all body systems to create energy, strength, flexibility, tone and relief from tension and stress. Gail has been teaching in Christchurch for 12 years and holds a Teaching Diploma through the International Yoga Teachers Assn of NZ. Yoga is the gift she loves to share with others. You need to bring a mat or large towel to work on and a blanket. Wear stretchy comfortable clothing and avoid heavy meals in the two hours prior to class. Class size limited to 16.

Starts 6 August, 1.30 - 2.30 pm, 8 Thursdays, $25
or
Starts 6 August, 2.30 - 3.30 pm, 8 Thursdays, $25
Tai Chi is a series of movements designed to heighten mental awareness and improve physical conditioning. It has been developed over thousands of years, and is slow, gentle and easy to learn. Classes are informal and suit any age or fitness level with no special equipment required - just comfortable clothing. Blood pressure can be reduced, circulation, joint flexibility, balance and digestion can be improved, with a corresponding increase in self-confidence. Most pupils report an improvement in general well-being and pain control (for arthritis sufferers in particular) within the first two lessons.

Starts 28 July, 1 - 2.30 pm, 7 Tuesdays, $38 includes course reader

Starts 29 July, 6 - 7.30 pm, 6 Wednesdays, $32
This practical course will teach you about the basics of organic gardening including the following topics: soil life, compost, worms, Bokashi and liquid fertilisers; permaculture; pests and diseases; raised beds, square foot gardens; crop rotation, companion planting and intercropping; community gardening and community building. Come prepared to get your hands dirty! Lily White has been gardening organically for 30 years and has done formal training at Christchurch Polytechnic. For the past 12 years she has been running the Kids Edible Gardening programme and is manager of the Opawa Community Garden. Her specialty topic is garden design.

Starts 29 July, 10.30 - 11.30 am, 5 Wednesdays, $17

D-I-Y Play Reading group meets Thursdays 10 am - 12 noon. Phone Wendy 352 7119 for more info.

If you enjoy discussing books you have read why not join an FWEA Book Discussion Group? Books and notes are provided for a fee of $50 (maximum of 11 titles over the year). One group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the WEA from 1- 2.30 pm. To join this group or to start or join a group in your own area, phone the Book Discussion Scheme on 365 6210, fax 365 6054, email: bds@bds.org.nz, or website:www.bds.org.nz

Starts 27 July, 10 am - 12 noon, 8 Mondays, $50
Discover your talents and grow in confidence in a supportive group with other beginner writers. You may find your stories give pleasure to others! If your writing's gone a bit stale, this group is a good way to freshen it up. Helen Hogan is a writer and teacher who first developed her creative writing courses when teaching a special writing class for teachers at Christchurch Teachers' College.

Starts 29 July, 10am - 12noon, 8 Wednesdays, $50.
The Wednesday class offers you an opportunity to share your work with other enthusiasts. The emphasis is on developing skills in short story writing.

Throughout Maori Language Week you are invited to join in activities at the Linwood Community Arts Centre, on the corner of Stanmore Road and Worcester Street, phone 981 2881.
Te Reo: Monday 27 July and Thursday 30 July, 7 - 9 pm.
Harakeke (flax weaving): Tuesday 28 July, 1 - 3 pm and Thursday 30 July, 1 - 3 pm; learn how to weave flax. $2 per class.
Hangi preparation: Thursday 30 July from 11 am: Participants will help with the preparation of vegetables, stuffing and meat for hangi, learning any protocols involved in food preparation and Maori words and terms as they go. Free. Cultural Performance, Friday 31 July, 6 pm. Serve Hangi, 7 pm. Food from hangi $5.

Starts 27 July, 1.30 - 2.30 pm, 5 Mondays, $16

Starts 30 July, 12 noon - 1 pm, 8 Thursdays, $32

Starts 3 August, 10.30 am - 12 noon, 6 Mondays, $29
Sing-a-long; learn to tune a ukulele; learn basic chords and strums; learn common patterns and songs. Some ukuleles supplied. Kerry McCammon has been teaching and performing for over 30 years. He has toured extensively throughout NZ, England and Japan as part of the Natural Magic Theatre Company. A qualified High School and ESOL teacher, Kerry has found the ukulele to be the ideal instrument to facilitate all kinds of group singing and celebration.

Starts 3 August, 1 - 2.30 pm, 6 Mondays, $29
For students with some familiarity with the ukulele, (or having completed the Beginners Course). Moving on with more songs and covering various styles of music such as Folk, Latin, Dixie Blues, Swing, Jazz standards.

Tuesday 8 September, 10 am - 12 noon, $7

Starts 4 August, 7.30 - 9.30, 4 Tuesdays, $28

celebrate their blended family. Aspects covered will include: grief and loss, parenting styles, nurturing your couple relationship, healthy boundaries with ex-partners and the needs of children.
Don Rowlands is a parent of four with a Masters of Education degree. He works as a Family Therapist at the Durham Centre. Don has co-facilitated the Step Parent Support Group for ten years with Wendy Duder, a step parent and tutor in Early Childhood Education.

Two informal philosophy groups meet at the WEA each week. See office for further information.

Starts 28 July, 10am - 12noon, 6 Tuesdays, $43
This course is designed for beginners with little or no experience of digital photography (or any photography at all). It is an introductory course covering camera and photographic basics. Previous photographic experience is not assumed, and you don't have to be a computer user. Course participants need to have their own digital camera and must bring it to all classes. Weather permitting some of the skills discussed in class will be practised outside. Lawrence Roberts is a trained photographer and also tutors digital photography at Riccarton High School and Risingholme Community Centre.

Starts 28 July, 10.30 am - 12 pm, 5 Tuesdays, $24
This C G Jung (Analytical Psychology) course will address some of the ideas of Carl Jung. Each session will be aimed to interest those already familiar with this subject as well as people studying Jung for the first time. The five sessions will dwell upon certain Archetypes as seen in theory and in therapy including Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious - Mother, the Gods, Anima and Animus, the Trickster, the Child. With a consensus of the participants, other areas could be studied and the list above amended.

Wednesdays, 12.30 - 4pm $1 donation per session
Learners welcome, also anyone with a basic knowledge of the game is most welcome. For details phone Heinz Bens, 981 4945.

This fun and challenging game continues every Tuesday. If you have your own set please bring it along, otherwise just come along and join a bunch of friendly people having fun. Beginners welcome.

Starts 30 July, 11 am - 12 noon, 8 Thursdays, $25

6 Aug Great Britain & Ireland - Judy Miles & Gary Swarbrick
13 Aug The vampire slayers of Lake Victoria and other spider stories - Simon Pollard
20 Aug Springtime in China - Richard Chandler
27 Aug A taste of Tasmania - Margaret Lovell-Smith
3 Sep Travelling to central Europe by cargo ship- Gay Pavelka
10 Sep Denmark: a visit to the happy country - Connie Christiansen
17 Sep To be confirmed

Meets at 10.30 am on the second Wednesday of each month at
the WEA. Whether you take writing seriously or as a hobby you
are welcome. (See also Creative Writing classes.)
Phone Marjorie, 332 2127.

An established group to encourage outdoor activity and the enjoyment of natural history and the beauty of the countryside. Monthly trips on 3rd Saturday. Phone Marion, 384 1775.

Meets on Friday afternoons, 1 - 3.30 pm at 59 Gloucester St.
To join and to arrange a partner phone Kit, 354 6065.

Meets Saturday mornings at previously arranged painting
places. Programme displayed at WEA Centre or by mail.
Phone Yvon, 360 3845.

Meetings at Bishopdale Community Centre.
Fridays 10 - 11.30 am. $2 per session.
A variety of tutors speak on a wide range of topics. For full programme details phone Marion 358 5672.