Back to School Supplement: A New Term, A New Hobby

By Christian Seiersen

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were the masterful fingers of concert pianists nor the brushstrokes of celebrated artists. Following and developing an extracurricular passion from a young age is a joyous and rewarding experience. Here are a range of some of the classes available in town that can cater to your child’s aspirations, whether they’re an engineering whiz kid to a star chef in the making.

Capoeira

While this may seem at first like an unpalatable and dangerous sport, Capoeira Mandinga’s tailored weekly classes for 5 - 9 year olds are very closely moderated and incorporating music, gymnastics and dance, are a fun and different way to get your child active. Originating from South American slave communities in the 17th century, Capoeira offers something unique and each 75 minute class teaches your child a selection of basic moves said not only to develop physical, but also mental attributes. Children also get the chance to learn Portuguese songs and play unique instruments associated with the sport, such as the single-stringed Berimbau.

Classes: Every Saturday, 3.15 - 4.30pm

Price: One class: RMB 120; ten classes: RMB 1,000

Capoeira Mandinga. 3F, 358 Yan’an Xi Lu, near Nanjing Xi Lu. Tel: 137 6116 4307. Web: www.capoeirashanghai.com

Art

The organised chaos at Colorbox Arts Centre is the perfect canvas for your child to unleash their inner Picasso. The centre holds weekly classes for 3 - 6 year olds aimed at giving youngsters an introduction to different forms of art such as paper cutting and finger painting, with each month following a general theme such as nature.

Classes: Every Wednesday, 4.30 - 6pm; Every Sunday, 10 - 11.30am.  Semesters run from September to December and March to July

Price: One class: RMB 200; ten classes: RMB 1,500

Colorbox Creative Arts Centre. 1F, Bldg 20, Lane 383, 20 Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Jianguo Lu. Tel: 6467 7002. Web: www.colorboxarts.com 

Jazz Ensembles

The melancholy soulfulness of jazz lyrics and musical skills propounded by jazz such as rhythm and improvisation are useful assets for any blossoming musician, and JZ School is the perfect environment for your child to enable their musical talents to fluorish. JZ School’s jazz ensembles arrange classes of three to six young musicians who receive weekly lessons and practice as part of a jazz band, with one highlight for each band being a performance at the jazz bar JZ Club at the end of each semester. Young guitarists, drummers, pianists and saxophonists are all encouraged to apply at the beginning of each semester by contacting the school to arrange an audition.

Classes: Every Saturday, times TBA. Semesters run for 14 weeks, from September to December and March to July

Price: RMB 4,900 per semester

JZ School. Bldg 12, Lane 280, Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu. Tel: 5403 6475. Web: www.jz-school.com

Cooking

Not to be confused with British chef Gordon Ramsey’s cauldron of foul-mouthery, Hell’s Kitchen, these weekly cooking classes take place in the kitchen of Belgium-born culinary connoisseur, Els Nissens, where 5-10 year olds are able to learn the basics of cooking including following basic recipes, measuring ingredients and using proper kitchen tools. Each month’s classes have a different theme, giving youngsters a sniff of what’s possible in the kitchen. September is all about baking, offering the enticing prospect of your child learning how to whip up a soft pretzel or a cheesy flan.

Classes: Saturday and Sundays, 9.30-11.30am

Price: One class: RMB 180; four classes: RMB 650

El’s Kitchen. Bldg 86, Windsor Place, 2222 Jianhe Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. Tel: 137 9523 2215. Web: www.elskitchen.webs.com 

Engineering

To spark the caverns of a child’s imagination, I-Workshop’s daily after-school classes are an excellent way to introduce young children to the concept of mechanics. In the hour-long classes, children use pieces of Lego and contraptions such as gears and pulleys to build a model such as a car or lifting device. Classes are split between 3 - 5 year olds and children aged 6 - 14, with the young’uns using larger Lego blocks and older members using smaller pieces and more complex methods such as computer programming to see their creations in action. 

Classes: Monday - Friday, 5.15 - 6.15pm

Price: 10 Classes, RMB 2,500

I-Workshop. Bldg B1-122/3, Himalayas Center, 1188 Fangdian Lu, near Meihua Lu. Tel: 5033 3053. Web: www.ctworkshop.com.cn