Philipsburg:--- Imbali Center for Creative Movement will reopen for the 2011-2012 school year on Monday, August 22nd with a full roster of established and new classes, this according to Imbali Founder and Director, Clara Reyes.Reyes said that usually classes at Imbali started exactly when all schools on the island re-opened, but this year due to the robberies and attempted robberies at the John Larmonie Center the annual open house which signals the launch of the new year had to be postponed one week.
"The robberies really set us back a bit, because the thieves took all our sound equipment and so we were forced to push back our start date, because we had no music. However, with the help of the community, in particular Bergees Vision and Sound, we were able to at least begin within a short period of time," Reyes explained.
According to Reyes, during the registration and open house period people can try out classes for themselves and their children for only $1 per class. Classes offered are Jazz, African, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Zumba and the newer Gymnastics, Dramatic Reading, and Crochet.
Reyes said that Gymnastics would be offered by Gratienne Riom, an instructor who runs her own gymnastics school on the French side of the island. The class is open to students 6-18 and individuals have to audition for a spot in this class. Auditions will take place next Wednesday, August 24 at 4pm at the Imbali dance studio in the John Larmonie Center and students will be notified immediately if they have been placed.
The dramatic reading class is also new to the Imbali schedule and is a combination of drama and reading. Reyes explained that the class would be emphasizing the mechanics of speech including diction, breathing exercises, dynamic reading and would expose children to literature and theatre.
Finally a Saturday afternoon crochet class is also being introduced this year. Students will learn the traditional art of needle work from instructor Rosemary Whitter-Wyatt from 3-5pm.
Reyes said that in order to give parents something to do while their children were in classes a Zumba fitness and coaching class was being offered by Maribelle Postiena during the Saturday morning hours.
"This way parents can remain in the building while their kids are in classes and do not have leave and come back. They can use the time instead to work on their own personal fitness, by a certified instructor, and enjoy a work-out for themselves," Reyes said.
Reyes said that more information pertaining to the open house and class schedule was available on Imbali's FaceBook webpage. Interested persons can also pass by Imbali's office at the John Larmonie Center on Longwall Road every afternoon between 2-8pm.