Social dances, dance workshops and yoga are part of a new
Health and Wellness Series that Duke Gardens is offering this winter.
DANCES and WORKSHOPS
* Please see our February update with Feb. 8 & 9 tango dance, swing dance and swing workshops. Each dance starts with a 1-hour beginner lesson included with admission.
A
swing dance and workshop series on
Saturday, Jan. 12, kicks off the dance series. The dance will be at 8 p.m., preceded by a beginner lesson at 7 p.m. that’s included with admission. People age 16 and over may attend, and no partner is required.
Richard Badu will teach the lesson and DJs will spin classic swing tunes for the dance.
Duke Gardens will also host
four one-hour workshops from 1 to 5 p.m. with Wesley Boz and Debbie Ramsey, of
Mad About Dance Academy. The workshops are:
slow blues for beginners, 1 p.m.;
Charleston kicking patterns, 2 p.m.;
slow blues for experienced dancers, 3 p.m.;
advanced East Coast swing patterns, 4 p.m. Again, no partner is necessary.
On
Friday, Feb. 8, the Gardens will host a
tango dance at 8 p.m., preceded by a 7 p.m. beginner lesson with Jason Laughlin, of
Tangophilia.
And on
Saturday,
Feb. 9, there will be a
swing dance at 8 p.m., preceded by a 7 p.m. beginner lesson with Chris Owens, of
What a Shuffle. Chris and Holly Owens will also teach
three workshops preceding the dance:
beginner Balboa (2-3 p.m.),
beginner Balboa II (3-4 p.m.) and
beginner Charleston (6-7 p.m.).
TICKET PRICES: Tickets to the dances are $10 in advance for general admission; $8 for Duke students/staff and members of Duke Gardens, Carolina Dance Club or Triangle Swing Dance Society. Tickets may be bought with a credit card over the phone at 668-1707. Advance sales end at noon the day before each dance. At the door, if tickets remain, they will be $12 for all, with a $5 student rush for students with a valid high school or college i.d. (cash/check only).
Admission to the
Jan. 12 workshops is $18; $16 members of Duke Gardens, CDC or TSDS or Duke staff/students. Multi-class discounts: $32/$30 for 2 workshops; $42/$38 for 3 workshops; $48/$44 for all four workshops.
Admission to the
Feb. 9 workshops is $18; $16 members of Duke Gardens,
CDC or TSDS or Duke staff/students. Multi-class discounts: $32/$30 for 2
workshops; $42/$38 for 3 workshops.
SHARE ON FACEBOOK: We'd love it if you'd help spread the word by RSVPing to these events (even "maybe" is OK) and then inviting your Facebook friends. Please go to
https://www.facebook.com/DukeGardens and click the "events" tab for a full list of events.
NEW YOGA SERIES
Photo by Rick Fisher
The Gardens’
yoga classes for beginners -- titled "Yoga, Stretch & Meditation for Gardeners," but open to non-gardeners also -- will start Thursday, Jan. 10, from 6-7 p.m. and run through Feb. 14. People may attend all classes or simply drop in. The class will include yoga, meditation, therapy ball massage and stretching, and it will be taught by Orla Swift. It will have a special focus on addressing and preventing aches and pains that gardeners get, but anyone can benefit. It’s open to anyone age 16 and older.
TO REGISTER: The drop-in fee is $15 per class. Students who pay for a multi-class pass will pay $10 per class, or $8 for members of Duke Gardens or Duke students/staff. For more information, or to register, please go to gardens.duke.edu or call (919) 668-1707.
Have you
ever considered the gift of a Friends of Duke
Gardens membership? It’s a wonderful idea for people who live in Durham or
the surrounding areas. Because Duke Gardens is free for all visitors, more than half of our yearly operating
budget comes from our members, who value all that this botanic garden has
to offer. 
To
supplement the gift of membership, consider a special Duke Gardens souvenir
item! In the Terrace Shop,
we have a beautiful assortment of Duke Gardens books, mugs, T-shirts and 2016
calendars. We also have unique items handmade by the Garden Guild, a group of
very crafty Gardens volunteers. Stay tuned for more information about these items.
