Education & Classes in Alpharetta

Atlanta Workshop Players Acting Studio was founded in 1981 as the brainchild of seasoned artistic director Lynn Stallings. Since its inception, the company—a creative springboard for young children, teenagers, and adults—has produced dozens of plays and original musicals. FOX 5 spotlighted the program's fun-filled curriculum, which strives to improve self-confidence in students. Stallings and her husband, Don, get into the act as well, sometimes teaching classes alongside guest artists such as William Shakespeare's ghost.

With locations in Midtown and Duluth, the Ballroom Dance Clubs of Atlanta teaches aspiring ballroom kings and queens how to confidently execute such staples as traditional waltz, foxtrot, salsa, and swing. A cast of instructors brings years of experience to the dance floor as they shepherd their charges through rug-cutting private and group lessons, dissipating patrons’ nervousness with a cheerful demeanor and constant reassurance that their high-school crushes aren't watching. The studios' weekly parties give students the chance to mingle with their peers and practice freshly learned techniques in a laid-back environment.

A fourth-generation artist, Rose Handy has always made time for creating. After a rollercoaster ride of life changes and moves, Rose and her potter husband Paul opened their own gallery and class space. Joined by a staff of illustrators, quilters, watercolorists, and other artisans, the owners encourage Wild Child students to find their own artistic voices, whether they're hand-building a ceramic bowl, painting a family portrait, or fusing glass pieces together to make a new glass family. The search for new avenues of creativity also extends to the studio's class offerings; beginning in January 2013, aspiring artisans can learn the intricacies of handbuilding and wheel-based pottery techniques as part of the shop's newest curriculum.

Featured on HGTV, Susie Goldenberg’s company, Paintin’ the Town Faux, offers personal painting services, supplies, and classes dedicated to sharing the art of faux painting with others. The classes teach students, whose skill levels range from beginner to advanced, how to decorate not just walls but also cabinets, furniture, and sleeping family members. Paintin’ the Town Faux, in business for 25 years, also shares tips on how to build a portfolio and sell finished pieces.

In The Art Escape’s student gallery, dozens of burgeoning artists proudly smile beside their work. Through painting parties and a calendar of regular classes, the studio's instructors ease students into the creative process with step-by-step instructions that result in a complete painting to take home or sneak into the local art museum to see if anyone notices. In these structured yet creative sessions, small groups of artists unholster their brushes to have fun while gaining confidence in painting fundamentals. Floral arrangements, still lifes, and nature scenes emerge from surprisingly simple techniques, ready to stand proudly on the wall of any room.