Education & Classes in Goshen

Richard J. Sass first felt the weight of a scuba tank about his shoulders at 15, when a friend's father strapped him into a suit and threw him into the world's deep end, as it were. Rick fell in love with diving before ever surfacing on that first adventure, and he started Sub-Aquatic Sports & Service – or SASS for short – to share his passion with others. He and his staff teach a full range of scuba classes, from beginner certifications to becoming a dive instructor. They lead trips into waters across the world, from Australia to Micronesia, from the Great Lakes to the Galapagos Islands.

A lifelong sewer, Jackie has been perfecting her teaching method for 24 years, hoping to pass on her passion for stitching to new craftsmen. Inside her boutique in Granger, she teaches classes to students aged 6 and up, careful to tailor lessons to each student's pace. Over the course of her eight-class series, she guides pupils' hands as they stitch together several finished projects, such as pillowcases, aprons, and eyeball warmers. Jackie's boutique also houses a plethora of fabrics and sewing necessities for students or learned sewers.

At West Michigan Glass Art Center, a non-profit art center in downtown Kalamazoo, students learn to create beads, stained glass, and ornamental baubles flecked with kaleidoscopic colors. Seasoned instructors lead demonstrations and work with students one-on-one, guiding them through techniques such as flameworking, glassblowing, and glass fusing.

With more than 10 years of professional dance competitions and teaching experience under her belt, Dance Passion's owner, Gloria Jones, puts her affinity toward dance and instruction to use in her own studio. Gloria teaches budding boogiers the basics of ballroom, and salsa dancing during private and group lessons. In addition to her regular sessions, she also hosts wedding-themed lessons, where she prepares couples for their first waltz, tango, or chicken dance as husband and wife.

Experienced instructors strive to introduce students of all ages to the joy and freedom of dancing. They've shared the love of their art before diverse audiences and with students, performing and teaching in festivals, nursing homes, and colleges. In group classes, students learn self-expression, gain confidence, and learn basic maneuvers in styles such as waltz, cha-cha, merengue, and salsa. During private lessons, an instructor hones in on a solo dancer’s specific goals or coaches duos or groups through choreographed dances for weddings, parties, or airport security lines.

DC Dance Collective is on a mission: to open the world of dance to everyone. And it takes that seriously—low-income dancers are encouraged to volunteer at the front desk in exchange for class credits. This communal spirit of creative exercise and collaboration realizes the dream of founder Nancy Newell, whose impressive 49-year dance career includes curating two Smithsonian series based on tap.

Dance Studio Life rightly describes DCDC as "an anomaly among studios in its region for both its collective approach and its vast offerings." In the lobby, which "feels more like a living room," the friendly instructors welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to pick from an eclectic assortment of dance styles, ranging from classics such as tap, ballet, and jazz to diverse styles such as hula, salsa, flamenco, belly dance, and Sri Lankan dance. Hip-hop and break-dancing classes help dancers find their inner funk without GPS, and Zumba fitness dance classes get everyone sweating to global party beats with Latin-inspired moves.