Things to Do in Santa Clarita

The Acting Corps, a school endorsed by Oscar winner Sydney Pollack as well as Rainn Wilson of The Office, takes a modern approach to acting instruction. In classes with an average of 16 students, creativity flows unimpeded and students overhear the whispered names of Hollywood’s best agents quite clearly. Actors with MFA degrees lead programs that help acting students find an authentic style, and also pilot advanced classes with mock auditions that challenge experienced actors. Four- or six-week acting boot camps incorporate aspects of the Meisner technique and the Michael Chekhov technique. In classes engineered for international acting students, teachers elucidate methods for developing a convincing American accent or faking a convincing cheeseburger craving.

Like many of her fellow dance teachers at Gotta Dance Studio, owner Cindy Gebelein first donned ballet flats at age 6. Throughout a lifetime of performing and 35 years of teaching, she’s worn through copious dance shoes while sharing her passion with others. She opened Gotta Dance Studio in 1995 to further pass on her love for performance, arming younger generations with the technical skills to develop into true artists.

The instructors elucidate a variety of dance styles, from perennial favorites such as ballet, jazz, and tap to modern styles such as hip-hop and contemporary. For students truly taken with the stage, a musicaltheater and performing arts program builds upon the physical conditioning and movement training of dance with voice- lessons and resume-building performances. Three dance troupes, each with their own particular focus, partake in demonstrations and competitions at both the local and national level. Thanks to their travels, these squads have come home with multiple awards and at least a dozen stray tap-dancing cats.

The Jade Apple’s extensive lineup of instructors leads a schedule brimming with rejuvenating yoga and dance styles for all levels and interests. Classes include introspective restoration sessions, which buoy soothing postures with pillows, blankets, and a studio pumped full of helium, affording students time to reflect on the day. On early mornings, Rise to Shine jolts drowsy ligaments awake with classic Hatha asanas and periodic traffic updates, while hips twist in energetic belly dance classes. The studio also hosts events to promote participation in the ancient art such as a family workshop. There is also a boutique that accessorizes students' ever-expanding range of postures with goods ranging from yoga mats ($30) to Jade Apple T-shirts ($22).

Each winter, the Woodland Hills Ice rink appears at the Westfield Promenade. More than 7,000 square feet of solid ice supports skaters throughout the season as they enjoy open recreational sessions, skating classes, private lessons, and parties. Towering pines surround the open-air rink, providing a romantic backdrop for couples and an inspiring setting for hockey players in training montages.

Spitball technology has come a long way since its invention in 1982. Initially a spitball was made of saliva-soaked paper and propelled by the combination of an empty pen and breath. In 1999, an important discovery irrevocably altered the spitball landscape. Now spitballs are shot with semi-automatic CO2-powered weapons instead of empty pens. And due to the increasing concern for deforestation, spitballs are made out of a more renewable resource: thin-skinned, paint-filled gel caps. Check out the enormous advancements in spitballs at Action Paintball Park with today’s Groupon.