Trapezes, lyras, and slings dangle above the stage and classrooms at Zuzi!, a nonprofit organization with an affinity for the expressiveness of modern dance and the gracefulness of aerial maneuvers. The source of this passion rests within cofounder and artistic director Nanette Robinson—who is a certified Skinner Releasing Technique instructor—and radiates outward to talented teachers who lead dance classes ranging from aerial and ballet to funk. It also fills the studio’s troupe of performers who frequently pack Zuzi!’s 135-seat theater for seasonal performances, including an annual Winter Solstice Concert. Their mission also involves spreading the message of modern dance as far as possible, which is why they schedule an open aerial class during Friday happy hour and offer classes for kids as young as 4 years old.

After a life-changing car accident, Steps Dance and Fitness Studio owner Melissa Watkins thought she had lost her ability to dance for good. Through gradual exercise and her discovery of Zumba, Melissa gained a passion and appreciation for motion, which she shares with all who step onto the studio's wheat-hued hardwood floors. Instructors lead a multitude of classes that include weightlifting sessions to tone muscles and slow-paced workouts that forge the core strength needed to carry boulders to see the ocean for the first time. From beneath the raspberry walls, strains of music hint at the cumbia, merengue, and salsa tunes that fuel up-tempo dance sessions.

Despite what owner Rachel Yaseen has discovered for herself, she knows that cooking organic, healthful meals might seem intimidating to some. At The Organic Kitchen, she works to banish those impressions and inspire students with her own enthusiasm for natural foods, whether through cooking classes or intensive workshops. “Students learn to eat outside of the industrial food chain,” noted reporter Emily Gindlesparger of Zócalo Tucson magazine, “developing instead the creativity to source from their own yards and work with ingredients available in the Southwest throughout the seasons.” Pupils learn to improve their eating habits and concoct quick and simple at-home feasts that draw on local veggies, grains, beans, herbs, and spices. Each class features only gluten-free recipes, and the sessions focus on culinary traditions from India, the Mediterranean, and other regions. Pantry makeovers go even further, helping facilitate lifestyle shifts with cooking classes and one-on-one coaching to rid kitchens of powdered hot dogs. When not educating, the chefs handcraft gluten- and soy-free Hiker-Biker bars from local honey and dates. Pupils learn to improve their eating habits and concoct quick and simple at-home feasts that draw on local veggies, grains, beans, herbs, and spices. Each class features only gluten-free recipes, and the sessions focus on culinary traditions from India, the Mediterranean, and other regions. Pantry makeovers go even further, helping facilitate lifestyle shifts with cooking classes and one-on-one coaching to rid kitchens of powdered hot dogs. When not educating, the chefs handcraft gluten- and soy-free Hiker-Biker bars from local honey and dates.

Carol Sottosanti inherited her love of hitting high notes and cutting rugs from her father, an opera singer who inspired her to pursue a degree in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. Naturally, Carol wanted her children to also experience the beauty and exhilaration of performing on stage, but she couldn't find a program that would grant her kids the proper exposure and practice they needed. Teaming up with other moms in the community, Carol organized a few small shows starring the neighborhood's charismatic children, and subsequently, Kids Unlimited was born. Since its inception in 1986, KU Studios still produces shows regularly, preparing their young performers with various classes in vocal performance, dance, and acting. Aspiring triple threats can dive into a wide variety of camps designed to hone singing and dancing skills, while promoting awareness of important topics such as bullying or the proliferation of mimes in Tucson. KU's outstanding performers earn their way into small-group ensembles that perform regularly throughout the community.

Desert Divers owner, Alex, has a love for diving with all who are bold enough to strike out on an underwater adventure! Over the past 30 years, Desert Divers have recruited a staff of dedicated instructors that schools nascent underwater explorers in introductory lessons and intensive scuba-certification classes. The staff members equip students with most necessary gear for the classes, which cover maritime topics ranging from first aid and fish identification to deep diving and how to fashion sleeping octopuses into temporary helmets. Many classes require that participants first take an open-water scuba course, which bestows diving fundamentals and can eventually lead to certification. The center welcomes all past open-water students back for free refresher courses, helping former pupils sharpen their skills in advance of upcoming dives and snorkel-throwing tournaments. To further refine aquatic abilities, Desert Divers leads new graduates out on field trips to such dive-friendly locales as San Carlos, Mexico, and Key Largo, Florida.

Scholarship and public engagement have remained equally vital parts of The University of Arizona Museum of Art's mission. By preserving collections that showcase five centuries of artistic expression from around the world, the museum promotes greater appreciation for the inherent value of the visual arts. The museum houses works by renowned artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun. Eye Catcher: 26 panels of Fernando Gallego and Maestro Bartolomé's 15th century altarpiece created for the Cathedral of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain Don't Miss: "Green on Blue" by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko Hidden Gem: Plaster and clay models by Jacques Lipchitz. Also keep eyes peeled for actual tools from the Lipchitz's workshop, portrait busts, and finished sculptures Beyond the Gallery Walls: More than 40 public sculptures and integrated artworks speckle the surrounding area, providing small discoveries for visitors willing to explore the campus.