Shreveport Reporter

Shreveport, LA – LSUS Continuing Education is  offering a variety of enriching leisure activities to self-improve and  balance life. From creating more value at work, developing a new hobby,  or enhancing soft skills, lifelong learning provides opportunities for  personal growth with options to learn what interests you.

Being open and curious about learning can have profound professional  and personal benefits. Lifelong leisure learning impacts social,  emotional, and physical wellbeing. According to the National Institutes  of Health, leisure physical activities such as dance extend life  expectancy by as much as 4.5 years. Actively engaging in fun learning  improves creativity, increases energy, enhances productivity, empowers  you to achieve self-fulfillment in work, and relieves stress.

“Everyone needs a fun outlet from the stressors of life. These  courses are designed to give people in this community some options that  may not otherwise be afforded to them,” said Dr. Julie Lessiter, Ed.D.,  Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives at LSU Shreveport. “Come and  join us, meet new people, and learn something new.”

Lifelong leisure learning is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle  for more effectiveness in work, networking, or job search. Learners can  gain skills and connect with others through enriching experiences  ranging from writing, dance, pottery, photography, 3D printing, and  observational drawing, to learning to play the guitar. Immersing  yourself in an area of interest can help you feel challenged and more  fulfilled, which increases the drive to succeed.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands to create things,” said  pottery instructor Mark Poole. “Working with clay especially so, whether  it is hand building, throwing on a wheel, or sculpting. There is just  something so satisfying about it. I’ve found since starting to teach,  that being able to help others possibly discover the same feeling or  hone skills they already have, to be very gratifying.”

In addition to learning skills, leisure learning can improve memory  and confidence to manage challenges at work and in your personal life.  “Too many people think that, because they don’t consider themselves  ‘extraordinary,’ their story isn’t important,” said writing instructor  Sally Hamer. “Not true! We all have a story that needs to be told. It  could be just for us or handed down to our grandchildren. Even if you  don’t consider yourself a writer, you can learn to tell your story –  whether in fiction or a memoir.”

Dance Courses

NEW Cajun Dance. Step, tap, step, tap, rock, step.  Slide onto the dance floor and cut a rug to lively Cajun music. Learn  the Cajun waltz, Two Step, Jig, Lake Charles Slide, Cowboy Jitterbug,  Zydeco, and more. Lead or follow on the dance floor. No partner is  needed. Session 1 Start Date: August 8th. Register by 8/2/2022 to get  the early bird price of $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00.  Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=381 Session 2 Start  date: October 3rd. Register by 9/27/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=382

Line Dance. Let’s get to Rockin’! This is a great  way to exercise and meet new friends. Come and learn some exciting line  dances. You will look great on the dance floor. Session 1 Start Date:  August 17th. Register by 8/11/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=358 Session 2 Start  date: October 6th. Register by 9/30/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=359

Ballroom and Latin Dance. Learn the Foxtrot, Waltz,  Cha-Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Mambo, Tango, and Swing. You will look great on  the dance floor sooner than you think! Let Liz and Sonny make your  vision a reality. No partner needed. Session 1 Start Date: August 17th.  Register by 8/11/2022 to get the early bird price of $69.00. After that  date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=360 Session 2 Start  date: October 6th. Register by 9/30/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=361

Swingin’ Swing Dance. Get into the swing of things  with Swing Dance! Swing Dance is an exciting dance style that is easy to  learn and fun on the dance floor. No partner needed. Session 1 Start  Date: August 18th. Register by 8/12/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=362 Session 2 Start  date: October 5th. Register by 9/29/2022 to get the early bird price of  $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=363

Country and Western Dance. Kick up your boots and  get to Two-Steppin’ on the hard wood! Learn the Two-Step, Double  Two-Step, Texas Two-Step, Cotton-eyed Joe, Line Dances, and more! Lead  or follow with the crowd on the floor. No partner needed. Session 1  Start Date: August 18th. Register by 8/12/2022 to get the early bird  price of $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may  sign up at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=368 Session 2  Start date: October 5th. Register by 9/29/2022 to get the early bird  price of $69.00. After that date the cost will be $89.00. Learners may  sign up at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=369

Guitar Beginning. If you ever wanted to learn to  play the guitar, now is your chance! Grasp tuning, chords, strumming,  playing popular songs, and how to get the most out of your practice  time! We will use the required book, as well as extra materials that  have been tested over time and have been proven to help you get the most  out of your guitar. Acoustic guitar required.  Start Date: August 15th. Register by 8/9/22 to get the early bird price  of $169.00. After that date the cost will be $189.300. Learners may sign  up at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=346

Intro to Pottery. Would you like to create and glaze  your own pottery? Learn about the various types of clay,  hand-building/wheel throwing techniques, the firing process, and  glazing. Bring an apron, smock, or wear clothing you don't mind getting  dirty. A $50 supply fee, payable to the instructor at  the beginning of the class. Session 1 Start Date: August 18th. Register  by 8/12/2022 to get the early bird price of $149.00. After that date the  cost will be $169.00. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=326 Session 2 Start  date: September 1st. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=327. Session 3 Start  date: October 20th. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=328. Session 4 Start  date: October 27th. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=329

NEW Basics of Photography. Before pressing the  shutter button, learn to take outstanding photos. In just ten weeks, you  can learn to capture moments, gain perspective, and turn every day into  art. Develop proper lighting, posing, equipment, and camera settings  skills. Please bring your digital camera and a USB card reader. Start  Date: September 6th. Register by 8/31/22 to get the early bird price of  $109.00. After that date the coast will be $129.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=379

Observational Drawing 1 – Developing the Basic Skills. Do you want to learn the skills of drawing from observation, but don’t  know where to start? Activate the right side of your brain as you  discover the strategies and techniques needed to draw realistically.  Learn about shape, proportion and placement to develop your artistic  senses. Start Date: September 6th. Register by 8/31/22 to get the early  bird price of $99.00. After that date the cost will be $119.00. Learners  may sign up at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=306

Observational Drawing II – Refining Your Skills.  This course is intended for those who have already taken the  Observational Drawing I class or who have had some previous drawing  instruction. This class will offer a further exploration of basic  observational drawing techniques and concepts. Topics will include  perspective, observing relationships between multiple objects in a  composition, and the expressions of light and shadow. All materials are  provided. Start Date: October 11th. Register by 10/5/22 to get the early  bird price of $99.00 After that date the cost will be $119.00. Learners  may sign up at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=307

Observational Drawing III – Expanding Your Skills.  Students who have taken the Observational Drawing I and II courses or  who have had some previous drawing instructions are invited to continue  their drawing studies with a new third observational drawing course,  which will provide individualized guidance in drawing still life  compositions and other topics as requested by the participants. All  materials will be provided. Start Date: November 15th. Register by  11/9/22 to get the early bird price of $99.00. After that date the cost  will be $119.00. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=308

Creative Writing: Beginning Fiction. Writing is like  herding cats. Every time we think we’ve got one aspect of writing going  in the right direction, another one pops up, and we have to chase it  down a different path. There are essential principles in  writing-principles that can be learned and followed or bent as the story  requires. A master author knows the basics, backwards and forwards, and  that’s what this class is about. We will have fun in this course while  reviewing the basics of writing and crafting fictional works. Start  Date: September 13th. Register by 9/7/22 to get the early bird price of  $119.00. After that date the cost will be $139.00. Learners may sign up  at: https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=344

Writing a History of Your Life. Even if you aren’t  famous, you have a story to tell. The story of your life, your  accomplishments, and your experiences can be priceless to your  children’s children. Learn how to tell your stories in interesting and  readable ways and, ultimately, put them together into an heirloom that  will be cherished for generations. Start Date: September 27th. Register  by 9/21/22 for get the early bird price of $109.00. After that date the  cost will be $129.00. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=345

3D Printing 101. Build something real. 3D printing  has become an essential manufacturing method that improves productivity  for science, engineering, and movie special effects. Everyday hobbyists  also use 3D printing to create solutions for everyday problems. Learn  firsthand on consumer-level FDM printers (Fused Deposition Modeling).  Explore the theory of operation, essential maintenance,  preparation/post-processing of models, as well as programs and  applications that can be used with the printer. Start Date: October 1st.  Register by 9/25/22 to get the early bird price of $99.00. After that  date the cost will be $119.00. Learners may sign up at:  https://www.ce.lsus.edu/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=309

LSUS Continuing Education provides  quality-learning experiences with professional instructors offering a  flexible course schedule on campus and at other locations throughout the  regional community for a multi-faceted and diverse population based on  their educational needs. For more information and a full list of  courses, please visit www.lsus.edu/ce or call 318.798.4177.

Original source can be found here.