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Ballet Classes Help Students Take The Right Steps

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2008

TAMPA - Students at Metropolitan Ministries Academy are swapping sneakers for slippers.

Through a partnership with the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Patel Conservatory, the youngsters receive free ballet instruction and trips to see shows at the center.

Wendy Leigh, the conservatory's vice president of education and humanities, said ballet improves endurance, coordination, flexibility and discipline, and is a good release.

"Seeing the joy in that hour of ballet in their lives, it takes them away from whatever life experience they are facing," Leigh said.

About 50 students come from the surrounding community, with 30 coming from Metropolitan Ministries' shelter, which assists the poor and homeless.

Jamie Pilarczyk
Art Activities A Big Draw At Ruskin Event

RUSKIN - If you're nuts about art, South Shore is the place to be today when the community celebrates the Big Draw-In, a day of free, art-filled, family activities.

Classes will be offered throughout the day at the Big Draw Studio, 613 U.S. 41 N., with some to be hosted by the Tampa Museum of Art.

Volunteers from VSA of Florida arts are scheduled to bring in wheelchairs equipped for painting and drawing to do a project on a huge concrete slab. Children from Community Stepping Stones will demonstrate silk-screening and make T-shirts.

The highlight of the day will be the presentation of a 110-by-20-foot mural, a collaborative effort of 15 to 20 teens taking classes with artist Michael Parker.

A list of classes, events and times are available at www.southshoreartscouncil.com.

Lois Kindle

Helipad Approved Before Hospital

WESLEY CHAPEL - The developer of Seven Oaks won clearance this week to add a helicopter landing pad to its plans for a hospital on land on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. But the hospital has not been approved by the state.

The Development Review Committee approved the pad as part of a potential seven-story hospital BayCare Health System hopes to build on property between Eagleston and Stockton boulevards in Seven Oaks.

BayCare is challenging a state ruling that would allow two of its rivals - Adventist Health Corp. and University Community Hospital - to build a joint-venture hospital on land in the Wiregrass Ranch development on the east side of Bruce B. Downs.

Kevin Wiatrowski

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