HK Magazine (www.hkmagazine.com) and Qtime (http://qtime.com.hk) are two great free sources of information on classes and activities in Hong Kong. You can pick up HK Magazine on a Friday from the bars and cafes around Wanchai, Central and Soho, from Pacific Coffee, Great, Olivers and some ParknShops. Qtime is published monthly and is offered through shops and cafes round the city.Please note that all clubs and associations listed below cater to English speakers.
General Interest
The
English-Speaking Members’ Department at the
YWCA (1 MacDon-nell Road, Central;
www.esmdywca.com ; tel. 2524 0639) produces a schedule of eclectic classes every quarter. Classes include cookery (such as Japanese, Thai and Indian), jewellery design, life drawing, candle-making, foot reflexology, belly dancing, Pilates, tennis, golf, and mother and baby classes.
The
YMCA (1 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui;
www.ymcahk.org.hk ; tel. 2369 2211) runs a wide variety of fitness courses for adults and children, most of which are in Cantonese supplemented with English. Sports classes include wall climbing, badminton, martial arts and table tennis.
Hobbies Central (G/F, 4–8 Arbuthnot Road, Central;
www.hobbiescentralhk.com ; tel. 2234 0319) offers classes such as soap-making, painting, woodworking and candles.
People U (
http://peopleu.hk ) offers classes in business skills, computing, digital video editing, photography and food.
Antiques
Free antiques appreciation classes are offered via the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s
Cultural Kaleidoscope programme of events for visitors (
www.discoverhongkong.com ; tel. 2508 1234).
HKU SPACE (
www.hku.hk/space/ ; tel. 2559 9771) also offers courses when demand is sufficient.
Cooking
Towngas Cooking Centre (Basement, Leighton Centre, Leighton Road, Causeway Bay;
www.towngas.com ; tel. 2576 1535) offers bilingual daytime practical cooking courses from $280 and demonstration courses for around $120 from Monday to Saturday. Courses on offer include the chance to learn the art of ‘Advanced French Cakes’ and ‘Popular Cantonese Roasting’. It’s worth joining their Cuisine Club, which is $100 for two years’ membership, to get discounts on courses and other benefits.
The Home Management Centre (Hong Kong Electric Co., 10/F, Electric Center, 28 City Garden Road, North Point; tel. 2510 2828) teaches Cantonese cooking from Monday to Saturday. The
Chinese Cuisine Training Institute in Pokfulam (
www.ccti.vtc.edu.hk ; tel. 2538 2200) offers accredited full- and part-time courses in Chinese cuisine.
At
Momoko’s Japanese Kitchen (
www.momokokitchen.com ) you can join a Saturday or Sunday afternoon class for $300 to learn how to make Japanese food from Momoko herself – the visuals on the website show you what to expect. Alternatively, you could have a private one-on-one class ($900) or with friends.
Besides the
YWCA (details above), five-star hotels in the city also advertise occasional Asian cooking courses.
Cosmetics-Making
Ophelia Chan at the shop
Herbal Bliss (Unit 11A, 128 Wellington Street, Central and Room 702, Workingport Commercial Building, 3 Hau Fook Street, TST;
www.herbalbliss.com.hk ; tel. 2676 2885) runs occasional English language courses in holistic cosmetics-making, aromatherapy and DIY detox, etc. Call her to register your interest at the Central shop – both shops are open between midday and 7:00 pm.
Dance
Whatever type of dancing you’re into, you’ll be guaranteed to find it in Hong Kong. Many nightclubs, such as ClubIng at The Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Wanchai, offer early evening salsa dance classes before the night really gets going. A directory of dance studios in Hong Kong is available at
www.mai.com.hk/dance/dirhk_studio_e.htm .
Below is a selection of major dance studios and popular classes:
- the Herman Lam Dance Studio (1/F, 13 Wyndham Street, Central; www.hermandance.com; tel. 2320 3605) teaches salsa, jazz, hip-hop and ballroom;
- the Dansinn Dance Studio near Sheung Wan MTR station (www.dansinn.com; tel. 2581 1151) specializes in ballroom and Latin. Group classes start from $80 a class, but they also offer private individual classes and wedding classes;
- the Oasis Dance Centre, Wanchai (www.oasis-dance-centre.com) offers belly-dancing at $200 a lesson and other ethnic dance classes, including flamenco and hula;
- Tango Tang, The Hong Kong Tango Club (www.tangotang.com; tel. 8209 0520) offers weekly practica, workshops and special events such as milongas and movie evenings. Discounts are available for members;
- The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu) EXCEL programme offers evening classes in ballet, Chinese dance, modern dance, ballroom, Latin and jazz dance, etc.;
- The Fringe Club (tel. 2521 9126) offers salsa classes costing $800 for eight one-hour lessons and modern dance classes, which cost $880 for eight one-and-a-half-hour classes; and
- Scottish dancing lessons are offered by the Reel Club (e-mail jean. young@cityu.edu.hk).