Arts at the Center

Welcome to Arts at the Center! Unleash your inner artist and explore new creative passions at the Uptown JCC! Join us for engaging sessions led by experienced instructors in a welcoming and supportive environment. Most classes are currently held at the JCC Uptown location, please be sure to note if the class specifically lists our Metairie location. To register for a class, click on the "Register" button on each class page, or call the JCC Uptown (504-897-0143).  If you have questions about the classes, please email Creative Arts Program Coordinator Joanna Russo at joanna@nojcc.org.

Acting Workshop: Molly Smith Metzler's "Cry it Out"

Acting Workshop: Molly Smith Metzler's "Cry it Out"

Rescheduled for Saturday & Sunday, February 28 - March 1
2:30 pm - 6:00 pm
$70 members - $85 non-members

For anyone who knows a little something about the absurdities and challenges of childrearing in America today, this play is for you! Metzler’s comedy Cry It Out is a smart, funny and candid play about class, friendship and the hard choices all parents make. Whether you’re a seasoned actor or new to the stage, come have some fun putting scenes from this play on their feet. We’ll present excerpts for friends and family at the end of the second day.

Instructor Joanna Russo is a theater director and writer. Originally hailing from NYC, her NY directing credits include: Dialogue at the American Theater of Actors, Alice in Bed at the Juilliard School and Sideshow at the Susan Stein Shiva Theater. Here in New Orleans, Joanna serves as Co-Artistic Director for nationally touring ensemble Mondo Bizarro, working as a writer and director for the company for many years. Her writing has been performed across the country, from Kentucky to California, North Carolina to Hawaii and has been recognized by the American Academy of Poets.

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Community Choir

Community Choir

Sundays | February 22 - April 19
3:00 - 4:30 pm
$100 members | $115 non-members

All voices welcome! Experience the joy of lifting your voice in song with others. Join us as we sing a variety of repertoire, including pop, oldies, traditional music and more! This choir will introduce the concepts of proper breath support, essentials of music theory, ear training and somatic awareness. We will close with a concert on April 23, 2026.

Sarah Ruth Altman

Sarah Ruth Altman is delighted to be directing the JCC Choir this season. She is a lifelong musician, perpetually unable to decide between piano and singing. She holds an MS in Counseling and a BA in Music and Elementary Education, and is a current masters student in Music Therapy. Besides directing this ensemble, she is the principal organist at Holy Name of Mary as well as a dedicated member of the Frazier Singers, New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale, and Fourth Wave Women’s Choir. She hopes to share the joy of creating an instrument that only exists when we gather to sing. 

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Personal Essay/Memoir Writing 

Personal Essay/Memoir Writing  

Wednesdays | February 25 - April 15
1:00 - 2:30 pm
$160 members | $175 non-members

Want to tell the world your story? This class could provide the spark you need! Focusing on first-person stories that are drawn from our own lives, we will read and analyze examples of the genre and then write our own. The class combines literary analysis with a place to workshop our own writing in a thoughtful and supportive environment. All levels of experience are welcome.

Instructor Joanna Russo is a theater director and writer. Originally hailing from NYC, her NY directing credits include: Dialogue at the American Theater of Actors, Alice in Bed at the Juilliard School and Sideshow at the Susan Stein Shiva Theater. She is a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. Here in New Orleans, Joanna serves as Co-Artistic Director for nationally touring ensemble Mondo Bizarro, and has directed for Le Petit Theatre and the NOLA Project, among others. Her writing has been performed in many places, from Kentucky to California, North Carolina to Hawaii and has been recognized by the American Academy of Poets.

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Painting

Painting Class

Mondays | March 2 - April 20
5:30 - 7:30 pm
$180 members | $195 non-members

In this 8-week painting class, adult students will explore the fundamentals of acrylic painting. Through a series of engaging exercises, participants will learn essential techniques such as color mixing, brushwork, texture creation, and layering, all while developing their own creative expression. The class fosters a flexible, relaxed environment where each individual can progress at their own pace, free from pressure. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your skills, this course offers a fun, encouraging space to explore your artistic potential and build confidence in your painting practice.

Instructor Ash Gaude is a portrait painter and printmaker, with a particular love for acrylic painting. Having lived all over the United States and in the West Indies, Gaude is captivated with human experiences. Exploring the connection between herself and her subjects through portraiture, Gaude focuses on capturing the fleeting, uncelebrated moments of everyday life. Her work reflects her desire to document intimate, spontaneous experiences shared with friends. These seemingly mundane moments are immortalized into compelling visual narratives worth considering. Gaude earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2021 and her Master of Fine Arts in 2025, both from the University of New Orleans where she taught Drawing I and II. During the summers, she teaches young artists at the Country Day Creative Arts Program and is currently an instructor at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts.

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Improv

Improv Class

Wednesdays | March 11 - May 6
5:30 - 7:30 pm
$160 members | $175 non-members

Want to make new friends and do something fun and creative? In Improv class, we’ll learn how to create comedic improvisational scenes as we harness the power of our imagination. The curriculum focuses on interactive, collaborative play as well as heightened listening skills. Each class consists of improv warm-ups, exercises, games, and scene work.

Instructor Grace Blakeman is an actor, improviser, writer, and teacher. Grace started performing improv in 2006 at La Nuit Theater in New Orleans. She has trained at iO and Second City Conservatory in Chicago as well as the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. In Chicago, she performed with Second City's faculty team, Those Who Can't , and was a founding company member of Under the Gun comedy theater. She was on multiple house teams at Second City Hollywood and was a main company member of ComedySportz Los Angeles. Since moving back to New Orleans, she now performs with Two Friends Improv and Goat in the Road Productions' Pirate Improv Show. Grace has a Master of Arts in Teaching and has taught numerous improv workshops and classes to people of all ages. She loves performing improv and is so excited to have the opportunity to teach others her favorite art form. 

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Intro to Hip Hop

Intro to Hip Hop with Kenneth Kynt Bryan

Tuesdays | March 10 - May 5
6:00 - 7:15 pm
$160 members | $175 non-members
Open to ages 15 and up

Get your groove on at the New Orleans JCC! Join Kenneth “Kynt” Bryan for an Intro to Hip Hop class that’s open to all ages (15+) and all skill levels! Whether you’re brand new to dance or already love moving to the beat, this class is a blast for everyone. Expect a mix of hip hop fundamentals, fun choreography, and positive vibes. You’ll leave feeling confident, energized, and ready to hit the dance floor! Come for the dance, stay for the community. See you there!

Instructor Kenneth Kynt Bryan

Multitalented New Orleans International Dance Music Recording Artist, Actor, Dancer/Choreographer, Model, Performer, and Founder/Artistic Director of Flashmob New Orleans, Kenneth Kynt Bryan, is a Loyola University of New Orleans - (BA Communications and Dance) and Tulane University New Orleans - (Master of Liberal Arts) graduate. Mr. Bryan has been a featured guest artist with several dance companies, created unique programs in New Orleans for more than twenty years as a freelance educator in ballet, hip hop, jazz lyrical, contemporary, runway modeling, and flashmob dance. He has taught classes at Loyola University, ReNew Schools, New Orleans Ballet Association – NORD (New Orleans Recreation Department), New Orleans Public Library – African American Research Center, The Light For The Blind, Ashe’ Cultural Arts Center – Kumba Institute, Young Audiences, and Urban League College Track, St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, Upturn Arts, John Casablanca’s Modeling & Talent Agency, FIT NOLA and many other organizations. 

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Stencil Making and Spray Painting Workshop

Stencil Making and Spray Painting Workshop with Brent Houzenga

Saturday & Sunday, April 18 - 19
1:00 - 4:00 pm
$70 members | $85 non-members

Experience the art of stencils and spray paint in this two-day workshop with artist and muralist Brent Houzenga. The first day will be dedicated to learning how to craft your own stencil. We will be using Xacto blades to cut our stencils. Brent’s specialty is portraits. If you plan on attending, please send a photo in advance so he can prepare it for you to work with. Typically portraits are head and shoulders. Photographs with good lighting make for good stencils. Day Two will be dedicated to spray painting the stencils with guidance on how to make your portrait pop using some of Brent’s layering techniques.

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METAIRIE JCC - Painting

Painting - JCC Metairie

Mondays, February 23 - April 13
5:30 - 7:30 pm
$180 members | $195 non-members

This 8-week painting class is designed to be welcoming to adults with or without prior painting experience. Students will learn foundational painting skills while building confidence and developing their own visual voice. Through guided exercises and step-by-step demonstrations, we will explore color mixing, brush techniques, and composition, among other skills.

Each class will include hands-on practice, short demonstrations, and supportive feedback in a relaxed, encouraging environment. No previous art experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

Goni Sondak

Goni is a teaching artist who holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Design (MDes) from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. She has experience teaching in schools, studios, and museums. Her instruction focuses on foundational painting skills, thoughtful observation, and accessible, step-by-step learning. Goni is committed to fostering a relaxed, encouraging studio environment for adult learners. Her classes focus on building skills gradually while encouraging curiosity and confidence.

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METAIRIE JCC - Card Making

Card-Making Class - JCC Metairie

Wednesdays, March 4 - April 18
1:00 - 3:00 pm
$140 members | $155 non-members

Have you ever struggled to find just the right greeting card? By making your own, you can tailor each one for any occasion or message. Each hands-on class in this beginner-friendly course will focus on aspects of cardmaking fundamentals, including selecting tools, materials, and color palettes; designing effective layouts; using layering techniques; and adding embellishments and sentiments. Students will build skills step by step in a welcoming and supportive environment that encourages them to explore their creative style and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something uniquely their own.

Shannon Watt

Shannon Watt is a multi-disciplinary craft artist working primarily in cardmaking and papercrafts, jewelry, and wood embellishment. After discovering crafting as a creative outlet more than 15 years ago, she developed her skills through foundational classes, self-directed study, and ongoing experimentation. She has participated in dozens of virtual craft fests, including Cricut Craftfest, Stress Free Cardmaker Summit, and Card Maker Success Summit. Shannon enjoys combining techniques and materials across disciplines. She is particularly interested in designing one-of-a-kind pieces that balance decorative and functional qualities, and she often creates artworks tailored to a specific purpose, person, and moment.

  

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