Drop-in Sessions

October 18, 2025
-
Dec 19, 2025
Saturday Arts Social is a multi-arts programme and morning tea designed for our 60+ community. We gather every Saturday morning for a broad programme of events including concerts, art workshops, dance/movement classes and artist talks. Next event: Saturday 18 October, 10:30am - 12:30pm, open to all ages.
Upcoming Programmes:
18 October - The Evolution of Salsa Dancing
In this session participants will learn about the evolution of Salsa dancing, from its roots in Cuba in the Afro dance culture through to the popular dance style it is in the world today.
About Nicho and Gina:
Nicho started dancing from the early age of 5 years old in Chile where he is originally from. Having built up an extensive background in South American folklore, contemporary dance, and Latin dance, in his teens, Nicho started focusing more on the Latin dance culture, particularly Cuban Salsa and its roots which turned into his passion.
Gina started dancing about 9 years ago, absolutely loving and learning everything about the Latin culture, but particularly of course Salsa and its evolution.
Together they have been teaching regular classes in Queenstown under Latin Soul Dance (school name) for many years and have also had the pleasure and opportunity to teach and perform all over New Zealand in festivals and other events.
25 October - "Feel the fear and sing it anyway!" A unique singing workshop with Anna Dorsey
Scared to sing in public? Would love to sing but terrified what people will think? You are not alone! So many of us love singing but shy away from singing out loud. The truth is: if you can hum you can sing.
This workshop is all about giving singing a go in a relaxed, friendly setting. Together we’ll build your vocal confidence, learn why singing is so good for you and have FUN! No experience needed, just bring your voice and a sense of humour. Shower and car singers welcome. Don’t let fear hold you back from living your life out loud. Let Anna Dorsey lead you on a fun vocal journey where your voice and your sense of humour will get a workout!
About Anna:
Anna Dorsey is a Queenstown singer and performer with a background in mental wellbeing and health promotion. In this unique workshop she’ll guide you through simple vocal activities designed to lift your spirits, boost your singing confidence, and remind you that life really is better when you Just Sing.
1 November - In conversation with author Damien Wilkins
As part of Queenstown Writers Festival comes this author talk with Damien Wilkins, discussing his 11th novel, Delirious. This emotionally powerful novel about families and ageing dramatises the questions we will all face if we’re lucky – or unlucky – enough on our journey through life. Winner of New Zealand’s top literary prize for 2025, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, award judges described Delirious as “an absorbing, inspiring novel and a damn fine read.” This session will be chaired by Steve Braunias, who declared it ‘book of the year’ months before the judges convened to make their decision. Brought to you by the Mactodd Community Charitable Trust.
The timing for this event varies from our normal sessions, with morning tea starting at 10am, and the talk itself starting at 10:30am. Please note RSVP is essential — we only have 15 spots for seniors aged 60+. To reserve one, please book directly with Eric by emailing programmes@teatamira.nz.
About Damien:
Author of fourteen books, Damien's first novel, The Miserables, won the New Zealand Book Award for fiction in 1994, and he has been long-listed three times for the Dublin Literary Award. He received a Whiting Writers’ Award from the Whiting Foundation, New York, in 1992, and an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Award in 2013.
He is a professor at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters – Te Pūtahi Tui Auaha o Te Ao. As a musician and songwriter, he writes and records as the Close Readers.
_______________
Drop-in sessions, registrations are not required. Free for ages 60+.
For further information, please call 027 180 02868 or email hello@teatamira.nz.
Thank you to Central Lakes Trust for their support in bringing creativity to our community.

Previous Sessions (Saturdays):
2023
15 April - Concert – Pianist Louis Koopman
22 April - Art Workshop - Colours of Autumn with Raquel Tamara Carter
29 April - Movement workshop with Theresa Swain
6 May - Film - Hip Hop-eration
13 May - Concert - Turn Up The Music students
20 May - Art Workshop - Exploring drawing with Raquel Tamara Carter
27 May - Tea Dance with Dance Social
3 June - Feldenkrais awareness lesson
10 June - Still Life Collage
17 June - Piano Recital with Mark Wilson
24 June - Film Screening - Ever the Land
1 July - Weaving working with Roka Cameron
8 July - Sculpting Poetry with Nataysa Zambri
15 July - Art Workshop with Raquel
22 July - Film Screening - Te Matakite O Aotearoa / Māori Land March
29 July - Concert - Turn Up the Music students
5 August - Origami Workshop with the Japanese Origami Club
12 August - James and Isey - Film Screening
19 August - Tea Dance with Emma Dagg
26 August - Mark Wilson Piano Recital
2 September - Pottery with Raquel Carter
9 September - Turn up the Music concert
16 September - Mindful Movement with Sunny Sky
23 September - Painting Poetry with Natasya Zambri
30 September - Portrait Art workshop with Raquel
7 October - At the World's Edge festival dress rehearsal
14 October - Meet the artist: Abhi Chinniah
21 October - Macrame Workshop with Emma Peers
28 October - Embrace the process art workshop with Queenstown Art Society
4 November - Origami workshop
11 November - Angklung performance
18 November - Mindful Movement with Sunny Sky
25 November - Turn Up the Music Concert
2 December - Christmas Decoration Workshop
9 December - Christmas Tea Dance
2024
10 February - Feldenkrais with Nicky Tompkins
17 February - Colour therapy with Sunny Sky
24 February - Phone photography with Scott Kennedy
2 March - Mark Making with Muireann
9 March - Mark Wilson piano recital
16 March - Kristin O'Sullivan Peren printmaking workshop
23 March - Turn up the Music Concert
30 March - South Georgia: Tales from Tegan Allpress's Expedition
6 April - The Heart Dances Film Screening
13 April - Irish Music Circle
20 April - Poetry Workshop with Bethany Rogers
27 April - Chinese Calligraphy with Eric Lim
4 May - Charcoal exploration with Raquel Carter
11 May - Creative Collage with Lizanne Knights
18 May - Drawing Workshop with Emma Theyers
25 May - Singing Workshop with Margaret O'Hanlon
1 June - Angklung Music workshop
8 June - Music with Mark Wilson & Friends
15 June - Dance with Nina Hermanns
22 June - Turn Up the Music Recital
29 June - Origami Workshop
6 July - Korean Drumming Workshop
13 July - Guided Tour of Te Whare Pora with master weaver Roka Hurihia Ngarimu-Cameron
20 July - Collage your life story with Lucas Rodriguez
27 July - Exploratory Drawing with Emma Theyers
3 August - Guided preview of A fire that blackened the rocks
10 August - Exploring Sashiko (Slow Stitching) with Diane van Brandenberg
17 August - Drama Workshop with Amelia Glydon
24 August - Artists Tour of Le Satauro with Lyle Penisula
31 August - Exploring Polynesian Carving with Ana Teofilo
7 September - Singalong and Harmonize with Natasha Wilson and Lizzie Green
14 September - Turn Up the Music Recital
21 September - Sketching Techniques to Find Inspiration in Everyday Life with Kasia Hebda
28 September - Artist Tour of Lyrics and Lines with Arts Laureate John Reynolds
5 October - At The World's Edge Festival Rehearsals
19 October - Remarkables Park Wellbeing Expo x Saturday Arts Social - Chair Yoga with Eric
26 October - Mark Wilson and Friends Concert - with Janelle Aston and special guest Emma Wilson
2 November - Queenstown Writers Festival - Is it Getting Better? with Emma Wehipeihana (Espiner) and Jacinta Ruru
9 November - Introducing Resident Artist Emma Peers
16 November - Raranga Workshop
23 November - Morsels of Music with Mark Wilson and friends
30 November - Christmas Cardmaking Workshop with Tina
7 December - Mobile Phone Christmas Photography with Scott Kennedy
14 December - Wasabi Christmas Concert
21 December - Pauli Antoine Concert
2025
15 February - Concert with Mark Wilson and Friends
22 February - Pueblo de Tambores Artist Talk with Kadambari Raghukumar
1 March - Wool Felting Whenua of Otago with Molly Timmins of Corban Estate Arts Centre
8 March - Experimental Paper Collage with Lucca Rodriguez
15 March - Dance and more with DanceProNZ's Nina Hermanns
22 March - Five Films For Freedom
29 March - Turn Up The Music Concert
5 April - Alta (2016-2024) Artist Talk with Marc Blake
12 April - Batik Painting with Ika Willett
19 April - Start Your First Novel with Lizzy Dent
26 April - Stitch a Coaster Workshop with Tikki Studio
3 May - Bird Song of the Whakatipu - A Talk with Dawn Palmer
10 May - TDC69 and TypeHere Artist Talk with Kaan Hinni, Lloyd Osborne and Shabnam Shiwan
17 May - Belly Dancing with Bee Sadalah
24 May - Love Notes: In Conversation with Ed Cruikshank
31 May - Pin Stitch with Notions Creative
7 June - Singing Workshop with Margaret O’Hanlon
14 June - Exhibition Opening - Meet The Artists
21 June - Turn Up The Music Concert
28 June - Sketchbook Session with Rowan Giselle Holt
5 July - Introduction to NeuroArt with Jenny Geelan
12 July - Storytelling Session with Julian Noel
19 July - Acting for the Screen with Amalia Remus
26 July - My Tree of Strength Art Therapy with Dani Peel
2 August - Mark Wilson and Friends - Winter Warmer Concert
9 August - 'The Object and the Memory' Collage & Ink Exploration with Lucca Rodriguez
16 August - Abstract Art Painting with Grace Ramsey
23 August - Lino Printing with Emily Murnaghan from Notions Creativity
30 August - Film Screening: Taste of the Land - Emergence Magazine
6 September - Turn Up The Music Showcase
13 September - Collaborative Clay Sculpting with Shannon Courtenay
20 September - Modern Jive Introduction and Tea Dance with Dance Social
27 September - 'The Artist' talk with Julia Holden
4 October - Cyanotype Workshop | Taller de Cianotipia
11 October - Watercolour Water Creatures with Gabrielle Coppola