The Mini-Course Committee is a volunteer student committee of the Twin Cities Student Unions Programs and Activities board that strives to enrich campus recreation by promoting engagement in a wide variety of subject areas. Committee members organize a variety of skill-based courses, taught by instructors from the University and local community, which encompass, but are not limited to, all facets of the arts and crafts.
Cancellation Policy: One must cancel 10 business days before the first day of the Mini-Course.
Submit a Proposal
Do you want to teach a mini-course this spring? Submit a proposal for your course!
If you wish to sign-up in person, visit Coffman's Information Desk.
Spring 2009 Mini-Courses
- Improv! (Beginner)
- Time: 4:00-5:30pm
- Days: Wednesdays: February 25, March 4, 11, 25.
- Class Location: 2/25, 3/25: CMU Room 324,
3/4, 3/11: CMU Room 326 - Instructor: Chris Carlson
- It doesn’t get much better than an hour and half of on your toes humor with a group of friends. Through games, activities and a little friendly competition this class will teach you the basic improv skills
- Registration Deadline: Feb, 23
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $50 General.
- Limit: 15
- (3 seats tentatively filled.)
- Improv! (Intermediate)
- Time: 4:00-5:30pm
- Days: Wednesdays: April 8, 15, 22, 29
- Class Location: CMU Room 324
- Instructor: Chris Carlson
- Designed partly as continuation of improv one, but open to all this class focuses on taking what you’ve learned to the next level. What could be better than a class designed to make you laugh?
- Registration Deadline: Apr, 6
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $50 General.
- Limit: 15
- (2 seats tentatively filled.)
- Indian Dance
- Time: 3:30 pm-5:00 pm
- Days: April 5, 12, 19, 26
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Jaswandi Pital
- East Indian culture has a rich variety of dances ranging from the elegant classical dancing to the popular and full of enthusiasm folk dances. Dances have been used to depict epics, traditional tales and the rich heritage. This course teaches the students basics of Indian folk and classical dancing and importance of expressions to reach out to the audience when performing on stage.
- Registration Deadline: Apr, 3
- Cost: $5 U of MN students; $10 General.
- Limit: 30
- (13 seats tentatively filled.)
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop (Advanced Beginner)
- Time: 5:00-6:30pm
- Days: Sundays: April 5, 19, 26, May 3
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Andrew Worm
- This is a continuation of the beginner Non-Stop Hip-Hop class designed to take your hip-hop dancing skills and physical fitness to the next level.
- Registration Deadline: Apr, 3
- Cost: $20 U of MN students; $40 General.
- Limit: 30
- (30 seats tentatively filled.)
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop (Beginner)
- Time: 5:00 pm-6:30 pm
- Days: Sundays: February 22, March 1, 8, 29
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Andrew Worm
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop is a dance based fitness class that will tone and tighten your entire body. Dancing is an amazing way to increase your confidence, endurance, flexibility, and metabolism. No dance experience is necessary, but be sure to bring your determination.
- Registration Deadline: Feb, 20
- Cost: $20 U of MN students; $40 General.
- Limit: 30
- (44 seats tentatively filled.)
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop (Beginner)
- Time: 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
- Days: February 22, March 1, 8, 29
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Andrew Worm
- Non-Stop Hip-Hop is a dance based fitness class that will tone and tighten your entire body. Dancing is an amazing way to increase your confidence, endurance, flexibility, and metabolism. No dance experience is necessary, but be sure to bring your determination.
- Registration Deadline: Feb, 20
- Cost: $20 U of MN students; $40 General.
- Limit: 30
- (13 seats tentatively filled.)
- Noon Yoga
- Time: 12:00-1:00pm
- Days: Mondays: April 6, 14, 20, 27
- Class Location: Coffman Memorial Union, 303
- Instructor: Leslie Johnson
- In this course you will learn how to access your own true nature through using the body, breath and awareness as tools to dive into your "Self". This style of yoga is simple and accessible to all. Wear comfortable, easy to move in clothes and please eat lightly just prior to class.
- Registration Deadline: Apr, 5
- Cost: $15 U of MN students; $30 General.
- Limit: 12
- (12 seats tentatively filled.)
- Roast, Blend, Brew
- Time: 6:00pm-8:30pm
- Days: Thursday, March 26
- Class Location: Dunn Brothers—Loring Park: 329 West 15th St. Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Instructor: Josh Dexter
- This course will teach you everything you ever wanted to know plus some about coffee. We will walk you through the history, geography, some fun facts, brewing and even roasting. There will be a roasting demonstration and then you will receive a half pound of beans from that batch.
- Registration Deadline: Mar, 24
- Cost: $14 U of MN students; $28 General.
- Limit: 10
- (2 seats tentatively filled.)
- Salsa One
- Time: 2:30 pm-3:30pm
- Days: Sundays: February 15, 22, March 1, 8
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Don DeBoer
- Come learn your basics about one of the most popular dances sweeping up from the southern hemisphere. Four weeks here and you’ll be ready for any night out.
Note: The times for this mini course have changed. The updated times are on this website. The brochure is incorrect. - Registration Deadline: Feb, 14
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $50 General.
- Limit: 50
- (10 seats tentatively filled.)
- Salsa Two
- Time: 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
- Days: Sundays: March 29, April 5, 12, 19
- Class Location: CMU Mississippi Room
- Instructor: Don DeBoer
- This class is designed for the intermediate to advanced salsa dancer, meaning if you’re a bit of a veteran to the dance, but are looking to take your skills further, you’ve come to the right place.
Note: The times for this mini course have changed. The updated times are on this website. The brochure is incorrect. - Registration Deadline: Mar, 28
- Cost: $25 U of MN students; $50 General.
- Limit: 50
- (1 seats tentatively filled.)
- You Rack, I’ll Break: Learn to Play Pool
- Time: 5:00-6:00pm
- Days: Wednesdays: February 11, 18, 25
- Class Location: CMU Goldy’s Gameroom
- Instructor: Ben Vogel
- If you’re tired of constantly losing pool while out with friends, we’ve designed a class with you mind. Come learn the basics of the game and maybe learn what it feels like to win one once in awhile.
- Registration Deadline: Feb, 9
- Cost: $15 U of MN students; $30 General.
- Limit: 20
- (2 seats tentatively filled.)
Instructors
Andrew Worm has over 14 years of dance experience. He was classically trained in Tap, Jazz, and Ballet during his high school years at WS Dance Studio. His Hip-Hop training includes Essence of Prodigy, Zenon, and Larking Dance Studio. He is a major advocate for Freestyle dancing to enhance his choreography and level self expression. As a college student at the University of Minnesota, he was discovered by a member of the Aerobics Program and created the now famous Non-Stop Hip-Hop dance aerobics phenomenon. Outside of the Health and Fitness industry, he enjoys choreographing for many high school and collegiate level dance teams around the Midwest. Mr. Worm has performed all over the state, including the Mall of America, Minnesota State Fair, and University of Minnesota college campus. His love, the Health and Fitness industry, also extends into the Self-Improvement field. He plans to blend the Health and Fitness, Self-Improvement, and Hip-Hop Dance arenas into a new era of Physical Fitness! He can always be heard saying, "Why else would you be on this Earth, other than to look, feel, do, and be your best?!?"
Leslie Johnson is a Certified Svaroopa® Yoga Teacher (CSYT). She holds the honor of Senior Teacher with over 1000 hours of training through Master Yoga Teacher Institute. She has practiced yoga since 1989. She first found and became a student of Svaroopa yoga in 1998, and has been teaching since 2002. She received training from Rama Berch, the founding president of Yoga Alliance. Rama Berch is the originator and master teacher of Svaroopa yoga and founder of Master Yoga Foundation.
Josh Dexter is the owner of the Dunn Bros Coffee shop in Loring Park as well as the Lyndale Ave location. He has been a coffee Roastmaster for the past 2 years and roasts at least 3 to 4 times a week. He enjoys all the different varieties of coffee we have at Dunn Bros and wants to share that knowledge and love of coffee will all. He also has been a Scuba instructor for Smith Diving in Fridley for the past ten years.
Ben Vogel has over 16 years experience in managing bowling and recreation facilities. He has instructed bowlers of all ages.
Jaswandi Pital is an international student at the university and has been formally trained in Indian classical dancing. She has been involved in a lot of stage performances for folk dancing and has choreographed theme dances for professional events. She is extremely passionate about dancing.
