Now that kids are back in school yet again after the one-week Eid holidays, most parents are scheduling their after school activities to keep them occupied and fit. The choices across Dubai are overwhelming. You can keep your kids intellectually challenged with Maths, get them twirling or balancing with dance or gymnastics, teach them to swim or learn synchronized swimming, indulge in music, theatre or more. The list seems endless.

The biggest challenge for me has always been getting them there. I’m sure I’m not alone. ‘After school’ means that you will undoubtedly get stuck in rush hour traffic on your way there or back. For this reason alone, I suspect that many parents living in the neighbourhood will be happy to learn that a slew of fun pasttimes await your kids right here in JVT.

I’ve compiled some information about what’s on offer:

Ballet, Gymnastics and Karate Classes at Arcadia Prepatory School with Gulf Star Sports should be starting from 9th October. Free trial lessons will be available so contact them now to get your spot. Tel: 052-9078179.

Furthermore, community groups can rent out the school facilities either at Arcadia through Gulf Star Sports by contacting Matthew Ralton on mattr@gulfstarsports.com or at Sunmarke by contacting the school manager Elaine Baillie on activitiesmanager@forteseducation.com

Sunmarke has already started with a broad array of options offered through a host of external vendors listed below. The times/dates indicated are those communicated on the school website.  I’ve given the time/date slots to make it easy to see if the offering fits within your schedule but please note these are consolidated timings of the different age specific classes on offer. Kindly contact the vendor directly for more information.

Badminton

5-6pm (Sun & Tues), 6-7pm (Thurs & Sat) Contact PSA Tel: 052-9078179.

Exercise class ‘Born to Move’

4-5pm (Mon) Contact: Stryx Gulf Tel: 0529007550

Swimming 

4-6pm (Sun & Tues), 1-5pm (Sat) Contact M&S Sports  Tel.: + 971 (0)4 457 2933

3-4:15 (Mon& Thurs) AquaTots and Beginner lessons with Swimming Warriors Tel: 055-880-3040

Football

4-7pm (Mon) & 8-11am (Sat) Contact M&S Sports Tel: 050-4405921
4-6pm (Sun) & 5-6pm (Tues) & 2:15 – 3:15pm (Thurs) Contact Elite FC Tel: 045-545-916
4-5pm (Sun) Contact FC Barcelona Tel: 055-8872426

Basketball

4-8pm (Sun), 4-9pm (Tues) Contact MPAC sports 04-385177
5-8pm (Mon & Wed),  9-1pm (Sat) Contact Basic Ball Tel: +056-167-0009

Gymnastics

3-6pm (Thurs) Contact Simply Gymnastics on 055 601 6095

Rythmic Gymnastics

5-7pm (Mon), 10-12pm (Sat) Contact Stryx Gymnastics Tel: +0529007550

Wado Ryu karate lessons conducted in Japanese!

4:45 – 7pm (Mon), 9am-12pm (Sat) Contact Budo Juko Tel: +971 50 2110 3981

Dance classes for ages 5 to adult are being offered by Step Up Academy every day of the week in the following styles:

• Street Dance
• RAD Ballet
• IDTA Tap & Modern
• Cheerleading
• Musical Theatre
• Lyrical Contemporary

Contact them for the complete schedule on Mobile: 971 55 855 2797 or info@stepup.ae

Robotics

2:45 – 4:45pm (Wed) Contact Premier Genie Tel: 0526656440

Art Appreciation

3:30 – 4:45pm (Sat) Contact Little Masterpieces Tel: 055-3877091

Math Whizz Kids

2:45 – 3:45pm (Sun & Mon), 3 – 5pm (Tues), 9:30 – 2pm (Sat) Contact Brain O Brain Tel: 055-1355747

Innovators & Entreprenuers

2:45 – 3:45 (Wed) & 2:15 – 3:15pm (Thurs) Contact I&E Academy Tel: 055-8622464

Russian Language Classes 

1:30 – 5:30 (Sun/Mon) Contact Headway Institute Tel:  +971 4 362 53 13

Let the fun begin !