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Culture blossoms

The Carrollwood Cultural Center swings into its mission.

By Amber Mobley, Times Staff Writer
Published March 7, 2008

CARROLLWOOD 

Before the doors of the Carrollwood Cultural Center opened on Monday for class registration, people were waiting.

Ten years in the making, the center was ready.

Pottery wheels were ready for clay and creative hands.

Dance rooms were squared away for swinging.

Pianos were prepared for pupils to practice.

Eleven of the center's 35 classes begin Monday. .

While scheduled registration for the first six-week session of courses ends today, registration for many other classes is ongoing, center executive director Paul Berg said.

Most of the 150 visitors who took a walk-through tour of the center at Lowell and Casey roads on Monday also signed up for classes, Berg said.

The nearly $8-million center opened on Valentine's Day with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Since then, the fundraising arm for the center, the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, held an invitation-only gala Sunday.

Performers included a quartet from the Florida Orchestra, arias by the acclaimed New York soprano Deborah Home and Jim Burge, former Hillsborough Community College Music Department chair and founder of Tampa's New Directions Jazz Quartet with Steinway artist Mary Ann Scialdo, artistic director for the center.

"It could not have gone any better," Berg said. "I think it really set the tone for who we are and what we're going to be doing."

Among other events upcoming are three Sunday concert performances throughout April.

Amber Mobley can be reached at amobley@sptimes.com or 813 269-5311.

If you go

Carrollwood Cultural Center

Today is the last day for class registration at the Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road.

Open house at the center runs from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Classes officially start at the center on Monday.

For more information regarding classes and events, the facilities or membership to the Friends of the Carrollwood Cultural Center, visit the Web site carrollwoodcenter.org or call the center at (813) 269-1310.

Class costs, which vary for Friends members and nonmembers, range from $67.50 to $120.

[Last modified March 7, 2008, 02:14:09]