“ART OF” SERIES CONTINUES: Salsa and bachata dance are among the cultural interests celebrated in the Arts Council of Princeton’s ART OF series. Led by local leaders in interests including art, food, culture, and more, ART OF events are social opportunities that encourage participants to get creative.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) presents ART OF, a series of events curated to introduce attendees to the endless creativity and innovation in the Princeton community.

The ART OF series launched in fall 2022 and has since welcomed guests to enjoy educational experiences in topics including wine, horticulture, astrology, and floral arranging. Some ART OF events are free, and every dollar raised from ticketed events benefits the Arts Council’s longstanding community outreach programs, public art initiatives, and year-long community events and projects.

Upcoming is the ART OF Salsa and Bachata on Saturday, January 21 from 7-11 p.m. Attendees are invited to dress in their best red threads and immerse themselves in an evening of Latin dance with instructor Mike Andino of HotSalsaHot Dance Studio. Music is to be provided by DJ Poli, one of Philly’s top Latin DJs. No partner or experience is necessary. Tickets are $125 and include instruction, dance party, beer, wine, and Latin-inspired cuisine.

Other events include:

ART OF Chocolate Making — Sunday, January 22, 3-4:30 p.m.: Chocolate connoisseur Alex Pimentel will guide this artisanal chocolate making workshop. Using organic cacao
from Peru, adults and children 10+ will design and create custom gourmet chocolate bars to take home. Tickets are $55.

ART OF The Potter’s Wheel — Friday, February 10, 5-7 p.m.: Give pottery a whirl! Award-winning ceramicist and ACP Executive Director Adam Welch will introduce participants to the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel. Watch a quick, detailed demo on the wheel — then it’s your turn. You throw, choose your glaze, and ACP takes care of the rest. Your finished piece will be ready for pick up in a few weeks. Tickets include this small-group tutorial and a glass of wine. No experience is required, just come eager to play with clay and have some fun. Tickets are $75.

ART OF Play — Saturday, March 4, 10-11 a.m.: Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination; dexterity; and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Preschool teacher Bentley Drezner will host a fun and collaborative workshop for preschoolers and their caregivers to explore free and easy ways to promote creative play. Bagels, juice, and coffee to follow. Tickets are free.

ART OF Iftar — Sunday, March 12, 4-6 p.m.: Hosted at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, this ART OF experience celebrates the customs of Iftar, the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Guests will enjoy tasty bites from Khan Baba Restaurant and insightful conversation during this interfaith gathering. Tickets are $35.

ART OF Distilling — Thursday, March 9, 5:30-7 p.m.: Take a shot and experience the ART OF Distilling. Nestled in the rolling Sourland Mountains of the Hopewell Valley, family-owned Sourland Mountain Spirits lovingly distills, ages, fills, and labels award-winning spirits highlighted by their double gold medal flagship gin. Led by co-founder Erica Disch, this intimate tasting experience consists of the exploration of three different Sourland Mountain Spirits. Disch will immerse you in the aromas and flavors of a true craft experience. Tickets are $45.

ART OF The Painted Word: Merging Poetry and Painting — Sunday, April 16, 3-5 p.m.: Celebrate National Poetry Month with artist Ruthann Traylor, director of Homefront’s ArtSpace, for this workshop to learn how to merge the literary and visual arts. Bring your favorite poem, a few lines of verse, or better yet, something you may have written yourself — whatever inspires you to create your own visual art piece. Materials for this all-ages workshop are provided, but you are welcome and encouraged to bring any special items you can use to make the piece your own — old photos, a bit of ribbon, a love letter — and learn how to incorporate them into a collage, mixed media painting, or as your subject for a drawing or painting. Tickets are free.

ART OF Pairing Beer and Cheese — Thursday, June 1, 5:30-7 p.m.: Charles Nouwen, beer sommelier and master brewer from Belgium, will take you on a journey to enjoy the best of fine beers and boutique cheeses paired together. Through stories, anecdotes, and fun facts, you will learn why these two historical farm products are made for each other. Four carefully selected pairings along with artisanal breads and fruits will have your taste buds singing. Tickets are $60.

To reserve tickets and learn more, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org. For information about event sponsorship, contact Emma Stephens at estephens@artscouncilofprinceton.org.