DANCE MAESTRO: Verushka Pather artistic director and lead dancer in Sadhana Realisation of Truth, which is touring the country next year Picture: SUPPLIED

The summer holidays are around the corner and if you are looking for something fun to pass the time, why not join the Rising Star Academy? The academy will offer dancing, singing and acting classes during school holidays. The classes are for pupils aged between 8 and 16 years.

The first class begins on December 14 and will begin with acting, voice, improvisation and role play. The classes will run until December 18. Kids can expect lessons in singing, choreography, make-up, costumes and wigs and directing. The academy is situated at the Westville Round Table next to Westville Athletics Club. Classes are from 9am to 4pm and cost R300 a day with a four-day discount of R900. There is a 50% deposit on registration.

Visit www.risingstaracademy.co.za/ contactus.html to download a registration form or call Andrea on (082) 994-0984 or Gil on (083) 326-3257.

• It's also that time of year again and, as the saying goes, Christmas is a time for giving. If you want to bless someone less fortunate this festive season why not try this perfect gift idea? Gifts4Good is an interesting and accessible website with its new promotion offering indi- viduals a chance to Make Christmas Matter. The site offers carefully-selected gifts ranging from R50 to R1000.

The gift goes towards a social development project in South Africa. Gifts for R50 in-clude a bag of cement which will lay the foundations for a toy library planned for a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, seedlings to start food gardens and screws which will be used to upgrade a kitchen for disadvantaged, chronically ill and disabled children. Gifts in the R100 bracket include educational toys or even a signature guide and money stick which will help blind people do their banking.

Gifts in the R250 bracket include interactive books as well as a device that gives an audio signal when a cup being filled has al- most reached the top. To check out and purchase these gifts, visit the online store www.gifts4good.co.za.

• Get ready for Sadhana Realisation of Truth, a classical dance group which will be touring South Africa. The Natya Ananda Fine Arts Academy, which specialises in the Bharatiya Natyam dance style, will host the tour. Artistic director for the musical, Ver- ushka Pather, has set out to wow audi- ences with the production and will also feature as the lead dancer. The tour begins on February 25 and runs until March 15. Tickets will be on sale from January at Computicket.

• Get behind a good cause and support the Inkosi Community Children's Day. The NGO is based in Richards Bay and serves underprivileged communities. The project provides food, clothing, blankets, toys and renovates orphanages. The children's day will host about 3000 disabled and underprivileged kids from rural schools and orphanages. The day will be filled with fun and games, including water slides, jumping castles and entertainment. There will also be an HIV/Aids awareness procession. Each child will receive breakfast, lunch, a hamper and a Christmas gift. The event takes place on December 12 at 8am at Brackenham Sports Ground.

• Durban's luxurious restaurant, Lingela, at the Elangeni is running an amazing limited offer. The restaurant is offering a special R100 dinner per person every Sunday until the end of December. Call (031) 362-1300.

• For a relaxing day with the family, take them to the Jozi Food Market every Saturday, where there's a wide variety of the finest foods. The market is at the Parktown Quarter in Parktown North, where shoppers can buy home-grown, natural produce such as goats' cheese. There are loads of benches so families can arrive with picnic baskets and enjoy brunch.

For more info visit www.jozifoodmarket.co.za.

• The year's most electrifying thriller is out in cinemas. Law Abiding Citizen is an adrenalin-pumping movie which will satisfy the hunger of any action junkie. The movie is about Clyde Shelton, who decides to take the law into his own hands after his wife and daughter are brutally murdered.

The man responsible for the deaths walks free after a defence attorney makes it possible. Shelton then brilliantly plans his vengeance, putting the entire city at risk. The movie stars Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler.

• If you're thinking of taking up a new hobby, why not learn the art of salsa dancing? All you need to bring is your passion and rhythm. No partner or dance experience is needed. Head down to Tokyo Sky in Fourways on November 17. R50 will get you into the lesson. The class starts at 7.30pm. For more info, call (084) 501-3013 or visit www.tokyosky.co.za.

• If you enjoy comedy, head down to the Punchline Comedy and Improv Fest at Harvey Wallbangerz in Durban North. There will be a mix of stand-up comedy, including the popular Who's line is it Anyway, established and up-coming acts from Durban and Gauteng and a KZN new acts search competition. The event takes place every Wednesday. To book, visit www.computicket.com. Tickets (R60) will also be sold at the door or call (031) 563-4887. A full menu is available and bar and waitron service. The show begins at 8.30pm. No under 18 allowed. The festival runs until December 23.

• The classic stage production of My Fair Lady will open soon at the Playhouse Company. The much-loved musical is one of the world's all-time box-office hit shows. Adapted from the book by George Bernard Shaw, the musical tells the tale of a Cockney flower-seller who is transformed into a high-society lady. There will be spectacular set designs, colourful costumes and amazing choreography.

There will be special low-priced performance for groups. The musical opens on November 20 and runs until December 30. Pre-booked tickets range from R80 to R120. To book tickets, call the Playhouse box office on (031) 369-9596 or (031) 369-9540 or via Computicket on www.computicket.co.za. You can also call Andre on (031) 369-9407.