Ever wonder how spanish people can hear the first three seconds of a song and spring up, grab a partner and start dancing for hours??? It's all in the music!!!

Come learn how to understand and dance to Bachata, Salsa, Merengue with a partner!
Taste a variety of the most popular dances on Latin America, and make some great friends while you're at it!

Once you learn, you can take them dancing in the city!!!


Prerequisites
Sign up with your favorite dancing partner for DOUBLE the fun!

Have you ever wondered how a computer can recognize objects? Everyone knows computers can do math quickly, but what if we have a picture of some coins? Do you think it could count them efficiently? How difficult do you think it would be to teach it how to do that?

During this introductory class on image processing, we’ll answer all these questions and show you that by seeing an image as a matrix, a mathematical object, a computer can actually extract a lot of information from a collection of pixels. Using simple euclidean geometry and some clever calculation, we’ll see how an equation defining a circle could teach a computer to see circular shapes using the Hough Transform. If time allows, we will also look at how computers learn to see things all the way from the inside of your body to the surface of Mars! So come along, and have your first encounter with computer vision!


Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with graphing functions and parametric equations. Some knowledge of programming will be helpful, but not required.

Classical music: boring, old, and stuffy, right? Why do we believe this? What contributes to this? What can we learn from hi-tech start-ups, Kpop, and Justin Bieber?

This class will examine recent business studies and strategies (as released by Oliver Wyman and McKinsey and Co), performances styles, and historical examples of crisis in classical music (bankruptcy, financial crisis, etc.), Highly recommended for (I) musician-leaders, (II) those interested in business/creative industries, and (III) budding sociologists.

This class will introduce basic feminist concepts, including feminist consciousness, social construction, intersectionality, and oppression.

In this class we will use creative writing techniques targeted to help get students get their points across in college application essays. We will take a look at targeted, specific writing that only creative writing can spark.


Prerequisites
Interest in sending college applications to colleges. Or someone who wants to learn how creative writing can make you a better communicator.

AI is responsible for how Siri can understand your quandaries and Watson can beat Jeopardy champions. In this course, we'll explore the major concepts that allow intelligent machines to function, along with some history of how they developed and views of the potential future they could take us to.

A first introduction to complex numbers, what they are, why they are used, and what is their application. And our superstar: $$i=\sqrt(-1)$$


Prerequisites
No real prerequisites, but knowing the solutions to ax²+bx+c=0 would help.

What is a graph? This might seem like a simple question, but I bet Euler would disagree! Together we will discover a branch of Mathematics that was discovered hundreds of years ago, but has deep significance today.We will delve through its rich history, and explore applications in Abstract Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology and many more fields! And it all begins with seven bridges...

This course is a very basic introduction to the Java programming language for students with little or no computer science experience.

Numbers, presentations, graphs, interpretations, and perspectives! No longer will you cringe when faced with a confusing data set. Have no fear, stats is here! This course will enable students to think critically be able to graph, organize, and analyze data. In addition, students will be given a chance to collect their own data based on what they're passionate about. This course is definitely recommended for those who are planning to take a future statistics course such as AP Statistics or statistics in college. Bear in mind that this course is not meant to be challenging or a burden but rather a safe space where students can share what they find difficult in mathematics in general and work on it, which I'm hoping will lead to eventual confidence in future math courses. Feel free to ask me any questions regarding high school or college in general!


Prerequisites
Students should have some knowledge of algebra.

Medicine has evolved at an exponential rate over the past century. This class explores innovative advances in science that have solved medicine's greatest mysteries and challenges. We will explore, among other things, powerful new drugs to treat infections, the medical applications of radiation, and bio-engineering to cure genetic diseases. We will also look at some of the most cutting edge research still in development, such as intravenous surgery, using stem cells to regenerate organs, and the bionic replacement of limbs. The class also briefly covers how students can get involved in research and pursue their interests in the sciences.


Prerequisites
H.S. students with an interest in research, biotechnology, medicine, and/or the life sciences.

What are viruses? Are they alive? How are viruses and bacteria different? Why can't I take an antibiotic when I have a cold? In the first half of this class, we explore the basic biology of viruses, learn about how they produce disease, and introduce some of the key concepts within the discipline of virology. To explore some of these concepts in more detail, the second half of the class will focus on the biology of human rhinovirus, one of the most successful disease-producing agents on the planet and cause of the common cold.


Prerequisites
college-prep biology helpful but not required

The brain is generally considered the most complex unit of mass in the universe. Made of billions of neurons, it is able to recognize faces, generate motion, and produce speech more quickly and accurately than any computer. Yet, how it performs these miraculous feats is still largely unknown. In order to understand how the brain processes information at large, we must first understand the basic unit of communication between two cells, the action potential.

Stars are more than pretty objects in the sky-- they are beautifully dynamic, evolving, gigantic chunks of mass that have created every element imaginable, including you!

Together, we will explore the birth of stars, their life cycles, and their deaths. Come learn about the amazing phenomenon that is a black hole, and how to rip a hole in space time. Understand what exactly a "supernova" is, and why it's so important. Explore degeneracy and its immense power. And just have a good time!


Prerequisites
A basic background in Physics is helpful but not required. Fundamentals will be covered.

Chemistry and chemicals often get a bad rep as dangerous or “unnatural” (artificial). But many people underestimate the role of chemistry in natural processes, many of which play an important role in modern life. We will discuss the chemical basis of the following natural processes:
- Soap-making
- Agriculture (Fertilizers & Pesticides)
- Fermentation (Beer, Wine)
- Medications


Prerequisites
Chemistry

Adapted from the book by the same name, by chemist and teacher Hugh Aldersey-Williams. We will discuss selected elements of the Periodic Table, elements that we meet, often unknowingly, in day-to-day life. In particular, we will discuss their discovery, use through time, and implementation in modern technology. Where do we get the expression “lime-light”? Take this class to find out!


Prerequisites
Chemistry

The completion of the Human Genome Project has left us with more questions than answers. It turns out that aside from our physical genome composed of DNA, there is an additional epigenome (epi is greek for beyond, in addition to) that compliments the DNA.

This class will focus on a curious phenomenon of epigenetics, called genomic imprinting. We will look at the astounding genetic basis of two seemingly unrelated diseases, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Silver-Russell syndrome. Furthermore, we will discuss how scientific discoveries like these are made and what it's like to be a scientific researcher today.


Prerequisites
Basic understanding of molecular biology

How do our brains and eyes work together? You probably know we see things when light enters the eye and hits the retina . . . but then what? How do we make sense of that? How do we recognize objects? How do we see color? Why do we see spots after we look at a light?

In this class, we will explore the biology behind visual perception.


Prerequisites
Basic high school biology

The class will be joined by Echo the African Grey Parrot, an expert on animal communication!

The ability to communicate is something we humans often take for granted. Our ability to use language to convey ideas to one another played a huge part in our survival as a species. Language allowed us to pass down vital information to younger generations. It allowed us to coordinate hunting attempts and gave us the ability to warn others of danger. However, there are many other species on earth that evolved ways to communicate. How similar are these other methods to our own? To what extent do animals understand what they are "saying?" Where should we draw the line between instinct and comprehension of natural language? These are just some questions we will explore in this course about one of the most fascinating animal phenomenons.

Stem cells –you’ve heard them discussed in the news, and there seems to be a lot controversy surrounding stem cell research. Why are they important, and why are they controversial? In this class, we will cover the fundamentals of what makes a stem cell, where you can find them, and what role they can play in medicine!

This class will examine and explore some of the most shockingly upsetting and encouraging stories based on the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic around the world. We’ll be watching clips from a fantastic movie ("And the Band Played On") as well as trying to answer the most critical questions of all: Where did HIV/AIDS come from? Could we have stopped this, and how? What can we do now? All of these questions will be answered from both a social and scientific approach. Come ready to have mind blowing realizations!


Prerequisites
Some basic biology (DNA, Viruses, etc.) is good, but no experience is absolutely fine

Take a journey to the extreme limits of physics and the universe by opening the door to a whole new universe and new physics.

This course will make use of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in order to understand how physical phenomena such as worm holes and warp drive can change the spacetime in which we exist and will discuss the possibilities of advanced civilizations ever achieving this.

Student must be comfortable with math.
Please come with questions and an open mind.


Prerequisites
***This course is designed for advanced math students as our explanations and justifications are grounded mathematically**** In order to get the most out of this course, student should be familiar with differential geometry/topology as well as it would be useful to have a conceptual understand of spacetime.

Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by multiple seizures that typically occurs in children between the ages of 7 to 19. When multiple neurons in the brain misfire, there is a sudden electrical discharge in the brain, leading to a seizure.
In this class, we will discuss different types of seizures and epilepsy. And we will talk about how children today deal with epilepsy in the classroom and outside of it.

A beating heart is a sign of life. On average a human heart beats more than 2.5billion times over a life time without fail. How does the heart work, and what happens when things to wrong? In this course we shall examine the anatomy of the heart as well as several heart diseases, including myocardial infarction (heart attack), arrhythmia, and heart failure.

Students will learn the basic concepts of current knowledge of the structure of our universe, including the newest high resolution map of the microwave background radiation, the shape of the universe, dark energy, and the big bang theory.

Learn the ancient roots and modern practice of Feng Shui, a traditional Chinese method of guiding energy flow to bring good fortune to homes, businesses, and daily life. We'll look at the basic concepts behind Feng Shui and how you can readily apply Feng Shui tricks to your room and routine.

Learn about some of the common tricks that companies like Apple, Starbucks, chewing gum makers and car companies employ to make their products more appealing.

The course will talk about leaders. Whether they are leaders in the political, business, media, sports, entertainment or even spiritual field, students will know the most essential and common skills found in those inspiring characters who are leaders.

Because truth is, we always have someone who inspires us, each of us has his/her own leader. But we don't usually think of what those people did to be such inspiring figures.

We will talk about what it means to be a leader, what are the most important traits of leadership and provide real-life examples that we can all relate to.

Should be a super interesting and interactive class, and it's a skill that every single person will need at a point in his life.

They say that people would rather die than speak in public. The fear of public speaking is a very common thing among every single one of us, no matter what age.

If you're interested to know what to do in order to:

- Get rid of your fear of public speaking

- Master the art of speaking in public

- Impress audiences with your performances, presentations and speeches

Then this is the class for you, it's a very practical and interactive, so should be really useful with very fun examples and activities.

You will need this skill all your life. And if you don't believe it now I will do my best to prove it :)

Learn about the key principles behind mergers and acquisitions, including concepts ranging from valuation, synergies, and accretion / dilution analysis.

Does your lab partner have a defensive attitude, or is he/she just feeling cold? Did a salesman just lie to you? Come learn body language essentials: how to read others, change social dynamics, and the evolutionary and cultural roots of our unconscious behaviors.

Interested in writing for a blog or starting your own? In this class we will go over all blogging basics - what are blogs used for? how do you choose a host site and set up your page? how do you increase readership? how is blog writing different from other writing? We will look at different blogs and talk about what make some more successful than others. All students will leave having written their own sample blog post.

This course will be an attempt to navigate through the nebulous and sometimes intimidating process of university admissions with some help from a current student. Where should one look for info? How should one use this info? What other factors should I be aware of when replying? Hopefully an hour will be enough to clarify as many questions as possible!


Prerequisites
Intended for older students... Bring any questions you may have!

Juggling is a skill that is quick to learn, easy to practice and improves hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and brain function.

In this class you will learn how to juggle a basic 3-ball cascade and receive demonstrations of 3/4/5 ball juggling and various related tricks.

Come learn how linguistics helps us understand one of the most important but taken-for-granted aspects of our lives: language. Specifically, we'll focus on trying to understand how we make sounds on a fundamental level. How can we classify and analyze all the sounds that make up English speech, or that of any other language? This isn't a matter of grammar or spelling--it's something completely different and really exciting!

Learn the history, basics, and percussion behind the famous Chinese Lion Dance!

From the study of energy - thermodynamics - we know that within an isolated system, entropy can only increase: things fall apart, and energy is dispersed. This being true, where does organization come from in the first place? Why is the universe composed of innumerable diverse and differentiated systems- of stormy planets, rushing waters, vibrant life, and fascinating humans rather than a homogenous grey goo? The answer lies in the fact that no natural system is, in fact, isolated. The influx of energy spurs the formation of organized systems that utilize it to maintain their structure, yielding phenomena like whirlpools, hurricanes, and living things. In this class, we will explore the complexity that results from this process, aiming to both 1) understand where it came from and 2) build an understanding of the ways that humans can interface with the complexity, using tools to expand our understanding of the world

This course will cover the history leading up to, during, and after the 2007/2008 Financial Crisis. The course will delve into unconventional areas that are extremely important to understanding Wall Street and its role in the Financial Crisis (like the fall of Salomon Brothers and the demise of John Meriwether's Long-Term Capital Management in the late '90s). Rest assured, the course will also cover the more recent, polarized history (such as the falls of Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers). And, finally, the course will assess our present situation--analyzing what we have done (if anything) to prevent a future financial calamity. There will be a small portion about investing and finance, but it will employ very simple explanations so the history makes more sense.

Learn about the history of the Russian Empire, from Peter the Great to the Bolshevik Revolution! From the mythical reigns of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, to the less-grand period overseen by a 12-year-old boy, an infant, and an imbecile, there's much intrigue in the history of one of the largest empires ever to exist. We'll also cover some social and cultural history, including the quest to "define" what it meant to be Russian at that time.

This course will follow a wide variety of Ancient Roman individuals that shaped world history with their swords, philosophy, or mentally unhinged demeanor. The course will chronologically catalogue some of Rome's most influential (and insane) leaders. It will be a humorous and exciting journey that will display numerous studs and lunatics... and a few boring philosophers. The course will teach students: A) to be really awesome B) a bit of fun and interesting history C) how not to act when in control of the entire Mediterranean world.