If you missed your chance to learn to swim like a mermaid at Mack Pool (915 Brooks St. in Ann Arbor) the first time, fear not: another opportunity is floating your way.
World of Swimming just wrapped up its first session of mermaid swim classes - "certifying" 15 young mermaids, and 6 teens/adults - and has planned its next one, happening on Sundays, April 12-May 10, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for kids, 7:30-8:30 p.m. for teens/adults, at Mack Pool.
The World of Swimming website explains that the Mermaid School swim classes combine swimming, gymnastics and fitness, focusing on: dolphin kicks; controlling body movement and breathing; swimming under water (on your stomach and back); free vertical dives; backward and forward somersaults; mermaid surfacing; and swimming underwater with music.
For the next session of Mermaid Swim School, "I am bringing, for one of the class[es], my head Mermaid, Estonian Champion and swimming model Merle Liivand," Elena Nannoshi, World of Swimming president, said in an email. "She is a wonderful swimming coach also."
According to Nannoshi, additional mermaid classes will be scheduled this summer, and mermaid swimming parties will be available as well.
"Kids and adults had fun while learning swim better and feel more confident in the water," Nannoshi said of the just-finished first mermaid class. "One ... very difficult skill they all have learned: how to do (a) dolphin kick on their backs underwater. I know that all mermaids learned a lot and become better swimmers!"
Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at jennmckee@mlive.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.