In order to keep on top of things and avoid getting rusty, you have to practice your acting. Acting classes are the most obvious way, and they aren't just for beginers. All good actors continue taking classes, including some of the "big names". But you need to make sure you pick a good one.

When you're choosing an acting class, keep these things in mind:

1) The class should have no more than 15 students. You want to make sure you get to do a lot of acting.

2) The teacher should offer support, but should also be able to critique you. If you get constant praise, you may feel great, but you won't be learning anything. On the other hand, if your teacher is always criticizing you, that doesn't help much, either.

3) The class should teach what you're lacking in. In other words, if you're good at drama, take a comedy class. If you've done a lot of stage, take a film acting class. Good at improv? Take a cold reading or script interpretation class. You get the idea.

If the class you want falls under these categories, go for it. Take as many classes as you can - the myth that they ruin "naturalness" is only that - a myth. And, remember that the best classes aren't necessarily the most expensive ones.

Some classes may video tape scenes. This is great, since you get to see what you're doing, but it's not really important. Don't base you choice of class on whether or not a camera is used.

If the class is expensive, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a good class. Shop around until you find a good one within your price range. The most common price in Vancouver is about $400-500 for 10 4-hour classes.

Most teachers allow people to audit classes, which just means that you sit in and watch a class for free in order to see if it's what you're looking for. I'd advise you to take advantage of this, and ask lots of questions. Really get a feel for the teacher and how the class is run. Talk to the other students and find out what they like and don't like about the class.

If you aren't sure where to find classes, try calling the theaters in your area - a lot of them offer classes of some sort. Also keep an eye on the entertainment section of your newspaper, as well as the classfieds. Many cities also have smaller, free newspapers/magazines that often list acting-related classes. The universities in your area may also either offer classes for the public, or they may have information on where to look. There are many websites out there that list teachers.