Metro School of the ARTS to Feature Virtual Sleeping Beauty

Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria, Virginia will perform a virtual, Sleeping Beauty, online from May 8, 12 AM to May 9 at midnight. MSA pre-recorded its Sleeping Beauty performance at the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Virginia. There are three shows, each with a different cast. Virtual admittance to one show is $20, two shows is $25, and three shows is $30. To purchase tickets, go to https://metropolitanarts2021springballet.anywhereseat.com/channel.php.

Sleeping Beauty is brought to life by the Metropolitan School of the Arts Youth Ballet, with film direction by Enoch Chan Productions, cinematography by Austin Reeves, direction by MSA faculty member, Kirsten Noetzel and MSA youth ballet director, Jacqueline Doherty.

The evil Fairy Carabosse curses Princess Aurora to 100 years of slumber, by a single prick of her finger on her 16th birthday. The Lilac Fairy helps break the curse and offers her own gift, that of a red rose to be kissed and laid at Sleeping Beauty’s side by a handsome and worthy young prince. This is a performance of ballet, acting, cinematography, and classic Tchaikovsky’s scores.

2021 graduates who play Auroras and the Prince have been accepted into ballet trainee programs. Paige Riffer at Louisville Ballet in Louisville, Kentucky, Mary Spinelli at Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth, Texas, and Garrett Janiak at Richmond Ballet in Richmond, Virginia.

“We’re celebrating Moms with this timeless classic story of hope and love, beautifully weaved in with dance and song,” said Sara Hart, co-executive director of Metropolitan School of the Arts of Alexandria, Virginia. “We’re thrilled our soon-to-be graduates were able to be part of our spring ballet despite the COVID limitations,” said Hart.

The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts is a college preparatory performing arts program for emerging young artists, grades 7 to 12, who are dedicated to high-caliber academics and pre-professional performing arts education. Their cross-curricular approach to arts training fills each young artist’s toolbox with the dance, music and acting skills necessary to be a triple threat in the arts world. MSA’s approach to education is designed to develop independent, self-motivated, and skilled learners.

ABOUT METROPOLITAN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (MSA) Alexandria, Va.-based, Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA), a 501 (c) 3 organization, is the first Washington, D.C. area, private, secondary performing arts school, founded in 2013 by Melissa Dobbs. The MSA performing arts studios in Alexandria, Va. have taught dance, music and theater to more than 10,000 students since 2001. Noted for its world-class instructors, MSA offers high quality performing arts training in a ground breaking, holistic learning environment that cultivates creativity, builds community and empowers students. The organization was featured in Dance Teacher magazine, FOX 5 Morning News, WUSA9 Great Day Washington, ABC-7 Good Morning Washington, Northern Virginia Magazine, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post Weekend and Washington Families magazine. Many students from MSA studios go on to perform in prestigious arenas including Broadway, National Tours, The Julliard School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Washington Ballet, The American Academy of Ballet, Universal Ballet Academy, The Kirov Ballet, The Hartt School, Marymount University (New York), Ford’s Theater and Mark Morris Dance Company. MSA offers a performing arts academy, a performing arts studio, a youth tap ensemble, a youth ballet, a jazz company, and a theatre program, as well as adult fitness and dance. Call 703.339.0444 or visit www.metropolitanarts.org, Facebook or Twitter.