Metro School of the Arts’ Performing Arts Students Learn Online

The Academy of Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) in Alexandria, Va., mandated to close, along with all Virginia schools, is taking their song, dance and theatre classes virtual, where students are able to get instructional cues from MSA dance, vocal and theatre instructors. Students are replacing dance floors and vocal studios for living room floors, kitchen tile and loft spaces. Stair railings now take the place of ballet bars, and theatre props range from kitchen utensils to pillows and dining room chairs. Academic online learning had already been in place as part of the MSA Academy program through Laurel Springs, which made academic online learning an easy transition for students. Go to www.metropolitanarts.org for more information.

“Our students are finding a new way to learn performance, and brilliantly showing us all resiliency and adaptability,” said Melissa Dobbs, founder of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Va. “We’re so grateful for visual technology, where the students can see each other while performing at home, so they’re not only able to connect with their teachers, but they’re still able to learn from their peers, which is a big part of performing arts, learning from each other,” said Dobbs.

The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts is a college preparatory performing arts school for emerging young artists, grades 7 to 12, who are dedicated to a rigorous academic experience in a pre-professional performing arts conservatory environment. 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. Metropolitan School of the Arts approach to education is designed to develop independent, self-motivated and skilled learners. The school offers a post-high school graduate program as well, for those students who desire an extra year to prepare for admittance into a performing arts university.

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.