Metro School of Arts’ Student Wins FFX Arts Council Scholarship

Emma Meeks of Alexandria, Va., a 12th grader at The Academy of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Va., won the $1000 Fairfax Arts Council Scholarship awarded by the Virginia Dance Coalition. Senior high school students planning to attend performing arts universities can apply for the Fairfax Arts Council Scholarship by submitting performance videos and instructor references. Go to www.metropolitanarts.org for more information.

Meeks has been at Metropolitan School of the Arts since she was 5 years old, and has attended the Metropolitan School of the Arts Academy since 9th grade. Meeks is applying to performing arts colleges, including: Butler University in Indiana; The Juilliard School in New York; Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Penn.; and Purchase College in New York to continue her dance training.

Meeks is also a full-time member of the Metropolitan School of the Arts Youth Ballet and will be dancing in the role of Lilac Fairy in the school’s upcoming performance of Sleeping Beauty at the George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria, Va. in April. She also received distinction in her Royal Academy of Dance first examination and is currently preparing for her Royal Academy of Dance second examination. Meeks also placed in the top 12 for contemporary dance at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) dance competition in Winston-Salem, NC.

The Fairfax Arts Council is awarded annually by the Virginia Dance Coalition. The Virginia Dance Coalition is a group that brings together dance schools in the area to work collaboratively to inspire high caliber dance training through dance education and performances. It is a group of more than 20 dance schools in the Fairfax County, Va. area. The scholarship is awarded to the most promising dancer and is presented at the Virginia Dance Coalition gala. For more information, see https://www.virginiadancecoalition.org/.

“We’re so proud of Emma and all of her accomplishments,” said Melissa Dobbs, executive director of Metropolitan School of the Arts in Alexandria, Va. “She’s been a committed performer and shining star since she began at Metropolitan School of the Arts more than a decade ago,” 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.