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Letter from Melissa Dobbs, President and Founder
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STUDIO RELOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT
It is my pleasure and honor to announce the next era of Metropolitan Fine Arts Center!
We've spent the past 3 months under construction at our new studios at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA and the past year determining the appropriate next step for the Alexandria studio location. After almost 2 years of negotiations, we signed a lease for our new studios in a brand new, state of the art facility in Kingstowne. We've had 14 fabulous years in the Lansdowne Center, but we are bursting at the seams and are in desperate need for additional studio space.
As many of you know, our original plan was to move to the new Hilltop Center, alongside Wegmans. That plan was recently redirected as a result of timing considerations regarding the expiration day of our current lease and the building delivery of the new space (our current lease expiration date does not align with the delivery date of the new center and our current landlord was unable to provide us with a month to month guaranteed space while waiting for the new studio to be built). Instead of risking rootlessness for an undetermined amount of time, we chose to be proactive in locating our new home!
Our new studios will open in September 2013 and are located behind the post office and Toys R Us in the heart of Kingstowne (a short walk to the Kingstowne movie theater, restaurants and shopping). The new studios, spanning 10,000 square feet, will be home to 5 large dance studios, 3 music rooms, a dedicated MetroClub room (for our new after school program), and a caf�. Once we reach our capital building campaign goals, the Kingstowne location will be home to our 250-seat black box theater space, which will offer live performances for our families and our community.
This additional studio space gives us the opportunity to provide our students and families with a smorgasbord of classes, programming and lessons, while maintaining appropriate class sizes to maximize learning. Our adult program will offer tons of new classes from contemporary and modern, to daily ballet classes for professionals, to hot hula and hot yoga!
Construction is underway at the Workhouse and progress is speedy and fabulous! Our Kingstowne location will be underway beginning July 1st and, as previously mentioned, will be open for classes in September!
Photos and floor plans for the studios are shared on our Facebook page and in a soon to be documentary on our website.
Enthusiastically,
-Melissa Dobbs, President and Founder
Metropolitan School of the Arts
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Letter from Sara Hart, Artistic Director |
It is PRODUCTION MONTH!!!! Please make sure you are receiving all production related emails and check our website regularly for updated information!
Important Dates
Last day of in studio classes - Saturday, June 15
Blocking days at the theater - Thursday, June 20-Sunday, June 23
Dress Rehearsals at the theater - Tuesday, June 25-Friday, June 29
Show Days - Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30
Over the next few weeks our Ensemble will be busy rehearsing sometimes 8 hours each day in order to prepare a wonderful show for our audiences! Invite all of your family and friends - it won't be a show they want to miss!
Seniors - enjoy your last few weeks together...these are memories you will cherish forever :)
-Sara Hart, Artistic Director
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| Letter from Lesley Shearer, School Director |
Well Done Everyone!!
The RAD Results are out and again our students have achieved a remarkable standard with well over 50% receiving the highest award of "Distinction". Certificates and medals will be distributed at our RAD Awards Ceremony in September (date to be determined). Well done to all of our ballet students who participated! We're proud of your efforts.
-Lesley Shearer, School Director
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 Drum roll please ...
OUR GRADUATES...
and their plans!
Michala Apel - James Madison University
Arianna Bhambhani - Virginia Tech (Major in Health, Nutrition, Food and Exercise)
Emily DiMaggio - University of the Arts in Philadelphia PA
Jessica Eckardt - George Mason University (Major in Dance Therapy, accepted in dance program)
Sarah Howell - Old Miss or University of Mississippi
Brianna Latrash - University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BFA in Musical Theatre)
Madelyn Magnotti - Longwood University (Major in Music Education)
Rosie Matthews - Pace University in NYC (BFA in Commercial Dance)
Michaela Mulokey - Washington & Jefferson College (academic scholarship, playing on women's Lacross team)
Alexandra Rosenberg - The College of William and Mary (Double Major in Evolutionary Biology (with a focus on genetics) and Nutrition, Minor in Dance)
Maggie Rosenbohm - St. Edward's University in Austin TX
Abby Sanchez - The University of Richmond
Ara Snyder - Penn State University (Double Major in Dance and Physical Therapy)
Hermela Solomon - Virginia Tech (Plans on joining the High Tech Dance Team)
Gabi Stapula - Pace University in NYC (Major in Musical Theatre)
Rebekah Stauffer - Boyce College in Louisville KY
 | | Last class, colored leotards, goodbye to seniors! |
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 Early Childhood Recital and Acting Showcase June 2, 2013 - Lorton Workhouse The "Star Performers" from our Early Childhood program showed what they learned from teachers Ms. Amy Walter and Ms. Jodi Hunter in tap and ballet this year. Acting students under the direction of Ms. Caty Nicholson displayed a variety of skills they have acquired this year, including monologues, stage combat, commercials, group scenes, and costume design in their showcase. Parent shout-out to Ingrid Sanchez-Seymour for her help with the event! -------------------------------------------- 
 Please add the following email addresses to your contacts to ensure you receive all important Production emails from Production Manager Sarah Beth Oppenheim and from Volunteer Spot: springproduction@metrofinearts.com
You can always check the Mirror Mirror Cast Page for updates, commonly asked questions, email archives and handy how-to videos for hair and makeup! -Sara Beth Oppenheim, Production Manager |
Visit our website for a full list of our exciting summer schedule! |
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Adult Dance Program
Adult Dance and Fitness classes will run through June 30 at Alexandria with a break from July 1-7, resuming with the summer schedule on July 8. Due to the our big move, Adult Dance and Fitness summer classes will end at Fairfax on June 16 and will resume at our new Lorton Workhouse studio on July 8. There will be some modifications, so please check the website for the most up-to-date schedule!
-Judy Burke, Adult Dance Program Director
Fitness: Shape up for the Summer with Yoga and Metro-Barre Classes!
This is a very busy time for all of our MFAC families with our big Spring Production around the corner and lots of summer vacation plans! Please don't forget to Shape up for Summer with our Yoga and Metro-Barre classes. While our Youth Dance Classes will be coming to a close on June 15, I wanted to let you know that we will be holding our morning and evening Yoga and Metro-Barre Classes at Alexandria through June 30! Babysitting will be offered for our weekday morning classes at our Alexandria studio for just $2.00 per child, so load the kids up and come workout! We will take a short one week break from July 1-7 and then our new Summer Schedule will start on July 8! Adult Dance and Fitness classes will end at Fairfax on June 16 and will resume at our new Lorton Workhouse studio on July 8. There will be some modifications, so please check the website for the most up-to-date schedule!
Did you know that "Barre" fitness classes were ranked in the top ten favorite workouts by the stars according to Shape magazine?! If you haven't tried one yet, please plan to drop in to try one of our Metro-Barre classes to experience it for yourself! This class is sure to lengthen, strengthen and tone your body like no other!! First class is always free, so what do you have to lose?!
Want to earn a free class? Here's how! Invite a friend into the studio to try a Yoga or Metro-Barre class for free and as a thank you for the referral, you'll receive your class for free for referring them to us!! Win, win for you and your friend! One free class and getting into shape together is more fun! Can't beat that!!
Please be sure to secure a spot in your favorite class by going on our website and reserving a class. With shorts and bathing suits back in the wardrobe, classes have been packed!! It just takes a minute to reserve a class so don't lose out on your spot! Reserve your class today!
See you on your mat soon!
Yours in fitness,
-Melanie Latrash, Fitness Director
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Music Theatre Camp and Lessons
Don't forget to continue your musical growth over the summer!! Slots are filling up quickly so sign up for 8 lessons this summer!
Music Theatre camp is coming and we only have a few slots left before we have to cut it off...this year we will be doing:
Smokey Joe's Cafe
In The Heights
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
And a musical version of the movie Pitch Perfect!
-Matthew Nall, Music Director
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METROPOLITAN YOUTH BALLET |
MFAC Families Are Cordially Invited..
...to watch Metropolitan Youth Ballet's last rehearsal of the 2012-2013 season on Friday, June 14 from 4:30-5:30pm at the Fairfax Station studio. The MYB dancers will perform a demonstration class and show two new pieces they are working on for next year. It will be an informal affair with time for any questions and answers you have for the dancers, choreographers and/or the directors. For dancers who are Ballet Level 5 and up and interested in auditioning for the company next year, this is a great opportunity to see our advanced ballet dancers in class and up close. For those who just want to enjoy a MPAA event or any young(er) budding ballerinas looking for inspiration come visit us, it would be great to see you there! Refreshments will be served.
We would really appreciate it if you would visit and like our Facebook page!
Congratulations MYB for another fun and successful season!
Nutcracker 2013
We are looking for parent volunteers who have new and interesting fundraising ideas for our Nutcracker 2013 Production! If interested, please contact me at Jdoherty@metrofinearts.com.
-Jackie Doherty, Artistic Director
MYB and MFAC Nutcracker 2013
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 Crestwood Young Scholars May saw the Crestwood Young Scholars from The Metro Moves Outreach program go on tour and perform a full-evening length work. The 3rd-5th graders spent two afternoons a week since November studying modern dance, performance art, theatre production, choreography and dance critique. They were invited to perform an excerpt and share the stage with college students and professional dancers at Montgomery College at the beginning of the month. And they just wrapped up their year with a student-produced and choreographed concert at month's end. All nine young scholars were offered full scholarship for the dance classes and workshops of their choosing this summer. Many thanks to Metro's generous donation of a teaching artist and FCPS's Young Scholar Coordinator Kim Amenabar for supporting these earnest young dancers! -Sara Beth Oppenheim, Outreach Coordinator |
| METROPOLITAN PERFORMING ARTS ALLIANCE |
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MPAT
MPAT is proud to present FAME - THE MUSICAL a high-energy musical based on the hit motion picture and television series. Set during the last years of New York City's celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-1984), FAME is the bittersweet but ultimately inspiring story of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. With candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today: issues of prejudice, identity, self-worth, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance. We're looking for a cast of triple-threats (actor/singer/dancers) to star in this high-energy, contemporary musical. The show will be directed by Dan Stapula and music direction by Abbey Smith.
Save these dates!
August 23, 24, 30, 31 @ 7:30 pm
Lorton Arts Center W-3 Theatre
9601 Ox Road, Lorton, VA
-Dan Stapula, Director
MPAT
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MPAA
 MYTE had a great and hard working time in New York City over the Memorial Day weekend. The primary objective for going was to have a great time, which everyone did. Secondly, the dancers, 10 of the 14 MYTE dancers, worked real hard for 3 hours with Jason Samuels Smith learning a new piece. Jason will come to MFAC to finish the work later this month.
The dance captains of MYTE, Roxanne King and Kyra Smith, along with Jason Holley and Quynn Johnson, performed in the National Tap Dance Day show Saturday, May 25, produced by Tap Extravaganza. What a show. It began at 7:10 and MYTE danced at 10:40...hmmm sounds familiar.
After working with Jason Sam, and a grueling class with Dormeshia Sumbrey-Edwards at STEPS on Broadway, everyone went to the STOMP show in the lower east side. We have several friends who have danced in that show, and our present resident friend is Ryan Johnson, originally from Baltimore. The last event was a wanderlust dinner at a restaurant next to the theater. We sat outside in the refreshing, chilly air. This is where we met up with David Covington, a proud husband and father living in Brooklyn, a founder of MYTE and former tap teacher at MFAC. A great time, so lets do it again.
MYTE summer rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings at ALX, within the 5:30-8:00 time frame, the exact time TBD. The rehearsal time is a good opportunity to see what MYTE is all about and what is required of a MFAC tap dancer to belong to MYTE. Just email us at mytefootnotes@gmail.com to tell us you'd like to visit.
Chicago Human Rhythm Project will host the annual Rhythm World Tap Festival July 28-August 4. The week long event gathers members of youth tap ensembles from around the country to study with some amazing tap dance performers and teachers. Our MYTE representatives, Roxanne and Kyra, will work on choreography with Charles Renato Maracatu from Brazil and Nicholas Johnson from NYC. This is an amazing event with tap dancers from around the world, from China, Brazil, Europe and the U.S. Look for two new dances when MYTE returns.
-Nick King, Managing Director
MPAA
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 2
Acting Showcase
Workhouse Arts Center
June 2
Early Childhood Performance
Workhouse Arts Center
June 14
MYB performance
4.30-5.30pm @ Fairfax Station studio
June 16
Last day of classes
June 17 thru 27
Tech Week
June 29 and June 30
Spring Production of
Mirror Mirror
NOVA Schlesinger Center Alexandria
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check out our website
www.metrofinearts.com
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for lots of great information and resources!
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SHOUT OUTS!
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Gabi Stapula and Daniel Kingsley have been nominated for Cappies for Singing in the Rain (Hayfield).
Gabi and Daniel were nominated for Choreography,
Daniel was nominated for best male dancer and
Gabi for lead actress in a Musical.
 Charlotte Sadar has been nominated for a Cappie for best female dancer for The Boy Friend (Flint Hill)
 Briana Latrash was awarded The Triple Threat from the Musical Theater Academy at Fairfax High School, June 4 at the annual Academy Awards!  Olivia Newberry tapped at her school talent show. She was chosen by audition and was the only dancer in the show!
Paul Signet went backstage at Showboat and met Norm Lewis who gave him great advice in pursuing his acting career.
Check out our very own Sarah Beth Oppenheim in Noah Baumbach's latest film Frances Ha. Just days before moving down to join our Virginia community, Sarah Beth was filming a dance scene for this thoughtful, poignant comedy about a modern dancer's New York life, love, ambition, and redemption. Sarah Beth can be seen in the last few minutes of the film! It's playing now at E Street Cinema and Bethesda Row.
 Congratulations to Sara Hart (Associate Director/Choreographer) on Carousel's excellent reviews - watch the YouTube videos!
 Watch and listen to Matt Nall perform with the US Army Chorus as they sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic at the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Library here!
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| | Soon it will be show time... | | We are publishing lots of production information for Mirror Mirror. The cast website is the best place to check on the details and documents you need - everything will be posted here first. Please ask the front desk for the password if you do not have it. |
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HELP US BUILD OUR BLACK BOX THEATRE HOME
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To donate to the Next Stage Building Campaign
click here | |
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