The Benefit Concert

The Metropolitan Benefit Concert will be on Monday, December 21st, 2026. It is a special evening celebrating the power of the arts and the vibrant Metropolitan community. Featuring performances by faculty, alumni, guest artists, and pre-professional students, this inspiring event brings our community together through music, dance, and performance.

Proceeds from the evening support Metropolitan’s mission and help provide meaningful arts education and performance opportunities for the next generation of artists.

More Information will be coming soon.

Megan Angell
Fitness Faculty
mangell@metropolitanarts.org

Megan discovered her love of yoga in a free class on a Navy base in Virginia over 25 years ago. During multiple moves around the country and with a growing family, her practice became more private and personal. Her passion for teaching was developed in the pool; she was a swim lesson instructor and swim team coach for many years, still doing her private yoga practice throughout. Finally, Megan felt the call to grow and share her appreciation of yoga.

Completing her teacher training in the fall of 2025. Yoga provides the balance in her busy, daily life, still being an avid swimmer and taking care of her family. She enjoys sharing all types of yoga, from the warrior power to gentle hatha to breathwork/meditation. Megan is honored to guide you in listening to your body and discovering the strength, balance, and confidence you have within.

Maddie Hill
Music Faculty
mhill@metropolitanarts.org

Maddie Hill is a Kansas City native and 2018 graduate of Oklahoma City University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Theater. After graduation, Maddie moved to Los Angeles and performed with the jazz trio singing group, the Satin Dollz, from 2018–2020. She has taught voice for students K-12 and has worked for companies like StageRight Performing Arts and Bach to Rock. She later brought her passion for music and performance into the fitness world, working with fitness coaches at Orangetheory Fitness. Maddie is now the Regional Fitness Manager for OTF, overseeing studios throughout DC and Virginia. She loves combining her background in performance, leadership, and fitness to inspire and connect with others.

Matteo Mangialetti
Music Faculty
mmangialetti@metropolitanarts.org

Matteo Mangialetti is a Washington, D.C.-area pianist specializing in dance and vocal music. A student of Sonia Vlahcevic, he began his professional career with Richmond Ballet in 2006 and has since collaborated with leading dance institutions and artists throughout the United States.

He is the founder of Little City Opera Project, which launched in 2023 with Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In 2024, Matteo traveled to Italy to perform and work with singers in Aprile Millo’s OperaVision d’Oro program, accompanying masterclasses led by Millo and legendary conductor Richard Bonynge, who praised him as “a splendid support for singers.”

Driven by a deep love of dance and the human voice, Matteo brings passion and commitment to every musical collaboration.

HIIT

At MSA, we want you to be the best version of yourself, and Samantha Warren, founder and owner of Strongest You, is here to help you do just that. Join us for a HIIT and Stretch class designed to build strength, improve endurance and leave you feeling energized, empowered and accomplished.

$25 per class
$110 – 5 class pass (60 minute)
$210 – 10 class pass (60 minute)
$125 – Unlimited

Yoga

The yoga program at Metropolitan School of the Arts is a space created for the holistic development of body, mind, and soul. We offer quality yoga instruction through the practice of Vinyasa Yoga for beginner and advanced students alike. Vinyasa Yoga is a breath-synchronized practice where the yoga poses flow from one to another in conjunction with the breath. MSA’s yoga classes ignite energy and diffuse stress, cultivate strength and flexibility, and encourage peace in ways that are accessible for beginners and advanced students alike.

$25 per class
$110 – 5 class pass (60 minutes)
$150 – 10 class pass (60 minutes)
$125 – Unlimited

TAP 1

Tap dance uses the sound of the tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. Tap dance sharpens reflexes and improves memory skills and coordination. Our Adult Tap 1 classes will work toward establishing fundamental tap movements, vocabulary, and basic rhythms and steps that progress into fun and lively dance combinations.

TAP 2

Building on the foundation from Adult Tap 1, students continue their tap dancing journey in Adult Tap 2 as they enhance vocabulary, musicality, rhythmic creativity, and knowledge of tap dance history. This class focuses on building technique and applying skills in combinations each week, works on timing and precision, all while dancing to a variety of musical genres. Extra benefits include memory skills, dexterity, balance, and grooving to great music!

TAP 3

In Adult Tap 3, students harness tap dance skills and apply them in class as they continue to build speed and precision in executing steps and making music. This class works on technique, complex rhythms, advanced steps, and enhancing other skills such as choreography application and improvisation.

$25 per class
$110 – 5 class pass (60 minutes)
$210 – 10 class pass (60 minutes)
$125 – Unlimited

Hip Hop

This class introduces the movement, style, and rhythms of Hip Hop dance in a supportive and energetic environment. Students develop coordination, musicality, and performance quality while learning combinations to current and classic tracks. Open to all levels of experience.

$25 per class
$110 – 5 class pass (60 minutes)
$210 – 10 class pass (60 minutes)
$125 – Unlimited

Barre

Barre is a one-hour full body workout that fuses the elements of ballet and Pilates-inspired movement, sports conditioning exercises, and yoga for a truly unique and fun fitness experience. The exercises are low impact in nature but feature high intensity intervals of strength training followed by deep recovery stretching. MetroBarre will evenly sculpt and transform the entire body, resulting in a beautifully toned physique. No previous dance, Pilates or yoga experience is required. The benefits of MetroBarre include: sculpted physique, stronger core, increased cardiovascular health, improved flexibility, strength and endurance, and increased mental acuity.

$25 per class
$110 – 5 class fitness pass (60 minute)
$210 – 10 class fitness pass (60 minute)
$125 – Unlimited

Basic 1- Beginner Ballet

The Basic Beginner Ballet class is designed for the beginner adult dancer (or someone who hasn’t danced for a long time). The class focuses on developing awareness of turnout, alignment, port de bras, use of feet, and basic ballet vocabulary and technique. Class includes a full barre and center floor work designed for the beginner. Class needs are: a pair of soft ballet slippers, dance wear/activewear to sweat in, and a desire to learn how to dance.

Ballet 2 – Intermediate Beginner

This class is geared toward adult dancers who already have a foundation in beginner ballet technique and know the basics (five positions, primary barre, and center exercises). Students will continue to develop skills learned in Basic Ballet and move onto balances, pirouettes, petite and grand allegro, turns across the floor, and more advanced combinations. Dancers should have soft ballet slippers, dancewear, and a positive attitude!

Ballet 3 – Advanced Beginners

This class is perfect for the adult dancer who has reached a high proficiency in Ballet 2, or is a former professional/pre-professional dancer looking to maintain or improve their ballet technique. Students should be able to execute pirouettes en dehors, en dedans, in arabesque and attitude; tombe pas de bourrée glissade assemblées, tour jetés, saut de basques and other petit and grand allegro. Exercises will include repetitions on releve, doubles for fondus and ronde jambe en l’air, and beats for frappes and jetes, as well as more complicated center exercises.

$25 per class (60 min)
$110 – 5 class dance pass (60 min)
$210 – 10 class dance pass (60min)
$125 – Unlimited

$30 per class (90 min)
$130 – 5 class ballet pass (90 min)
$250 – 10 class ballet pass (90min)
$125 – Unlimited

Ann-Marie Turnage
Admin/ Bookkeeper
aturnage@metropolitanarts.org

Ann-Marie’s journey with MSA began in 2013 with the Jazz and Tap Festival and continued when her daughter started dance classes with MSA in 2021. During her daughter’s time with MSA, she especially enjoyed cheering on all the dancers in Impulse and Myte during the Company Project, Frosty Follies, and the Spring Productions. Ann-Marie’s favorite activity was volunteering as a Quick Change mom and is so excited to continue working with such a fabulous organization.

Ommi Leffler
Dance Faculty
oleffler@metropolitanarts.org

Ommi P. Leffler is a Thai-American ballet artist, educator, and choreographer. She is a member of the ballet faculty at the Metropolitan School of the Arts and The Washington School of Ballet and serves as guest faculty in the Western Dance Department at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

At age 14, Ommi received the Royal Academy of Dance’s Solo Seal Award and a three-year full scholarship to study at The Royal Ballet School in London. At age 15, she became the youngest dancer to win the gold medal at the 2001 Genée International Ballet Competition, now known as the Fonteyn International Ballet Competition.

At The Royal Ballet School, Ommi performed leading roles in school productions and was handpicked to perform with The Royal Ballet in numerous full-length productions. During her final year, she represented the UK at international galas across Europe and Russia. She graduated with honors and received a Professional Dance Diploma.

At age 18, Ommi joined San Francisco Ballet as its youngest soloist. Pointe Magazine named her one of its “25 to Watch” emerging young artists. She later became a principal dancer with Ballet San Jose, performing an extensive repertoire of classical and contemporary ballet works. She has also been featured on ABC7 News Bay Area and Voice of America.

Ommi holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Hollins University. She is certified in the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum and is a Registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, where she has been recruited to attend examiner training at its London headquarters.

Since 2013, Ommi has taught extensively throughout the United States and Asia. Her teaching experience includes Pacific Ballet Academy, Menlo Park Academy of Dance, San Jose Dance Theatre, and Southern California Ballet, as well as serving as a ballet master with Bay Pointe Ballet. She has taught at numerous dance institutions and intensives across Asia, including Bangkok Dance Academy, Marlupi Dance Academy, and Sonata Thailand Dance Intensive. In addition to teaching, Ommi choreographs solo works and has served as a judge for international dance competitions.

Since relocating to the Washington, D.C. area, Ommi has continued to teach and guest teach at various schools while maintaining an active professional presence throughout Asia.

Samantha Warren
Acting, Early Childhood, Jazz, Music Theatre, & Tap Faculty
swarren@metropolitanarts.org

Miss Sam has been part of the MSA (MFAC) family since 2005, in many different roles. From 2005 to 2011, she was a student and TA; from 2011 to 2014, she was a summer instructor, and she excitedly returned to the faculty in the fall of 2019. During her time as a student, she was a member of iMpulse, performed in Santa’s Frosty Follies, The Nutcracker, and other annual productions. Following graduation, Miss Sam attended Louisiana State University, earning her BA in Theater with a concentration in performance (2015). Her credits include Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2, NCIS: New Orleans, Fantastic Four, Popeyes commercials, and various professional dance and theatrical engagements. In 2020, she earned her MS in Exercise Science, Fitness, and Health Promotion from George Mason University and happily runs her own fitness company, Strongest You. Miss Sam is thrilled to still be part of the MSA family and share in the joy of dance.

Music Lesson Recitals

Each year, Metropolitan School of the Arts’ music students perform one Winter Recital & one Spring Recital. Our recitals offer low stress and high-quality performance opportunities for students as well as entertaining events that can be experienced with family.

Private Music Lesson recitals are the perfect venue for students to show family and friends the results of months of learning and practice. Our recitals are organized and designed to eliminate “stage fright” and help performers build self-esteem.

At our music recitals, students are exposed to new musical styles and instruments. The recitals give students motivation and encouragement to practice and build skills in their chosen musical genre.

All music recitals are held on site in our Black Box Theater.

2026-2027 Recital Dates

Winter: January 17, 2027

Spring: May 16, 2027

Music Lesson Tuition

A fee of $43 per half hour lesson and $81 per one hour lesson, will be billed on the second of the month for the lessons to be received during that month.

Private Music Lesson Recital Fees:
Winter Private Music Lesson Recital: Sunday, January 17, 2027 – $15.00
Spring Private Music Lesson Recital: Sunday, May 16, 2027 – $15.00

Homeschool Tuition

2026-2027 Homeschool Tuition

$180.00/per student per month
$165.00/per student per month for 2 students
$150.00 per student per month for 3 or more students

DANCE

A diverse and dynamic dance curriculum that encompasses a variety of different styles of dance. Each class begins with a proper physical warm-up before delving into engaging combinations. From jazz to soft shoe tap, ballet to musical theater, our dance instructors are dedicated to teaching students the techniques and artistry behind each style.

Studio 7

Studio 8

Join us for our monthly restaurant nights, a beloved tradition that not only supports our school’s mission but also brings our community together. Enjoy a meal with friends and family while supporting the arts and fostering a sense of togetherness in our community.

Next Restaurant Night: May 2026

Join us at California Fish Grill (7003A Manchester Blvd) on Saturday, May 16th between 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM and make a difference! For every order you place with code “fund2026”, 25% will be donated to Metropolitan School of the Arts. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to dine for a purpose!

SPRING 2ACTION

MSA is proud to participate in Alexandria’s annual day of giving on April 22, 2026. Spring 2ACTion is one extraordinary day to celebrate our collective spirit of giving to support the organizations that make Alexandria a vibrant place for everyone.

Donate HERE!

An exploration of jazz and contemporary styles in a welcoming environment. This class offers a supportive space for creativity, personal artistry, and connection through dance. Perfect for dancers of all levels, it offers modifications and progressions to help refine technique and rediscover the joy of dance across multiple styles.

$25 per class
$120 – 5 class dance pass (60 min)
$230 – 10 class dance pass (60min)
$330 – 15 class dance pass (60 min)

Core Conditioning / Pilates

This Core Conditioning/Pilates class focuses on training the mid-body muscles along with deep stretches for the entire body. Participants will take their activities to the next level with a deep core connection. This class is great for all movers, especially runners, athletes, and dancers. Some experience is helpful, but not required.

$25 per class
$125 – MOVE Fit Unlimited
$100 – 5 class fitness pass
$150 – 10 class fitness pass
$260 – 20 class fitness pass

DANCE LAB

A pre-professional daily drop-in experience where dancers can further their education and immerse themselves in a world of artistic growth. With themed days focused on leaps and turns, flexibility, acro, choreography, dance team, and more, our expert teachers from NOVA and New York City will guide you through intensive sessions that challenge and inspire. Whether dropping in for a single day or bundling up for the week, this exciting summer offering provides a unique opportunity to refine skills, receive personalized feedback, and connect with like-minded dancers.

Eligibility: 9+ yrs who have completed a Level 2+

2026 Summer Dance Lab

Week 1:

20 Jul – Theater Jazz
21 Jul – Hip Hop and Street Jazz
22 Jul – Tap
23 Jul – Dance Team Prep
24 Jul – Jazz (Commercial and Precision)

Week 2:

10 Aug – Theater Jazz
11 Aug – Hip Hop and Street Jazz
12 Aug – Jazz Technique (Leaps, Turns, and Style)
13 Aug – Commercial Dance ( Street Jazz, On film, and Contemporary)
14 Aug – Contemporary

Adult Dance and Fitness Specials

Imani Grosvenor
Music Faculty
igrosvenor@metropolitanarts.org

Imani Mchunu Grosvenor is a native of Harlem, New York City, and has enjoyed performing opera, musical theatre, and concert works in Europe and North America. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan and currently serves as a Soprano Vocalist with the United States Army Pershing’s Own.

Notable stage performances include Mary (Highway1), Emmie (Albert Herring), Laetitia (The Old Maid & the Thief), Patience (Patience), Sarah (Ragtime), Rapunzel (Into the Woods), and the Little Red Riding Hood (Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood).

Imani taught voice at the Aurora School of Music in Ohio, piano with Our Own Thing Instructional Program at the University of Michigan, and worked with Future University of Michigan Youth Ensembles, leading college workshops for artistic middle school students.

As a certified yoga instructor, Imani helps yogis of all levels find a deeper connection to their bodies through breath and movement and utilizes similar techniques to help younger artists perform with a grounded, confident presence.

Brianna Forster
Conditioning Faculty
bforster@metropolitanarts.org

Brianna is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in orthopedics. She loves working with teenagers and has a background in dance and acrobatics in addition to strength and conditioning. She enjoyed working with the MSA dancers last year and is so excited to be back this year treating one on one in physical therapy and leading the conditioning class to teach dancers healthy habits so they can have long careers with fewer injuries.

Credentials: Brianna Q. Forster, PT, DPT, OCS, CF-L1

Claire Percoco
Upper Jazz Department Director (Levels 5-10)
Co-Director of The Metropolitan Follies
Jazz Faculty
cpercoco@metropolitanarts.org

Claire Percoco has been part of Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) since 2000, first as a student under Founder Melissa Dobbs, performing in productions such as Santa’s Frosty Follies, The Nutcracker, and many Spring Productions. After years of pre-professional and collegiate dance experience, including serving as captain for both West Springfield High School and Radford University’s nationally ranked dance teams, Claire went on to perform professionally as a Washington Redskins Cheerleader on the NFL sidelines.

Returning to MSA in 2015, Claire has served as both an administrator and instructor, teaching jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, and hip-hop. Now the Department Director for Upper-Level Jazz, she draws on her background in education, curriculum development, and instructional design to create developmentally responsive and engaging learning experiences that support each dancer’s artistic and personal growth.

Claire earned her Master’s in Elementary Education and was recognized as Best New Teacher at her school, reflecting her passion for fostering creative, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments. She is excited to continue giving back to the MSA community that has shaped her journey as both an educator and artist.

Walter “Bobby” McCoy
Music Faculty
wmccoy@metropolitanarts.org

Walter “Bobby” McCoy (He/They) is a distinguished music director based in the Washington, D.C. metro area. A proud Nicaraguan-American, McCoy has made significant contributions to both regional and off-Broadway theater. Their journey began at a young age, starting as a piano accompanist for their high school chorus at 14. By 15, he was already working as a rehearsal pianist for local theaters.

McCoy‘s talent and dedication quickly garnered attention, leading to his first assistant music director position at Keegan Theatre’s “National Pastime” while still in high school. Over the years, they have built an impressive resume, including notable productions such as “In the Heights” (GALA Hispanic Theatre), “Legally Blonde” (Keegan Theatre), “Beauty and the Beast” (Olney Theatre) and Masterclass (Arizona Theatre Company. His work has earned him multiple Helen Hayes Award nominations and wins, recognizing his outstanding musical direction.

In addition to their theater work, McCoy serves as an adjunct professor of musical theatre at Howard University, where they continue to inspire and mentor the next generation of musicians and theatre artists.

His approach to music direction is highly collaborative, ensuring that the story on stage is vividly brought to life through music. McCoy‘s contributions to the arts have made him a vital part of the D.C. theater community, and his work continues to resonate with audiences and critics alike.

Harriet “Renee” Campbell
Dance Faculty
rcampbell@metropolitanarts.org

Renee Campbell was raised in a family where music was part of everyone’s life – either as a hobby or a profession. When she began studying ballet in high school she realized that dance was her favorite way of making music, bringing body, mind and spirit to every movement. For university, she was accepted into the ballet program of the Jordan School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. There she studied with world renown dancers and teachers, including Nicholas Beriosoff, Marina Svetlova, John Kriza, and Anna Paskevska. As a member of the IU Ballet Theater, Renee danced in Mr. Beriosoff’s productions of Firebird, Petrushka, Scenes de Ballet Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and the Nutcracker. (Mr. Beriosoff had been an assistant to the ballet great, Mikhail Fokine, in the 1930’s chapter of the Ballets Russes. He held the rights to stage Fokine’s ballets and was known around the world for his productions of the classics and the Stravinsky ballets). While at the University Renee also performed with an independent semi-professional modern dance group, Windfall Dancers, which is still in existence today.

After graduation Renee found a full-time contract with the NationalTheater in Mannheim Germany. There she danced for three seasons in a wide repertoire of ballets and operas in both group and solo roles. However, friends and family soon drew her back to the US, where such generous working conditions are rarely available to ballet dancers 🙂 Thus began her 2nd career, working full-time as a Trademark Legal Assistant at major law firms in the DC area.

Unwilling to give up dance entirely, Renee has taught students of all ages and skill levels at a number of studios in the Metro DC area. The highlights of her teaching career include teaching children and adults at three locations of Joy of Motion, and teaching and choreographing for the pre-professional students at the Dance Institute of Washington in Columbia Heights, under the guidance of Fabian Barnes.

Renee is known not only for the quality of her instruction but also for her choreography. It brings her pleasure to meld music and movement in ways that both dancers and audiences can enjoy.

Male Dance Technique

This class is designed for boys and male-identifying dancers ages 9 and up. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 2:15–3:15 PM with Charlie Abel and special guest sessions by Roger Jeffrey. The class will focus on strong classical technique, strength, and fun elements of jazz and musical theater, while building camaraderie and teamwork. Eligibility: Ages 9+.

Session One: September 6 – October 11 (6 classes)
Tuition: $150 ($25/class) – discounted from regular tuition

Session Two: October 18 – December 20 (8 classes)
no class held Nov. 29 Thanksgiving
No class held Dec. 13 Nutcracker
Tuition: $200 ($25/class) – discounted from regular tuition

Session Three: January 10 – February 14 (6 classes)
Tuition: $150 ($25/class) – discounted from regular tuition

Session Four: February 21 – Spring Production (June 18-21)
Tuition: $375 ($130 production fee waived)
Costume Fee: $100

Ansley Seiffert
Dance Faculty
aseiffert@metropolitanarts.org

Ansley Seiffert could not be more delighted to be back in Alexandria, Virginia where she grew up. She first started training at the Washington School of Ballet under Septime
Webre. At age 11, she came to Metropolitan School of the Arts to expand upon her versatility and trained under Sara Hart, Jacqueline Doherty, Lesley Shearer, Roger Jeffrey and Melissa Dobbs. She is a 2020 graduate of The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts where she trained in dance, theater, and voice.

In 2024, she graduated cum laude and high distinction from Butler University with her BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Creative Media and Entertainment. As a member of Butler Ballet, she performed many notable roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Giselle, and The Nutcracker. She also performed in a variety of soloist roles in contemporary works choreographed by David Ingram, Derek Reid, and Ramón Flowers including Atomikós, Swingin, and Noir et Blanc. She has performed in various Musical Theater Productions such as Pippin with Butler Theater. Ansley has also performed in Pictures at an Exhibition as a featured dancer for The Reach at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra choreographed by Hope Boykin. Directed and produced by Sydney Sutherland, she has recently starred in the short film “Release” as the lead dancer, which has been selected for the 2025 Indy Shorts International Film Festival and Victory International Film Festival!

Ansley received distinction certifications from the Royal Academy of Dance finishing with Advanced II and has trained at various summer programs including American Ballet Theater in NYC, The Donald Byrd Workshop, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Kennedy Center Dance Lab, Washington Ballet, and Water Street Dance Festival. She was previously a company dancer with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s DCDC2 for the 2024-2025 season performing notable works by Crystal Michelle Perkins, Kevin Ward, Shonna Hickman-Matlock, and Robert Pullido. Ansley has most recently joined Gin Dance Company under the direction of Shu-Chen Cuff for the 2025-2026 season!

While Ansley loves to perform, her passions to create and collaborate with other artists have led to new aspirations for teaching and choreographing. Ansley is so excited to come back to her MSA home to teach and share her expertise and passion for the arts!

Layklyn Landry
Office Administrator
llandry@metropolitanarts.org

Caroline Rocher Barnes
Dance Faculty
crocherbarnes@metropolitanarts.org

Caroline Rocher Barnes is an assistant professor of dance at Towson University. She trained at the Conservatoire de Montpellier in France, the Rudra Béjart Art School in
Switzerland, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York. In 1999, Mrs. Rocher Barnes joined The Dance Theatre of Harlem under Arthur Mitchell’s mentorship, was
promoted to Soloist in 2000, and then Principal Dancer the following year. Her professional career extends to the Bavarian State Ballet in Germany, the Lyon Opera Ballet in France, and
Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet in San Francisco. In 2001 Mrs. Rocher Barnes was named “25 to watch”; in Dance Magazine. She has taught at numerous dance institutions worldwide, such as the Alonzo King Lines Training and Summer Programs, the University of Oklahoma, the Bates Dance Festival, the J.F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Washington
School of Ballet, the Metropolitan School of the Arts, the University of Cincinnati, Conservatory Program, the Collage Dance Collective Summer Program, the George Mason
University, the Georgetown University, the LEAP Dance Academy in Cape Town South Africa, the Conservatoire Mozart and Conservatoire de Montpellier in France.

Mrs. Rocher Barnes is a current member of IABD, the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and of CORPS de Ballet international (Council of Organized Researchers in
Pedagogical Studies of Ballet).

Mrs. Rocher Barnes holds a certification in the Gyrotonic® & Gyrokinesis® expansion systems, the FA® Functional Awareness method, and the Progressing Ballet Technique®. She is an ABT® Certified teacher who has completed the ABT® Teacher training intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5.

Mrs. Rocher Barnes graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint Mary’s College of California with a BA in Performing Arts. She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of
Maryland, College Park.

Chris Saunders
Dance Faculty
csaunders@metropolitanarts.org

Chris Saunders is a passionate and accomplished dance educator, choreographer, and performer with over 10 years of dedicated experience shaping dancers both on and off the stage.
Renowned for his dynamic energy, impeccable musicality, and heart-centered teaching style, Chris strives to create a classroom environment that seamlessly balances technical precision with creative exploration. He encourages dancers to not only develop their skills but also to cultivate artistry, confidence, and a deeper love for dance, inspiring his students to reach new heights both technically and artistically.

Chris received his B.F.A. in Dance & Performance from Shenandoah University, where he built a strong foundation in jazz, contemporary, and classical techniques. As a seasoned
performer, he has traveled extensively, sharing his craft with audiences across the United States and internationally. He currently dances with Motion X and Compañia Medusa, and spent several years performing with Holland America Cruise Lines, captivating audiences worldwide. These diverse performance experiences have enriched his understanding of storytelling, stage presence, and the cultural nuances of dance, all of which he integrates seamlessly into his teaching. Teaching all over the DMV area, Chris brings his expertise and infectious enthusiasm to a wide range of studios and workshops, making a lasting impact on dancers from diverse communities. His ability to connect with students from all backgrounds and skill levels highlights his commitment to expanding dance education beyond traditional boundaries.

Currently pursuing his MFA in Choreography at Jacksonville University, Chris continues to push the boundaries of his artistry while deepening his commitment to education. He regularly
leads master classes at various studios, offering dancers of all ages and skill levels invaluable insights drawn from his rich professional journey. His mentoring approach is rooted in fostering discipline, joy, and authenticity, empowering students to embrace their unique voices and to view dance as a powerful tool for personal expression. Chris’s expertise spans jazz and contemporary dance, allowing him to cultivate versatile, well-rounded dancers who thrive in both technique and creativity. His global performance background and extensive teaching experience give him a unique perspective that inspires students to grow beyond limits and to approach their craft with both passion and professionalism. Excited to rejoin the MSA family, Chris is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists by honoring dance traditions and inspiring innovation. Returning to a community that always felt like home, he continues to invest his time and energy into helping young dancers discover their path and voice in the lively world of dance.

Sam Ramatowski
Music Faculty
sramatowski@metropolitanarts.org

Dr. Sam Ramatowski is originally from Bowie, MD. He received his B.S. in Psychology from Stevenson University, M.S. in Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Drexel University. Sam first started his musical journey at the young age of 11 where he started playing guitar. His guitar journey didn’t last long as he realized his true calling was to play the bass guitar. While playing bass in his local music scene, Sam found himself always beating on the drums and knew his next calling. Sam enjoyed playing the drums during high school; however, he started to shift his focus from music to achieve his dream of playing college lacrosse. During college, Sam stopped playing music to focus on his academic and athletic endeavors. Once Sam graduated from JHU and moved to Northern VA to start his career in education, he found himself needing a new passion now that he wasn’t playing lacrosse every day. Sam decided to knock off the rust and start playing bass again. Since then, Sam has also taught himself how to play the ukulele and guitar. Sam is a self-taught musician who enjoys studying music theory, learning songs from all sorts of genres, and jamming with friends.

Jacob Bennett
Music Faculty
jbennett@metropolitanarts.org

Mr. Bennett has taught music in Virginia public schools since 2017. He earned his B.M. in Music Education (summa cum laude) at Virginia Commonwealth University, and his M.Ed. in Teaching English Language Learners from the University of Virginia. He holds Level II Kodaly certification and Level I Orff-Schulwerk certification. He currently teaches Elementary General Music in FCPS.

Marion Blasch
Fitness Faculty
studio@metropolitanarts.org

Marion teaches MetroBarre, a full body workout that involves smaller movement and light weights to enhance and strengthen core and stabilizer muscles. She also teaches yoga, which involves physical strength, stretching, and balance, to include mindfulness for centering, awareness, and relaxing. Marion believes in each person’s potential and strives to guide them to find their inner strength. She was a lead cyclist on the University of California Berkeley Women’s cycling team. In her hometown of San Diego, she taught spin aerobics in exclusive studios, and later, to the military at the Naval Base in Millington, TN. Marion holds an MBA from the University of Memphis and held a career in investment marketing. She is an avid swimmer and prior master’s coach. Marion is dedicated to her family and enjoys instructing barre and yoga. Outside the studio, Marion is a Social Media Manager and Workshop Manager. Marion is certified by Metropolitan School of the Arts, Yogafit, and YogaRenew – RYT500, YACEP. She strives to maintain a high level of fitness and nutritional health while inspiring others to do so as well!

Step into the limelight with Metropolitan School of the Arts’ Spotlight classes – where students can refine their craft under the guidance of industry professionals from across the United States. These master classes offer a unique opportunity to receive specialized training in specific genres at MSA! Immerse yourself in a private setting with skilled teachers who bring a wealth of experience and expertise, providing invaluable insights and mentorship to help performers shine bright in their artistic journeys. Elevate skills, expand horizons, and take passions to the next level.

BALLET INTENSIVE

An exhilarating in-depth ballet intensive for serious and dedicated dance students taught by MSA faculty and guest teachers. This program will empower and challenge students to improve their technical proficiency and execution of classical ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. Daily technique classes will be offered in ballet, pointe, classical repertoire, Pilates, partnering, and character dance.

Eligibility: 10+ yrs who have completed a Ballet 3+

Ana Tomioshi
Tap Faculty
atomioshi@metropolitanarts.org

Ana is a Brazilian performing artist, choreographer, and educator based in Alexandria, VA. She is the Dance Captain for Music From the Sole, a New York City-based tap dance and live music company under the direction of Leonardo Sandoval and Gregory Richardson, praised by The New York Times as “an unforced crowd-pleaser, original and true to itself.” She has performed at renowned venues and festivals across the U.S. and internationally, including The Kennedy Center, The Joyce Theater, New York City Center, The Yard, São Paulo Municipal Theater, and Rock in Rio.

A Jacob’s Pillow alumna, Ana is also a passionate educator. She is on faculty at the Metropolitan School of the Arts and teaches throughout the Washington, D.C. area, sharing her love of dance with the next generation.

MUSIC THEATER WORKSHOP

The Music Theater Workshop at MSA offers students the opportunity to participate in an exciting, professional, and in-depth study of the world of musical theater. Mornings will begin with a rigorous dance and vocal group warm-up in order to prepare for a day spent in a professional setting rehearsing with industry professionals from Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago. Days will be spent in rehearsals learning choreography, vocals, and theatrical excerpts from popular musicals. The week culminates with showcase performances for family and friends.

Eligibility: 9+ who have completed Jazz Level 1a+

Schedule & Pricing:

Fridays 9:30 am -10:30am

Current Session: January 10 – Friday, February 14
Next Session: February 21 – March 28, Registration will open soon

Cost: $138

Eligibility: 3-6 year olds | *must be 3 before September 30, 2024

Faculty: Colleen Buck

Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire your child’s love for dance and artistic expression.

Darcey Geissler
Jazz Faculty
dgeissler@metropolitanarts.org

Darcey Geissler grew up dancing in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She also trained with the Bolshoi in Moscow, Russia and the Governor’s School of Virginia. She has a BA in theatre from the College of William & Mary, where she performed in productions such as 42nd Street, Chicago, Damn Yankees, and many others. After college, she had the opportunity to perform professionally as a singer/dancer at Hershey Park and the Riverside Theatre. After teaching theatre at a magnet school, Darcey went on to law school, and continues to practice law. The highlight of her week is teaching dance and giving everyone the opportunity to express themselves through dance.

The Ballet Conservatory Program | Invitation Only
The Conservatory Program is designed for ballet students who possess the technical ability and work ethic to achieve a high level of study, execution, and performance in classical ballet. Students take the Conservatory ballet classes in addition to their two weekly ballet classes. The aim of the Conservatory Ballet program is to provide a comprehensive education in classical ballet studies to prepare students for a potential career in dance. The program’s technical framework is based on the Vocational syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). Conservatory students are expected to participate in an annual RAD Examination session held in early spring. MSA students regularly achieve remarkable results in these examinations and MSA ranks in the top 20% of RAD schools worldwide.

Advanced conservatory students augment this training with additional open classes based on the Vaganova method. There are five levels in the program: A through E. Participation in the Conservatory Program is by invitation only and minimum class requirements must be met.

The Royal Academy of Dance is an internationally recognized organization that provides a certification program in classical ballet. With more than 15,000 members spread across 82 countries, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is one of the largest and most influential dance education and training organizations in the world (www.royalacademyofdance.org). Highly-trained and certified registered teachers administer a curriculum in dance that is approved by the United Kingdom Department of Education, which follows UK national standards for arts education. The assessment process allows students and educators alike to know exactly what skills have been attained and where further study is required. The Royal Academy of Dance employs a Board of Examiners: internationally renowned teachers who use the RAD syllabus in their own teaching. Lesley Shearer, the Director of the Ballet Program at MSA, is a member of the RAD Board of Examiners. A certificate is awarded to successful candidates, providing proof that they have attained an international standard in classical dance appropriate to their age. The certificate is a highly prized addendum to college applications as it demonstrates that the student has been diligently committed to working towards a high standard of achievement in the arts, in addition to their school activities.

Additional Information

FLY INTENSIVE

A commercial dance intensive that will push students to reach their maximum potential. FLY dancers participate in an intensive study of contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap master classes geared toward improving technical proficiency and building performance skills. Days will be spent in rehearsals with industry professionals based out of Los Angeles, New York City, and the DC Metro area, learning choreography for an end of the week showcase for families and friends!

The completely revamped Fly Intensive will return in Summer 2026

Raven Sellers
Acro and Dance Faculty
rsellers@metropolitanarts.org

Raven Sellers has been a dance and gymnastics teacher in the Northern Virginia area for the past 10 years. She has experience teaching various styles of dance, including jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and hip hop, and specializes in teaching dance acro and gymnastics. Raven was a competitive Level 9 gymnast at a national training center while growing up. She went on to dance on the George Mason Dance Team in college. Since college, she has taught and held clinics at various studios in the Northern Virginia area. She is also a 6th-grade teacher at Groveton Elementary School!

Jacqueline Doherty
Metropolitan Youth Ballet Artistic Director
Artistic Director of The Nutcracker
Ballet Faculty
jdoherty@metropolitanarts.org

Jacqueline Doherty began her professional career with The Israel Ballet, performing in classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, and Coppélia, along with George Balanchine’s Four Temperaments and Symphony in C. Throughout her career, Jacqueline toured extensively across Europe with The Israel Ballet, Cwmni Ballet Gwent, Classical Production, and Opera North, and participated in numerous charitable events and galas in the UK.

In 2000, Jacqueline moved to America and embarked on her teaching career. Over the last 20+ years, she has been a pivotal figure at the Metropolitan School of the Arts, where she founded the Metropolitan Youth Ballet (MYB). Starting as a small company of seven, MYB has grown to stage an annual spring ballet and compete in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). Under her direction, MYB has achieved top placements at YAGP, both for Jacqueline’s choreography and for her students’ performances. Jacqueline has staged numerous classical works with MYB, including La Fille Mal Gardée, Coppélia, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, along with original works like Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. Since 2010, she has also directed The Nutcracker at MSA, developing it into a cherished holiday favorite. Additionally, Jacqueline developed the original dance program for company and musical theater dancers at MSA Academy, which she chaired until 2020.

Jacqueline’s greatest joy comes from seeing her students develop and discover their passion for ballet. Her commitment to the art extends beyond instruction, as she actively collaborates with other teachers, choreographers, and the community to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all dancers at MSA.

ACTING

Our acting curriculum focuses on developing students as versatile and confident actors. Through a variety of voice and movement exercises, improvisation games, and scripts, students will learn the fundamentals of acting for the stage. Our goal is to nurture actors’ passions and encourage them to grow in their stage presence, ensemble skills, and acting technique.

Elycia Woodham
Music Faculty
ewoodham@metropolitanarts.org

Elycia Woodham is a mezzo-soprano trained at Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in political science. As a former Metropolitan School of the Arts student, her academic pursuits laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of various artistic forms and their historical significance. Elycia’s resilient dedication to the arts and academic excellence has earned her accolades and recognition in the National Association of Teachers Singing and a spot in the inaugural class of the LA Opera’s HBCU Career Comprehensive Program. Throughout her career, she has performed at renowned locations such as the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. Inspired by the transformative power of music, Elycia aspires to continue exploring and challenging artistic boundaries, making a meaningful impact through her creativity and scholarly pursuits. Her favorite genres include popular music, jazz, classical, musical theater, and rhythm and blues.

Chelsea Shocknesse
Lower Jazz and Tap Department Director (Levels 1-4)
Co-Director of The Metropolitan Follies
Jazz & Tap Faculty
cshocknesse@metropolitanarts.org

Chelsea “Ms. Chelsea” Marcelin Shocknesse has been a part of the MSA (formerly MFAC) family since she first moved to Virginia at the age of 16. After moving to Virginia, she started as a student at MSA in 2009, where she participated in Frosty Follies, the 2009 spring production Annie (Ms. Hannigan), and the 2010 production of Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts).

Though her time as a student at MSA was short, she was thrilled to return in 2015 as a faculty member. She is now the Director of Tap and Jazz at MSA for levels 1-4 and loves teaching both tap and jazz, keeping dance a large part of her life. She is also a co-director for The Metropolitan Follies: A Holiday Revue, which is a true joy during the holidays. She is extremely passionate about both dance and dance education!

Chelsea graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education in 2015. She currently also works in education in the elementary school setting in Northern Virginia. Outside of dance she loves the beach, traveling, and being social with friends!

Irene Tsai
Music Faculty
itsai@metropolitanarts.org

Irene Tsai is a highly professional musician who has studied piano for 18 years, has over more than ten years of performing experience, and has participated in several piano competitions. She has also had three years of accompanying experience with a variety of ensembles and soloist situations. She just graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, where she studied piano with Eric Ruple and Gabriel Dobner and studied with Narciso Solero, a past president of the Virginia Music Teachers Association, before she attended JMU.

After graduation, she plans to take a gap year to earn more experience as a piano teacher while preparing to apply to graduate schools to continue pursuing a master’s degree in piano performance. She’s delighted to embark on this exciting journey as your new piano teacher.

Breanna Swetland
Administrative Assistant and Special Projects Manager
Early Childhood Faculty
bswetland@metropolitanarts.org

Breanna Swetland began working at MSA (then MFAC) in 2005. She teaches a variety of Early Childhood classes as well as works administratively. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (Dance and English) from Berry College and a MA in English from George Mason. Breanna taught English at Northern Virginia Community College where she piloted a new Developmental English program and presented at an international conference in South Africa before deciding to follow her passion for the performing arts.

Kirsten Noetzel
Acting Department Director
Metropolitan iMprov Artistic Director
Acting Faculty
knoetzel@metropolitanarts.org

Kirsten works regionally as a Director and Teaching Artist and has been on MSA’s faculty since 2013. She serves as the Studio Acting Director and Artistic Director of MetroiMprov. Regionally, Kirsten has directed for The Theatre Lab (Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Magic Hour), Imagination Stage (Unlabeled, The Pencil is Mightier, O Wonder, Aladdin), Montgomery College (The BURN), The Hub Theatre (Emerging Writers Festival), and Metropolitan School of the Arts (The Odyssey, Mirror Mirror, 4 AM, Peter Pan, The Tempest, Legend of Sleepy Hollow); as well as Assistant Directed for The Hub Theatre (Peekaboo, The BURN). She also serves on the faculty of Ford’s Theatre, Imagination Stage, The Theatre Lab, and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Kirsten has been invited to speak about educational theater at conferences sponsored by DC Collaborative, Imagination Stage, and The Kennedy Center. Kirsten received her Master’s in Theatre from the University of Houston School of Theatre and is a proud member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA). She is passionate about helping actors find their unique artistic voice and creating an environment of ensemble, trust, curiosity, and excellence.

Matt Nall
Facilities Manager
Music Theatre & Music Faculty
mnall@metropolitanarts.org

Matt Nall is originally from Dallas, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University and his Masters of Arts from New York University. In New York, he was a professional actor and appeared regionally as Gaston in Beauty in the Beast, Curly in Oklahoma, and Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol as well as others. In 2006, Matt accepted the position as Baritone Vocalist in the United States Army Chorus. Since then, he has performed all over the country and for various dignitaries and ambassadors, as well as every living President. Matt has been the Music Director for MSA for more than 15 years.

Rosie Matthews
Teen Director
Ballet, Contemporary, & Jazz Faculty
rmatthews@metropolitanarts.org

Since moving back to the area in 2019, Rosie has taught ballet, contemporary, jazz, and early childhood classes for the studio, and occasionally yoga for the adult program. She is an alumnus of MSA (formerly MFAC) and has been involved with the organization, either as a student or teacher, since 2007. Rosie has a BFA in Commercial Dance with a concentration in Dance Pedagogy from Pace University in NYC. She has danced, choreographed, and assisted on projects, including TV shows Rise and Dickinson, as well as music videos for artists Diana DeGarmo and Grammy winner Sarah Small. Rosie is thrilled to be back at MSA, sharing her love of dance with the next generation.

Roger C. Jeffrey
Ballet Faculty

Roger C. Jeffrey was born and raised in New York City, where he began his training at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center in Jamaica, Queens. A graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, he received his B.F.A. from The Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Mr. Jeffrey has performed with the companies of Bernice Johnson, Kevin Iega Jeff, Obediah Wright, Earl Mosley, Zvi Gotheiner, Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and with Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project. He has also worked with Dudley Williams, Eleo Pomare, Otis Sallid, Debbie Allen, Danny Tidwell, Ayodele Casel, D’bi. Young, Rasta Thomas, Sean Curran, Doug Varone, Richard Move, and Mark Dendy.

Mr. Jeffrey is a New York-based freelance choreographer and director. Inspired by his mentor Kevin Iega Jeff, he began to explore his artistic potential as both an instructor and choreographer at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, Edge School of the Arts, South Shore Dance Alliance, The Ailey School, The Joffrey School, The Joffrey Concert Group, The Juilliard School, Peridance Center, American Ballet Theatre/Make a Ballet Program, Studio Harmonic, Elisa King and Dancers, CityDance Ensemble, Camille Brown and Dancers, Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance, Dario Varcaro Dance Project, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Verb Ballets, Collage Dance Collective, Philadanco!, BalletX, New York Hip-Hop Festival, Ballet Arabesque, and La Companyia, to name a few.

Mr. Jeffrey has choreographed and/or directed various theatrical productions, including Death of the Diva (featuring Amanda Seales), The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely (featuring Ngozi Paul), Blood Claat (featuring D’bi. Young), Gemini Rising, and Da Kink in My Hair (featuring Angie Stone, Melanie Fiona, and Terri Vaughn), to name a few. He is also the artistic consultant for Rasta Thomas and associate artistic director of Dawn Branch Works.

In 1997, Mr. Jeffrey founded Subtle Changes, Inc., a nonprofit artist collective committed to the presentation, development, and exposure of the arts. The company has presented work at Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Central Park SummerStage Harlem, E-Moves/Aaron Davis Hall, Judson Church, P.S. 122, DanceNow Festival, Theatre of the Riverside Church, JoyceSoho, Back Yard Dance Project, Bric, and Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, among others.

Jennifer Hopkins
Adult Dance & Fitness
jhopkins@metropolitanarts.org

After many years working in New York, Jennifer is happy to call the DC theater community her home. There, she has been fortunate to work with several companies, including Folger Shakespeare, Constellation, Rorschach, Taffety Punk, Longacre Lea, and Keegan. In addition to performing, she has been an educator both in the U.S. and abroad, teaching Shakespeare and Musical Theatre courses in England and France.

Her direction and choreography credits include six summers with Festival 56 in Illinois, where she has choreographed Cabaret, The Full Monty, Gypsy, The Addams Family, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Mary Poppins. She also directed their productions of As You Like It, The Drowsy Chaperone, Sweet Charity, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Othello. At Providence College in Rhode Island, she has choreographed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Bat Boy, and Something Rotten.

She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Webster Conservatory and an MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University and Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting.

Colleen Hayes
Jazz Faculty
chayes@metropolitanarts.org

Colleen Hayes has spent the majority of her career as a performer and teacher in New York City and is originally from the DMV area. She performed in the first national tour of Catch Me If You Can, Crazy for You at The REV, The Producers, and Cinderella at the Fulton Opera House. DC-area performances include the world premiere of Sheryl Crow’s Diner, the Helen Hayes Award-winning Cabaret, the HH-nominated West Side Story, and Crazy for You at Signature Theatre. She also appeared in the Helen Hayes Award-winning A Chorus Line and How to Succeed… at Olney Theatre Center. TV and voiceover credits include Roaring 20s for DC Lotto, and Butterbean’s Café, Corn and Peg, Paw Patrol, and Dora the Explorer for Nickelodeon’s digital app.

In addition to performing, Colleen spends the spring semester as a member of the adjunct faculty at George Mason University, teaching Intermediate Broadway Jazz. She also teaches dance and fitness to children and adults locally and along the East Coast at high schools, dance conventions, and universities. She loves working with students at all stages of their careers to bridge the gap from education to professional work. Colleen holds a degree in Theatre and Dance with a Musical Theatre concentration from James Madison University. She is represented by CESD and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Aimee Gervacio
Acting, Jazz & Music Theatre Faculty
agervacio@metropolitanarts.org

Aimee has been teaching musical theater and acting at MSA since 2018, bringing over 20 years of training in dance and experience in musical theater. She is a proud Virginia Tech alumna with a B.A. in English (2010) and completed her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction at GMU in 2022. After more than 11 years of working as a technical writer and business analyst, Aimee transitioned to teaching full-time as a secondary English teacher for FCPS. She continues to be passionate about dance and musical theater and is dedicated to working with students to encourage and support their artistic talents and aspirations.

Shu-Chen Cuff
Ballet Faculty
scuff@metropolitanarts.org

Shu-Chen Cuff, Founder/Artistic Director of Gin Dance Company, was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where she established a well-rounded background in dance with training in Ballet, Modern, Chinese Opera movements, and various Chinese folk dances. In 1994, she immigrated to United States to continue her training and pursue her dance journey in U.S. In 1998, Shu-Chen received a B.F.A. from the University of Florida’s New World School of the Arts. Following college, she performed numerous classical and contemporary works while dancing with Miami Ballet and Nevada Ballet Theater. After relocating to the Washington, DC in 2002, Shu-Chen worked with Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company and has left her footprints around the world, touring to Asia, Latin and Central America, and Europe. Shu-Chen also has been a guest performer and choreographer with BalletNova Center for Dance, Metropolitan School of the Arts and Skye Ballet Center. Shu-Chen has a great passion to pass on her knowledge, experience, and her love of dance to young aspiring dancers. In this regard, she has taught at Ashburn Academy of Dance and Russell School of Ballet, and has been a guest instructor at numerous dance schools throughout Taiwan.

Kendall Cherry
Hip Hop Faculty
kcherry@metropolitanarts.org

Kendall Cherry, known professionally as Coach Cherry, is a professional choreographer, movement coach, and creative director whose work can be seen in music videos, television, film, and on tours at your local arena. Cherry has helped develop artists like DaniLeigh, Bantu, Dr. Chaii, Reggie Becton, and Soaky Siren, while still working with world-renowned artists such as DaBaby, Chris Brown, Rico Nasty, Dreezy, Nasty C, G-Eazy, and Asian Doll. Her most recent work can be seen in the new Samsung commercial for the release of their cell phone, the Z Flip 3.

Cherry’s choreography for “BOP on Broadway” by DaBaby, “Levi High” by DaniLeigh ft. DaBaby, and “Easy” by DaniLeigh ft. Chris Brown have earned her Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, BET Awards, and VMA nominations. Aside from music videos and commercials, Cherry has also choreographed for world tours, festivals, and even late-night TV show performances. Her well-rounded training from a young age has allowed Cherry to adapt to various sets and performances. She has contributed to the creative direction of DaniLeigh’s “Be Yourself” tour and understands the importance of lighting and stage design.

Silvia Burstein Hendi
Ballet Faculty
sbursteinhendi@metropolitanarts.org

Silvia Burstein-Hendi was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She concurrently trained at two separate dance schools and obtained two professional dance diplomas. The first diploma was a Dance Teacher degree from the National School of Dance, and the second was a Professional Dancer diploma from the Institute of the Teatro Colón. In 1986, Silvia immigrated to Canada, where she danced and taught professionally in Montreal at the Ballet Classique de Montréal and in Ottawa at Le Groupe Dance Lab, among many other institutions.

After moving to the United States in 1999, she continued to dance, perform, and teach while being a full-time mom and raising a family. She loves being a mom, a dancer, and a dance teacher! As a dancer, she still enjoys training and the experience of performing in front of an audience—perhaps even more now as an adult! As a teacher, with nearly 40 years of experience, she enjoys continually educating herself, taking numerous classes and workshops, and exploring new pedagogies to teach the next generation of dancers and artists.

Colleen Buck
Summer Mini Camp Director
Early Childhood Faculty
cbuck@metropolitanarts.org

Colleen Buck is a native of the Washington, DC area and enjoyed dancing in local musical theater productions as a teenager. As a student at Boston University, she had the opportunity to begin formal dance training, studying tap, ballet, and jazz. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Colleen worked as a technical writer for a northern Virginia engineering firm and continued her education at the University of Maryland, where she received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. An engineer and technical writer by day, she was always a dancer at heart, teaching aerobics and taking dance classes in the evening. With the birth of her son in 2002, Colleen opted for a career change, embracing her passion for teaching dance to young children. Since then she has pursued a true vocation, bringing the joy of dance and movement to her students, while still trying to grow as a dancer by taking classes weekly. Her philosophy was best summed up in a letter from one of her young dancers, “Thank you for teaching me to love dance.”

Howard Breitbart
Music Faculty
hbreitbart@metropolitanarts.org

Howard Breitbart (musical director, arranger, pianist) is a native of Miami, FL. Howard received his music degree in piano performance from The University of Maryland in College Park. He has become an in-demand musician for many theaters and productions throughout the DC area. He toured with the political satire troupe “The Capitol Steps” for 27 years. He is now performing with a new group, “The Reflecting Fools”. Howard accompanied vocalist/actor Norm Lewis at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre and vocalist Susan Derry at Feinstein’s 54 Below in NYC. Howard’s favorite shows that he has musically directed include Closer Than Ever at Metro Stage, Alexandria, VA, Carolyn Or Change at Studio Theatre, Washington, DC; Broadway Christmas Carol at Metro Stage, Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre, Broadway Holiday at Classic Theatre Of Maryland, Most Happy Fellow at Palm Beach Dramaworks, Palm Beach, FL. and numerous cabarets at Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA. Recently, Howard accompanied productions of Beauty & The Beast at Stone Ridge School, Bethesda, MD and Into The Woods at Fairfax High School.

Private Lessons

A six-week session for guitar, piano, drums, voice, and more. Private one-time coachings available upon request.

Summer Musical

Experience the magic of Summer Stock in the DMV by auditioning for MSA’s Summer Musical, a performance created in less than two weeks! Join talented performers from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area for the opportunity to work with industry professionals and gain valuable experience in putting on a full musical production. Immerse yourself in a summer of music, dance, and theater like never before!

Information regarding the 2026 Summer Musical will be available in early 2026.

MUSIC

A comprehensive music curriculum that aims to inspire and nurture young musicians in a group vocal setting. Our instructors will guide students through the fundamentals of music theory and sight singing. Group vocal instruction will explore a variety of genres and musical styles, while focusing on the importance of proper vocal technique in choral singing.

Vic Adebusola
Hip Hop Director
vadebusola@metropolitanarts.org

Victor Adebusola serves as the Commercial Dance Director for MSA, leading the organization’s after school hip hop and contemporary dance programs. Vic originally joined MSA in 2018 as a hip hop faculty member in the commercial dance program. Vic has danced, taught, and choreographed for several studios, schools, and organizations in the DC-metropolitan area. He graduated from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing an arts management degree at George Mason University. Vic also served as an adjunct instructor in George Mason University’s dance department. He was the artistic director of Culture Shock Dance Troupe, captain of Capital Funk DC, and established Project VictorAde, which debuted in 2017. Vic has performed and taught in Los Angeles, San Diego, Ottawa, Canada, and New York through these opportunities. He continues to spread his knowledge and love for dance to all communities and people who share his passion and strives to bring awareness of the talent of the DMV-dance community to broader audiences.

Naomi Hill
Contemporary Director
Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, & Jazz Faculty
nhill@metropolitanarts.org

Naomi began dancing at Metropolitan School of the Arts when she was 5 years old, training in a variety of styles including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, and contemporary. She performed annually in MSA’s Spring Production, The Nutcracker, and as a company member with iMpulse. After graduating high school, she attended Chapman University in California where she continued her dance training. Naomi is currently a company artist with Motion X Dance DC, a local contemporary dance company directed by Stephanie Dorrycott. She joined the MSA faculty in 2022 and serves as the Contemporary Director. Naomi is honored to be a small part of her students’ dance journeys and enjoys celebrating their achievements both in and out of the studio.

HOLIDAY GIVING CAMPAIGN

Join us in spreading holiday cheer and supporting the arts! Our annual end-of-year giving campaign runs from Giving Tuesday through New Year’s Eve. Funds raised help support upgrades to our facilities, elevated performances, and scholarship opportunities. Your contribution will ensure that MSA can continue to bring our renowned arts education to even more young performers.

Surprise a loved one with an experience that will have a great impact on their life. A performing arts or fitness gift will help the recipient get active, make new friends, feel more confident, have fun, and learn a skill they’ll enjoy for a lifetime. Your gift card can cover a recital fee, costume fee, private lessons for a year, an adult dance session, and more! To purchase a gift card, click HERE!

WEEKLY CLASSES

Youth summer dance classes for all ages allow students to continue to work on technique and advance their skills. Registration options include a six-week early childhood program, intermediate drop-in classes, pre-professional company drop-in classes, and workshop series.

MSA CAMP: full day camps for 8-12 year olds.

These energetic camps will be a sure hit this summer! MSA Camp is an all-encompassing, full-day camp designed for beginning and returning students ages 8-12. Camp days are filled with fun and skill-building classes in theater, dance and vocal technique, visual art, theater production, choreography, and of course, rehearsals. The experience culminates in a showcase on the final day of camp where family and friends will marvel at what their campers have been able to accomplish in one short week!

MINI-CAMPS: half day camps for 4-7 year olds.

Create magical summer moments! Our mini-camps are half day camps designed exclusively for our youngest budding dancers, actors, and singers. These camps are great to enjoy with your family, friends, and siblings! Each day, children will participate in fun and educational activities including dancing, singing, craft making, story time, and more! Every session includes unique themed activities guaranteed to create a wonderful summer experience.

Alumni Project

The Alumni Project is a celebration of artistic excellence at Metropolitan School of the Arts! An unforgettable evening of dance, music, and theater with graduates of MSA as we mark 25 years! Join us for a night filled with spectacular performances, heartwarming reunions, and an opportunity to support the future of our school.

Thank you to those who attended and supported the 2024 Alumni Project!

Allie Strehle
Jazz & Tap Faculty
astrehle@metropolitanarts.org

Allie grew up in Minnesota, where she trained for 15 years in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop. She danced at Summit Dance Shoppe, competing in national dance competitions and conventions. She was also a member of the Keane Sense of Rhythm Youth Tap Ensemble for 10 years. Allie has attended tap festivals around the country since the age of 8, including the Twin Cities Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, DC Tap Festival, Tap2You, and Rhythm In Fusion Festival, where she has taken classes from world-renowned teachers. In 2013, she was invited to dance at the Juba Tap Show at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., under the choreography of Michelle Dorrance.

She began teaching tap and jazz in 2015 at various studios in Minnesota and continued to teach from 2015 to 2019 in Texas. Allie began teaching at MSA in 2021 and is thrilled to be part of the MSA family! Allie graduated from Texas Christian University in 2019 with a B.S. in Political Science and from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a Master of Public Policy. She currently works for the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow.

Charles Renato
Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble Artistic Director
Upper Tap Department Director (Levels 5-10)
Social Media & Branding Manager
Tap Faculty
crenato@metropolitanarts.org

Charles Renato was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. He began tap dancing at the age of 6 in São José dos Campos. At 14, he began teaching tap dance, which led to him winning awards all over Brazil. He has won awards for Best Dancer at the Joinville Dance Festival and the TV Globo challenge show (2009 & 2010).

In 2008, Charles joined the cast of Sinatra Blue Eyes the musical in Lisbon, Portugal. Renato was also a member of the “KS Tap Company,” which is responsible for bringing together highly sought-after teachers from all over Brazil to perform.

Mr. Renato’s international career has taken him to perform and teach in Croatia, Ukraine, Italy, Greece, the UK, the Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, Chile, and Argentina. He was also invited to produce and create a section at one of the most prestigious events in Brazil, Carnaval. Since then, he has been nominated for Best Choreographer at the Desterro Festival and Festidança in Brazil, which led to him teaching in the U.S.

Since moving to NYC, Mr. Renato has been working with Apt 33, directed by Chloe Arnold, and performed with Michelle Dorrance and Dorrance Dance. Renato has also been directing the tap program at Metropolitan School of the Arts in Virginia. He also directed Apt 33’s new video, I’m Not Afraid, choreographed by Chloe Arnold. He is part of the faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Steps On Broadway. Currently, Charles is an Artist in Residence at the American Tap Dance Foundation.

Lesley Shearer
Ballet Department Director (Conservatory/RAD)
Ballet Faculty
lshearer@metropolitanarts.org

Born in Scotland, Lesley trained at the London College of Dance and Drama and the Royal Academy of Dance, London. She also holds a Master’s in Teaching (Dance) from the University of Surrey, majoring in Educational Leadership and Collaborative Learning, and a B.Phil (Hons) from Durham University in Ballet and Contextual Studies, with a focus on child development and pedagogy.

Lesley has taught ballet all around the world. She spent 20 years in Dubai, UAE, where she was the Owner and Artistic Director of one of the largest dance schools in the country. She has lectured in pedagogy at Dance for All in Edinburgh, UK, and has also held an adjunct professorial role as Teaching Supervisor for the Bachelor of Dance Education degree at the Royal Academy and the University of Surrey.

Appointed to the Board of Tutors of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1998 and the Board of Examiners in 2002, Lesley travels the world teaching and assessing ballet students and teachers. She became Director of the Ballet program at MSA in 2008 and Director of the Conservatory Program in 2009. She is committed to developing all the programs at MSA to make it the school of choice for serious ballet students in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.

Annie Russ
Jazz and Fitness Faculty
aruss@metropolitanarts.org

Annie is a native of Chicago, where she began her training in dance, acting, fitness, and vocal performance. She moved to New York after high school to attend the SUNY Purchase Conservatory and furthered her training in New York City, where she resided and worked for over 10 years. She has been a performing member of multiple New York-based dance companies, as well as a part of the teaching faculty at New York’s premier dance studio, STEPS on Broadway. Her professional performing experience includes national tours, on- and off-Broadway productions, regional and international shows. She remains a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

In addition to performing, Annie was the associate choreographer for multiple New York concerts, musicals, and cruise ships. She directed and choreographed several Disney Junior shows while serving as Artistic Director for Theatre LJCC in Birmingham, and was an adjunct professor in the dance and theatre department at Samford University.

Her love for fitness started at a young age and peaked while living in New York, when she got pulled into the Pilates and barre circuit between performing jobs. She obtained her Pilates certification through Power Pilates in New York City, began her barre work with Physique 57, and earned her fitness certification through ACE. With over 20 years of experience, she finds joy in sharing her love of dance and the knowledge she has gained from years in the industry.

After being away from MSA for 4 years, Annie is thrilled to be back in the studio again, balancing dance and fitness with being a wife and mom to the most wonderful humans.

Aiyana Pringle
Music Faculty
apringle@metropolitanarts.org

Hi, everyone! I’m Aiyana, and I recently completed my Bachelor of Music in Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. I am currently a violinist with the Piedmont Symphony, and I enjoy learning and performing new music with my duo partner. Some of my interests include pedagogy, score study, writing, and working with young people.

I work with students of all ages and levels, and I find that incorporating activities and off-the-instrument practice is important. My teaching methods are individualized, which allows students to learn at their own pace and gives them the opportunity to try new things while discovering what works best for them. I believe that providing a patient yet stimulating environment helps students work more efficiently and enjoy the music-learning process even more.

Julie Navarrette
Musical Theatre and Music Faculty
jnavarrette@metropolitanarts.org

Julie has been teaching private voice and piano lessons at MSA since 2006. She also assists Ms. Sara and Ms. Aimee with music for Musical Theater 1-4 classes. Julie began teaching voice and piano at the Linda Young Music Studio while in college. After graduating from the University of North Alabama, she taught in the private music lesson program at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. She has also taught Kindermusik and Music Together for children. Julie has served in many different roles at MSA, including working for the Metropolitan Performing Arts Theater, teaching the Junior Music class for the Homeschool Program, and serving as the piano teacher for the Academy.

Michelle Michaels
Tap Faculty
mmichaels@metropolitanarts.org

Michelle Michaels is a tap dancer with over 25 years of experience who has been a part of the DMV-area tap community since 1999. Tap dance continues to be her outlet for fun, creativity, and making music outside the office. Michelle’s teaching credits include beginner through advanced levels at various performing arts and dance education schools in the DC, MD, and VA area. She continues to be both a performer and a student.

She has performed with several DMV-area tap groups throughout her career, and currently, you can catch her with Sundays on Tap, an adult tap company based in Northern Virginia. She also continues to expand her knowledge in tap technique, history, music theory, and composition, passing it on to her own students. Though she studied most under Heidi Schultz, Michelle has pursued opportunities and intensives with Dianne Walker, Heather Cornell, Hillary-Marie, and several other master tappers.

Michelle’s performance credits include the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops, and Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, she has performed in various local forums, including TAPS Alive!, the DC Tap Festival, the Annual Holiday SpecTAPular, Small Plates, Glen Echo Carousel Day, and One Love Manassas.

Michelle is a graduate of American University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Economics.

Valerie McNamara
Billings & HR Director
vmcnamara@metropolitanarts.org

Valerie’s journey with MSA began in 2000 when her daughter started dance classes, and Valerie became a parent volunteer. Building sets and props, as well as serving as stage manager for Follies, Nutcracker, and Spring Productions, were among her volunteer activities. After retiring from her full-time job in 2009, Valerie was hired onto the MSA Administrative Team. She is so grateful to be working for such a fabulous organization.

Melanie Latrash
Adult Dance and Fitness Director
Fitness Faculty
mlatrash@metropolitanarts.org

Melanie is the Director of the MSA Adult Fitness and Dance Program and has been sharing her love of movement for over three decades. Her interest in fitness began while attending the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Exercise Science in 1987. She earned her national certifications in Group Fitness Instruction in 1986 and Personal Training in 1998 through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Additionally, she earned her Registered Teacher Training Certification (RYT, 200 hours) through Yogafit International and has been teaching yoga since 1999.

She married Naval Aviator Fred Latrash in May 1992 and, as a military spouse, has had the opportunity to teach in many locations throughout the United States, including Florida, California, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Melanie and Fred have three grown children: Brianna, Andrew, and Annie Laurie.

Throughout her career, Melanie has managed and directed many health and wellness programs across the country, but her greatest accomplishment to date has been growing the MSA Adult Fitness and Dance Program since 2002. She initially offered one yoga class a week, and the program now offers 20 classes a week, including Yoga, Barre, Pilates, Core Conditioning, Ballet, and Tap, with 10 incredible instructors on staff!

When she’s not teaching and inspiring people to work out, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, entertaining, and traveling the world!

Kim Jones
Production Manager
production@metropolitanarts.org

Kim started her MSA experience as a parent volunteer when her two daughters began dancing in 2008. Since that time, she has supported the MSA family in many roles, including as a barre/yoga instructor, chaperone, volunteer for backstage and front-of-house jobs, and Assistant Production Manager for three years. She continues to serve as MSA’s Production Manager, a position she has held since 2018.

Heather Gifford
Homeschool Director
Assistant Production Manager
Music Faculty
hgifford@metropolitanarts.org

Heather began working at MSA in 2013 as part of the voice faculty and served as the Academy’s music department chair from 2019 to 2024. She is excited to take on the role of Homeschool Director and Assistant Production Manager. Heather holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Industry, with a Vocal Performance concentration, from James Madison University. Professionally, she has performed with Keegan Theater DC in Chicago (Annie/Velma u/s), LTA in Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndham), and Holland America Cruise Line as a lead singer. She has also performed at Harrah’s Las Vegas in Legends in Concert and at Tropicana Atlantic City in Havana After Dark. In entertainment and event management, Heather has worked at Venetian/Palazzo and Planet Hollywood Resorts in Las Vegas, as well as at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. As a music director, she has worked with ACCT on Seussical the Musical, Guys and Dolls, and Legally Blonde. Heather is honored to share her love for the performing arts and to encourage the next generation of performers.

Jessica Braxton
Ballet Faculty
jbraxton@metropolitanarts.org

Jessica began her dance training as a young student in Richland, Washington, where she studied ballet under Debra Pearse Rogo. After moving to Northern Virginia, she continued her training at the Virginia Ballet Company and School under Tatiana Rousseau and Oleg Tupine. Selected to attend the Governor’s School for the Arts in Richmond, she had the privilege of meeting and learning from Lorraine Graves. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), Jessica went on to study science, earning bachelor’s degrees with honors in Biology and Chemistry from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

She also continued her studies in ballet, jazz, dance science, and dance history at Goucher, attending master classes and performing in pieces set by guest teachers and choreographers from professional companies such as the Stuttgart Ballet and New York City Ballet. Jessica has been teaching ballet at Metropolitan since 2001 and was mentored early on in dance pedagogy by her oldest brother, David Andrew Carr, a former principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet and guest artist for The George Balanchine Foundation.

In her devotion to ballet, she returned to her roots in 2004 and also taught ballet at the Virginia Ballet Company for several years. Her passion for teaching was unlocked through experiences working with the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Center for Talented Youth (CTY) summer programs. Jessica holds a Montessori teaching certificate from the Northeast Montessori Institute (NMI) and taught at the primary level at the Montessori School of Northern Virginia (MSNV) in Annandale for several years while continuing to teach ballet.

Both of Jessica’s children are long-time MSA students, enjoying a variety of learning and performance opportunities across the ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop programs. She is deeply grateful for the gift of sharing her passion for ballet with both your children and her own, in such a supportive community dedicated to the quality of education and to nurturing caring, responsible, and resilient individuals. She is also grateful for the continued mentorship and support of the MSA Ballet Department, as well as the professional development opportunities provided by the MSA directors, which allow her to continue learning and growing in her teaching.

David Arce
Nutshell Assistant Director
Ballet Faculty
darce@metropolitanarts.org

David Arce, former dancer with San Francisco Ballet (CA) for 13 seasons, Artistic Director of Juline Regional Youth Ballet (CA) for ten seasons, Assistant Artistic Director of Mid-Columbia Ballet (WA) for two seasons, and recently the Trainee Program Director at Ballet Idaho. Born in San Diego, California, he began his ballet training at Ballet Yuma (AZ) with Jon Cristofori and Kathleen Sinclair. His list of accomplishments with the San Francisco Ballet include principal and soloist roles in Balanchine, Robbins, Forsythe, MacMillan, Martins, Morris, de Mille, Petit, Ratmansky, Caniparoli, Tomasson, Kudelka, Welch, Wheeldon, Adam, Possokhov, York, and Lubovich. Additionally, he has performed throughout the world with San Francisco Ballet and independently at many galas, festivals, and international ballet competitions in Asia and Europe. Mr. Arce has taught master classes, coached, and choreographed domestically and abroad, including Japan, China, Malaysia, Arizona, Idaho, Ole Miss in Mississippi, Washington Ballet in D.C., BYU in Utah, New York, throughout California, and numerous RDA/P and Ballet Alliance festivals. Mr. Arce was a staff writer for Dance Studio Life, contributing Ballet Technique Tips monthly to the magazine for five years.

Charlie Abel

Spring Production Ballet Performance Director
Ballet Faculty
cabel@metropolitanarts.org

Charlie Abel has been performing in ballet, opera, musical, and dramatic theater for more than three decades. A former high-school wrestler and semi-pro baseball player, Charlie fell in love with ballet in his home state of Louisiana where he performed with the Louisiana Ballet. Since then, Mr. Abel has performed with the Yugoslav National Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the Baltimore Ballet. Locally Charlie has appeared at Ford’s Theater, Folger Theater, The Kennedy Center, and in three Helen Hayes nominated productions at The Keegan Theatre in Washington, DC. Mr. Abel has taught classical and theater dance at Dance Institute of Washington, Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts, Ballet Royale Institute of Maryland, and Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts. Currently Charlie is teaching at Metropolitan School of the Arts and for the last fifteen years at University of Maryland in Baltimore County.

Studio 3

JUMP

One of the largest dance conventions in the world, touring to 27 US cities and 3 international cities. This fun weekend (Friday-Sunday) is jam-packed with all things DANCE! Each event includes top-rate workshops in numerous styles of dance, a closing show, scholarship presentations and faculty performances!

2024-2025 Dates:
January 3-5, 2025, Baltimore MD

Jump Interest Meeting: September 28, 2024 |Time TBD

2025 Summer Policies will be available in February 2025.

MYB Auditions and Performances

The Metropolitan Youth Ballet will perform in their annual Spring Ballet in April.

Company Auditions take place in August prior to the beginning of the school year.

MTC Auditions and Performances

The Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company will perform in August.

Company Auditions take place in March.

MetroImprov will perform in two Showcases in January and May every year.

Company Auditions take place in August prior to the beginning of the school year.

MYTE Auditions and Performances

MYTE will perform in The Company Project in March.

Company Auditions take place in August prior to the beginning of the school year.

Impulse Auditions and Performances

Impulse will perform in The Company Project in March.

Company Auditions take place in August prior to the beginning of the school year.

MSA will attend a YAGP Competition in the winter each school year. Dates and Locations will change.

Please email Jacqueline Doherty at jdoherty@metropolitanarts.org for more information.

Current Openings

Dance Teachers:

Are you a passionate dancer with teaching experience? Do you have a knack for working with children and a deep love for the performing arts? If so, we are looking for talented individuals like you to join our team at Metropolitan School of the Arts.

With 20+ years of expertise, we offer a diverse range of dance genres, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, music theater and acro. We are seeking teachers with expertise in one or more of these dance styles for our 2023-2024 season.

Responsibilities:

– Provide engaging and interactive dance classes to students of various age groups and skill levels.

– Develop and implement lesson plans that focus on building technique, fostering creativity, and nurturing self-confidence.

– Create a positive and inclusive learning environment where students can thrive and express themselves through dance.

– Conduct periodic evaluations to monitor student progress and provide constructive feedback for improvement.

– Collaborate with other dance teachers and staff to plan and organize recitals, performances, and showcases.

– Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the dance industry to ensure a well-rounded and current dance curriculum.

– Collaborate with department directors to communicate with parents and guardians to address any concerns and provide updates on their child’s progress.

Requirements:

– Minimum of two years of experience as a dance teacher

– Strong dance background and technical proficiency in the chosen dance style(s).

– Ability to work effectively with children of all ages and skill levels.

– Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

– Experience in the performing arts is preferred.

– Familiarity with nonprofit organizations and their mission-driven work is a plus.

If you are a passionate and experienced dance teacher who believes in the power of art to empower and educate young minds, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to nurture the next generation of talented dancers and cultivate an appreciation for the performing arts. Apply now to be a part of our team at Metropolitan School of the Arts and make a difference in the lives of our students.

Please email resumes to: sarahart@metropolitanarts.org

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SPRING PRODUCTION ENSEMBLE

AUDITION REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

AUDITIONS will be held January 6-7, 2024

Registration Deadline is January 1st

Any submissions received after 8:00pm on Monday, January 1st will be charged a $10 late fee.

WHAT IS SPRING PRODUCTION ENSEMBLE?

The Ensemble is a highly motivated, dedicated, and talented group of students who will perform as the main characters and ensemble groups in ALL SIX SHOWS of the Spring Production. If you are looking for more performance opportunities, please give it a try! The Ensemble consists of group dancers and main characters who propel our storyline forward and tie all of our class dance performances together. Participation in Metropolitan School of the Arts Spring Production Ensemble is by audition only.

ELIGIBILITY

Dance Ensemble (age 9+ by Sept. 30, 2023 | Academy Levels 1+, After-School Dance Levels 2+, Intermediate Teen Jazz and Tap+)

If you are in varying levels of dance class throughout the week, you will be required to attend the lowest level audition group and may be asked to stay for the higher level audition group

Main Character (age 9+ by Sept. 30, 2023)

If you would like to be considered for a Main Character, you must attend BOTH the Vocal and Dance Auditions.

Delinquent Accounts

Delinquent MSA accounts will NOT be eligible for ensemble participation.

TO READ MORE ABOUT UTOPIA, CLICK HERE.

TO FIND AUDITION MATERIALS, CLICK HERE.

TO REGISTER FOR AUDITIONS, CLICK HERE.

Contact our Production Manager, Kim Jones, if you have any questions production@metropolitanarts.org

Homeschool Schedule

2023-2024 Homeschool Schedule

Lauren Sterlacci
Office Administrator
Registration/Communications
lsterlacci@metropolitanarts.org

Alicia Landry
Office Administrator
alandry@metropolitanarts.org

Roxanne King
dynaMYTE Artistic Director
Tap Faculty
rking@metropolitanarts.org

Roxanne “Roxy” King is a tap dancer, teacher, student and tap company director based in Washington D.C. Roxy was a dance student at Metropolitan School of the Arts, where she also taught tap. She is a member of the first graduating class of the MSA Academy. Roxy is currently the Artistic Director of DynaMYTE, the junior company of Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble (MYTE). As a member of MYTE she had the opportunity to travel the country taking classes and performing at tap festivals. With the company Roxy has taught in Brazil at Tap In Rio, and The Tap Show festivals. Just this year she also taught master classes at the 9th annual D.C Tap Festival. As a student Roxy has just completed her freshman year at Montgomery College in Rockville Maryland. Just this past summer Roxy had the amazing opportunity to attend the 2017 Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program run by Michelle Dorrance, and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards along with 24 other participants.

Louise Hislop
Operations & Administration Director
lhislop@metropolitanarts.org

Brianna Forster
Conditioning Faculty
bforster@metropolitanarts.org

Brianna is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in orthopedics. She loves working with teenagers and has a background in dance and acrobatics in addition to strength and conditioning. She enjoyed working with the MSA dancers last year and is so excited to be back this year treating one on one in physical therapy and leading the conditioning class to teach dancers healthy habits so they can have long careers with fewer injuries.

Credentials: Brianna Q. Forster, PT, DPT, OCS, CF-L1

Carrie Dodson
Music Administrative Assistant, Office Administrator
Warehouse Set & Props Manager
cdodson@metropolitanarts.org

Carrie is a retired Air Force Officer and has 16 years of dance experience and taught dance through high school and college. She started volunteering in set and props at MSA shortly after her daughter started dancing there and is currently the Set and Prop Director. Carrie recently accepted a position on the Administrative Team.

Cameron Brooks
Early Childhood Director
Spring Production Associate Director
Early Childhood Faculty
cbrooks@metropolitanarts.org

A Metropolitan School of the Arts studio alum, Cameron Cardillo Brooks began teaching Early Childhood dance at MSA in 2012. Today, she is the Director of the Early Childhood Dance Department, the Assistant Artistic Director for studio productions, and teaches the classes in which she grew up assisting! Cameron graduated with a Business Degree from George Mason University (and a minor in Events Management). After graduating, she pursued a career in Learning Consulting for the Federal Government. She has since found challenging and rewarding work leading Operations Management for a small business. Teaching dance has always been a priority for Cameron and she’s been fortunate to find opportunities that balance and support both of her careers. In her free time, Cameron finds ways to keep active and creative. You will find Cameron dropping into Monday Jazz, Wednesday Yoga, and sketching set, prop, and costume designs (on graph paper, of course!). Not only is she crafty, you can also find her using power tools to tackle home improvement projects. Since 2004, MSA has been a second home for her. Cameron is so grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community – the family – in which she grew up.

Kasey Borden
Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director
kborden@metropolitanarts.org

Kasey began volunteering with MSA in 2002 when her daughters started taking beginner dance classes. She volunteered in many areas through the years and eventually was hired as Production Manager and held that job for many years. Kasey is now part-time as a member of the MSA Administrative Team.

Sara Hart
Executive Director
After-School Music Theatre Director
Impulse Artistic Director Co-Executive Director
Musical Theatre, Jazz, & Tap Faculty

Sara graduated from New York University with a Bachelors in Music and continued her career in NYC for several years. She is a proud member of Actors Equity and last performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, where she was the assistant director as well as a member of the ensemble in High Button Shoes. Other regional performing credits include: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (assistant director, dance captain, Martha) at Goodspeed, The Wizard of Oz (assistant dir., dance capt., and Ensemble at North Carolina Theatre, and Mame (Ensemble) at Northshore Music Theatre. Sara has also built a career as a regional director/choreographer. Credits include How to Succeed in Business w/o Really Trying (assistant director) at Goodspeed, Ain’t Misbehavin’ (assistant dir./choreographer) at Dallas Theatre Center and Cape Playhouse, Pirates of Penzance and Barber of Seville and Carousel (assistant dir./chor.) at Virginia Opera, and Off Broadway’s Great American Trailerpark Musical workshop (assistant chor.) in NYC. Sara served as assistant choreographer for Ringley Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth in 2006. She has many years of experience teaching all styles of dance in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, and New York, and returned to her alma mater to teach and choreograph mainstage productions (110 in the Shade and The Merry Widow). Sara is the Co-Executive Director at Metropolitan School of the Arts where she has directed and choreographed the following shows: Wizard of Oz, Annie, Beauty & the Beast, Grease, Hook, Mirror Mirror, Footloose, Toy Story, Alice in Wonderland, Enchanted, Wonka, Wreck It!, The Metropolitan World Tour, and The Royal Revue. She has been the Artistic Director for iMpulse jazz company, MSA’s non-profit youth pre-professional jazz company based in Northern Virginia since 2008. Her students have been accepted to some of the top performing arts schools in the U.S. to include: Boston Conservatory, Chapman University, Elon, Pace University, Point Park University, New York University, Roosevelt Univesity, Shenandoah Conservatory, University of Michigan, & more. Many students are now performing on Broadway, traveling with National Tours, and training with top companies. She is proud to be a part of the MSA community!

COMPANY DROP IN CLASSES are for advanced students with interest in the pre-professional track.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL INTENSIVES are for ages 9+ with previous dance experience.

Studio 6

Studio 5

Studio 4

Studio 2

Studio 1

Homeschool Handbook

https://metropolitanarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022-2023-Homeschool-Policies.pdf

Rental Pricing

Metropolitan School of the Arts

RENTAL FEES

HOURLY STUDIO RENTAL (NON PERFORMANCE)	Size	Sq Ft	Regular Rate	Non-Profit Rate*	Non-MSA Student Rate	MSA Student/ Alumni Rate**	Description of Space
Studio 1	47×34	1598	$60	$50	$25	$20	Sprung Floor, Stage Step Vinyl, Mirrors & Sound System
Studio 2	42×34	1428	$60	$50	$25	$20	Sprung Floor, Harlequin Vinyl, Mirrors, Sound System & black curtains
Studio 3	29×24	696	$45	$40	$25	$20	Sprung Wooden Floor, Mirrors, & Sound System
Studio 4	29×20	580	$45	$40	$25	$20	Sprung Floor, Stage Step Vinyl, Mirrors & Sound System
Studio 5	48×25	1200	$50	$45	$25	$20	Sprung Floor, Stage Step Vinyl, Mirrors, Sound System, & Piano
Studio 6	23×16	368	$45	$40	$25	$20	Sprung Floor, Stage Step Vinyl, Mirrors & Sound System
Studio 7	36×21	756	$45	$40	$25	$20	Sprung floor, Stage Step Vinyl, Mirrors & Sound System
Studio 8			$45	$40	$25	$20	Sprung floor, Vinyl, Mirrors & Wireless Speakers

HOURLY MUSIC ROOM RENTAL (NON PERFORMANCE)	Sq Ft	Regular Rate	Non-Profit Rate*	Non-MSA Student Rate	MSA Student/ Alumni Rate**
Music Room 1	72	$25	$20	$15	$10
Music Room 2	72	$25	$20	$15	$10
Music Room 3	72	$25	$20	$15	$10
Music Room 4	72	$25	$20	$15	$10

*Student/Alumni Rate is for current MSA students and alumni who have danced a minimum of five years at MSA.
*Non-profit rate requires proof of non-profit status.
Studio rental is subject to availability. Contact rental@metropolitanarts.org to request a space.
Renters will abide by all MSA policies and procedures including all health and safety policies. MSA reserves the right to request a signed contract.
Renters may be required to provide proof of insurance.

BLACK BOX RENTAL
Performance (min 4 hour block)	42×34	1428	$170	$140	$110	$100
Tech Rehearsal (with lights)	42×34	1428	$90	$75	$60	$50
Hourly Rehearsal (no tech)	42×34	1428	$70	$60	$50	$40

Black box theater-type performance space. Wood sprung floor covered with Harlequin Vinyl Flooring. Black traveling curtains. 120 seats. Basic lighting, sound system with wireless microphones. Free parking. Lobby alcove is ideal for merchandise or concessions (however no food or beverage is permitted in the theater).
Add-Ons: Piano, additional studio space (dressing rooms/green rooms)
A $250 security deposit for space and light/sound equipment applies to all performance rental packages. Security deposits are refundable if the facility is returned its original condition.
Certificate of liability insurance is required covering not less than $1,000,000.
Contracts will be issued pending approval of the rental.
Payment is due in full no later than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled event. Rentals are not guaranteed until a contract has been issued, signed and submitted by the renter with a deposit.

Events by Event Type

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Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come join us. We welcome you to an MSA performance!

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

Come check us out! You are welcome to visit anytime.

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Upcoming Events