Alexandria Teens to Dance at Kennedy Center

Two Alexandria teenagers have been selected to dance at a Kennedy Center performance of “JUBA! Masters of American Tap!”

Roxanne King and Kyra Smith, both 15, were selected from more than 100 dancers to be part of the center’s tap performance at the Eisenhower Theater at 8 p.m. Dec. 7. Both teens are students of the Metropolitan Fine Arts Center of Alexandria and Fairfax Station.

Tickets can be purchased at the Kennedy Center box office or online.

Sixteen teenagers from six youth tap ensembles from across the United States will perform in the show. King and Smith represent the Washington metro area as members of the Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble (MYTE), and as students of the Metropolitan Fine Arts Center. They have been dancing with MYTE for five years, and King is a founding member of MYTE.

King and Smith also serve as dance captains for MYTE. They will perform in two dances choreographed by Michelle Dorrance, "Machine" and "Waltz.” Metropolitan Fine Arts tap instructor, Jason Janas, will also perform in the Kennedy Center show.

“We are so proud of Roxanne and Kyra and celebrate their selection to be part of this amazing tap show at the Kennedy Center,” said Melissa Dobbs, founder and executive director of Metropolitan Fine Arts Center of Alexandria and Fairfax Station, in a news release. “Both students are driven and dedicated dancers.”

The fine arts center offers quality performing arts training in a groundbreaking, holistic learning environment that cultivates creativity, builds community and empowers students. Visit the organization’s website at www.metrofinearts.com.