Franklin School for Performing Arts Announces Satellite Location in Downtown Hudson for September

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will open a satellite location in downtown Hudson this coming September, bringing performing arts classes in music, dance and drama to the historic Odd Fellows Building, located at 14 Main Street. The Franklin School for the Performing Arts offers exceptional performing arts instruction and unparalleled performance opportunities. The school boasts a large faculty of Boston-area artists and an expansive roster of classes for all ages and levels. FSPA programs serve students pursuing music, dance or drama for college and career as well as those who enjoy the arts for recreation. Since 1985, FSPA has been breaking new ground with innovative programming in the performing arts, and FSPA Hudson represents the newest chapter in the school's 25+ year history.

FSPA will offer classes in all disciplines of dance, as well as acting and musical theater. Instrumental and voice lessons will be available in addition to FSPA's unique Little Music School program. FSPA's Ballet Conservatory will provide Hudson-area dancers with extensive opportunities in classical ballet training at all levels. "I am very excited about expanding our ballet program and all that FSPA has to offer to the Hudson community and its dancers," says Ballet Mistress Cheryl Madeux Abbott. "The studios are impressive and, in addition to classes, will allow us to conduct large rehearsals, studio performances, extra workshops, and bring in more guest teachers for master classes to broaden and enhance the experiences of our dancers." Madeux Abbott has danced with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), Joffrey and Hartford Ballet companies and is currently an examiner for the ABT National Training Curriculum and a summer faculty member for the ABT Young Artists Program. She has incorporated the ABT curriculum into FSPA's ballet training, introducing dancers to these principles as well as the foundations of the Russian Vaganova syllabus.

FSPA's Little Music School teaches children as young as 18 months to play the piano and exposes them to music in ways children understand: through imagination, movement, play and peer interaction. "We are very much looking forward to expanding the Little Music School program to our newest location in downtown Hudson," notes LMS Director Kim Rezendes. "This program offers so much to young children and their families musically, socially, intellectually and emotionally, and being able to reach an entirely new population of students in Hudson and surrounding communities is very exciting."

The Ballet Conservatory and Little Music School are among the exciting range of programs available to Hudson-area students of the arts. Prospective students and families are encouraged to visit FSPA Hudson during the month of August, when the school will hold a series of open houses. Students are also welcome to visit in Franklin, at 38 Main Street, to try a complimentary class, meet the faculty and learn more about programs. For more information, call (508) 528-8668 or visit www.fspaonline.com.