Nashoba Tech Opens Dance and Fine Arts Studio

The following is a press release from Nashoba Valley Technical High School

Photo contributed: Practicing their dance moves in Nashoba Tech’s new Dance and Arts Studio are, from left, juniors Marta Burgos (Lowell), Julian Santiago Badillo (Shirley) and Arianna Solomonides (Chelmsford).

Nashoba Valley Technical High School takes STEM education seriously.

One need look no further than its successful Engineering Academy — a first-of-its-kind school-within-a-school that clusters students from the Engineering Technology and Electronics/Robotics program — as well as the addition this year of Biotechnology and Veterinary Assisting to its offerings to realize that.

Nashoba Tech’s focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is unmatched among technical high schools. But while the term “STEM” is gaining popularity in, the acronym that more accurately applies to Nashoba Tech may be STEAM, which includes expanded education in the Arts.

With the addition of a new Dance and Arts Studio, as Superintendent Dr. Judith L. Klimkiewicz said, “At Nashoba, we’ve moved from STEM to STEAM.”

Nashoba Tech’s Music program — itself an original among Massachusetts technical schools — has been established for seven years, and this year, Dance and Fine Arts electives have been added.

Each student at Nashoba Tech is now required to select either Music, Dance or Fine Arts as an elective.
As its name suggests, the Dance and Arts Studio houses Survey of Dance and Fine Arts classes. The building, which used to be a barn used for storage before being renovated by Nashoba Tech students, is a 30-foot-by-50-foot space.

“It’s a gorgeous space and a beautiful facility,” said Emily Smith, a TV & Media Production/Theatre Arts teacher who is also now the Dance teacher.

Smith said she plans to cover such varying dance styles as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, swing and country line-dancing, among others.

Fine Arts teacher Robin Monaco, who also teaches Programming & Web Development, said the students who have signed up for her class in the studio are having a blast.

“The kids are absolutely wonderful,” she said. “Obviously, they were eager to have something like this available. They pay attention, and they’re like sponges, so excited to learn. Every one of them loves to be there and loves to draw.

“It’s very important that they learn art and music and dance at an early age,” she added. “I always said if I could find a job that combines the fine arts and computer arts, I’d be in seventh heaven. And here I am.”

Tours of the Dance and Arts Studio will be available at Nashoba Tech’s Open House on Sunday, Nov. 1, from noon to 3 p.m.