New facility, new opportunity for students in NEISD’s renowned art school
It’s not too often that dancers can be swept off their feet, but when students from North East School of the Arts (NESA) saw their new dance studio, they were blown away.
“When I walked into this building, I was like oh my gosh,” 15-year-old Noelani De La Garza said.
Fellow sophomore Marissa Garza felt the exact same way.
“Everything inside of me was just beaming with joy because it’s like our new home,” she said.
The state-of-the-art space is part of LEE High School’s new Performing Arts Center.
The facility is one of 69 projects in the works, thanks to voter-approved $499.95 million bond from 2015.
“The studio is amazing and the kids are really going to grow from it,” Dena Mabry said.
Mabry is one of two dance directors at NESA, a one-of a-kind program in NEISD dedicated to artistic excellence.
Students in NESA, which is housed on the LEE campus, have the option to major in Cinema, Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Technical Theatre or Visual Art.
“NESA has become quite well-known all over the country and we have a lot of universities that want to come teach master classes to the kids. The program has really gotten some kids into some really prestigious universities with substantial scholarship money,” Mabry explained.
In the program, students build upon their craft while developing time-management skills, self-confidence and instruction from teachers with years of industry experience.
Marissa Garza hopes to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) after high school and is enjoying her time as a dance major in NESA.
“It’s definitely nice because I feel like I’m getting more of a professional training which is what I was always looking for,” the 15-year-old said.
With many students attending in-person and virtually, Mabry and co-director Carolyn Gresham, said the new building offers their dancers plenty of room to learn and grow.
“They study ballet and jazz on a weekly basis. We also have tap, hip-hop, modern, contemporary, the kids do pointe. So, we really try to graduate a very versatile dancer,” Mabry added.
She is a LEE High School grad herself and said North East ISD has been an important part of her life.
“When I heard that NESA was opening up, I definitely wanted to be a part of it and I’ve been here since the school started. It’s been an amazing experience,” Mabry said.
Her students are excited so see what they’ll learn next, and maybe even take the reins one day.
“It’s a really nice experience, so if I can bring that love and affection to other kids that my teachers gave me, then that would be amazing” Noelani De La Garza said.
North East School of the Arts accepts students by audition from all over San Antonio and the surrounding areas.
The remaining dates to apply and audition for the 2021-22 school year are:
WINTER AUDITION: Application deadline January 22, Auditions February 6
SPRING AUDITION (acceptance of students in the Spring is based on availability of space): Application deadline April 16, Auditions May 1
For additional information about NESA, click here: https://www.neisd.net/Page/153
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