LORA DAVIS |  | Lora Davis, is the owner and director of Dance Arts which opened its doors in 1992. Davis received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a Minor in Music from USM, with undergraduate credit from Duke University. She has had the opportunity to study under renowned teachers in modern, jazz, ballet, tap and conditioning. Davis has a wide range or teaching and choreography experience including dance, dance team, theatre, and show choir, both locally and nationally. Her choreography has received several awards in both the dance and show choir venues. Davis has served as the choreographer for JCJC's Touch of Gold for over 20 years, and has teaching experience at both the college and university level. She currently serves as the instructor/choreographer for South Jones Bravettes dance team. She has had the opportunity to perform with several great artists including Hank Williams, Jr. and the Beach Boys. She continues to study at Broadway Dance Center and under other leading teachers in the industry. Davis has choreographed for several NFL special events, such as National Anthem Productions, Super Bowl pre-game shows, and events with the New Orleans Saints. In addition she has choreographed for the New Orleans HoneyBees and New Orleans Saintsations, with whom she currently serves as Game Day Operations Manager. Davis also serves as a co-director with Super Bowl Dance Team Competitions. Lora continues to travel extensively and attend workshops in order to expand her experiences as teacher/choreographer. At Dance Arts Studio, Davis is the director of the award winning Revolution dance team, and also teaches preschool, mini's and advanced dance curriculums in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary. She is married to Steve Davis, and they have two children, Bailey and Justin. | | | | | ROXANNA JEFCOAT |  | Roxanna Jefcoat studied at the University of Southern Mississippi where she trained in ballet, modern, jazz and tap. She was a member of the well-known Dixie Darlings. Roxanna was the first teaching assistant at Dance Arts when it opened in 1992. Jefcoat was the dance specialist at Ward-Stewart Elementary School in Starkville before returning to our area. Jefcoat assisted in the development of the fine arts curriculum for the state of Mississippi. Roxanna serves as the Mini's Revolution director, and teaches preschool curriculum and ballet at Dance Arts. She is married to Lance Jefcoat, and they have three beautiful daughters, Mary Anna, Ella and Sara Kate. | | | | | JESSICA HERNANDEZ |  | Jessica Hernandez, from Hattiesburg, MS, has been dancing all her life. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. While at USM, Jessica has been a member of the Repertory Dance Company since 2007. In addition, Jessica was also a member of the Dixie Darlings, where she has had the opportunity to perform at many prestigious events. Jessica has had formal training in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and hip hop in the Hattiesburg area under Sylvia Henington, Tracy Smith and La Studio Academy of Dance. Jessica also serves as the dance instructor with After School Arts Program in Hattiesburg. She has had the opportunity to choreograph and train the Laurel High School Golden Girls and JCJC's Touch of Gold. While at Dance Arts, Jessica will be teaching in the Mini's and Junior Curriculums in ballet, tap, lyrical, and jazz, in addition to being an associate director and junior choreographer for the competition team, Revolution. | | | | | SYLVIA HENINGTON |  | Sylvia Henington is celebrating seven years with Dance Arts. She comes to us from Hattiesburg, where she operated her own studio for over 40 years. She received her ballet training in Birmingham, and continued at the University of Southern Mississippi on a Dixie Darling Scholarship. She has several former students who are currently studying and performing with professional ballet companies. At Dance Arts, Henington teaches ballet and pointe. | | | | ERICA MCMAHON |  | Erica McMahon has been with Dance Arts for over 10 years. McMahon received her dance training from Susan Oberly, a former Rockette, and Jack Jackson while growing up in Indianola, MS. While in high school and college, Erica was active in Showchoir, where she served on staff with Showchoir Camps of America. While at Dance Arts, Erica has served as teaching assistant, office assistant, and production coordinator for our year end recital. Currently Erica teaches preschool curriculums in ballet, tap and tumbling. She is married to Richard McMahon, and they have two children, Chance and Allie. | | | | | MEGAN TANNER | | | Megan Tanner is currently an Accounting major at the University of Southern Mississippi. At USM, Megan serves as Captain of the world-reknowned Dixie Darlings. She is currently on staff with American All-Star Dance and Drill Team camps, and serves as a choreographer for the South Jones Bravettes Dance Team. She has choreographed for numerous showchoirs and dance teams. At Dance Arts Megan teaches hiphop and serves as the Co-Director of Beat Street, the newly formed Hiphop Competition Company for ages 13 and up. | | | | | DANI MCNEIL |  | Dani McNeil has enjoyed her passion for dance for 14 years! A Louisiana native, she is currently pursuing a degree in Dance Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. She has worked with many professional choreographers and teachers over the years while participating in the competition and convention circuit. McNeil also completed the Teacher Graduate Course preparing her to teach dance at all levels. She has choreographed for several studios and high school dance teams, including Laurel High. At Dance Arts, Dani serves as choreographer and teacher with Revolution dancers. | | | | | BAILEY DAVIS |  | Bailey Davis began dancing at the age of 2. She is currently a student at South Jones High School where she is captain of the Bravettes Dance Team. She is also a member of Revolution Competition Team, and has received several solo awards, and Miss Photogenic titles. Bailey also studies at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. In addition, she has done several performances with the Jr. Saintsations and Saints Halftime Shows. She completed a music video this past summer with the Crazy 8's, which will be released this fall. Bailey plans on pursuing a career in the dance industry. Here at Dance Arts, Bailey teaches junior hiphop class at Dance Arts. | | | | CORI JO CARBANARO |  | Cori Jo Carbanaro grew up dancing at Dance Arts. She graduated from South Jones, where she was a member of the show choir. While attending Jones Junior College, she served as captain of the Touch of Gold Dance Team. She is married to William and they have a son, Aidan. Cori Jo is the office and accounts manager here at Dance Arts Studio. |
A NOTE FROM OUR DIRECTOR The staff at Dance Arts strives to offer a quality dance education that enables young girls and boys to practice discipline and self control, and emphasizes the value of setting and attaining goals through hard work and dedication. Our staff has a wide range of experience in teaching, choreographing, performing and production, and we believe it is important for our dancers to excel and have opportunities to explore many achievements in dance. It's a blessing for us as teachers to be able to participate in dance opportunities outside of our local area, but it's more of a blessing to be able to bring back to our students our experiences and knowledge and watch them grow as performers. The discipline of dance reaches far beyond learning dance steps, it matures self-confidence, develops individual personalities and enhances social skills. Dance Arts is very fortunate to have such a talented, educated, and loving staff. |
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