meet the staff
REAGAN COOPER
Owner & Artistic Director: Classical Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Progressing Ballet Technique, Acro
I was the owner and Artistic Director at Reagan Dance & Gymnastics for 12 years. There, I ran a recreational and competitive dance, gymnastics, and cheer program. I prepared my students for college level dance training as well as high school dance teams and cheer squads. I give the beginner, recreational student, the same level of attention as the advanced student. I worked with students ages two through adult. I am a dance educator and choreographer for classical ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and hip hop.
I currently reside at the Rez in Brandon with my husband and two daughters. We are active at Pinelake Church.
A few highlights in my dance training include time with the Moscow City Ballet, teacher training in New York City, and instruction from David Keary with Ballet Mississippi, In Step Dance Club, dance workshops with the Twin City Ballet! I enjoy continuing my dance education yearly through classes, workshops, Children’s Dance Technique workshop for proper training, as well as other dance related programs. I am certified in Progressing Ballet Technique.
ROGER L. LONG
Hip-Hop
Roger is a native of Jackson, TN. His visionary and entrepreneurial spirit has been in operation throughout his life. At an early age, he was recognized as gifted in the arts. Through successive competitions, scholastic achievements and performances, he honed his abilities as a hip hop dancer, choreographer and artist.
He is now owner of Go Long Productions in Ridgeland, MS Since 2001, Roger has been a dance educator and choreographer. His high energy hip hop dance choreography has become a trademark and featured at competitions, camps, workshops and events throughout the South. He created the renowned dance program, Choreorobics Dance Off, in 2001 and its success is largely due to his powerfully thorough, positive and motivating instructional method along with his solid reputation for delivering consistent high energy classes.
In 2003, he was recognized as one of Who's Who in America's top art professionals and in 2004 among Who's Who in the World as a noted contributor to contemporary performing and visual arts. Today he continues to offer hip hop choreography and coaching through Go Long Productions . Go Long Productions is the arts-based business headed by Roger. It offers an original range of dance and visual art services, classes, events and innovations and all by Roger and Tena Long.
For years, the couple been dedicated to enriching the lives of their students, teaching, choreographing and coaching both young and old, beginners to professionals, solo performers to dance teams at classes, workshops, events and camps. They have trained dancers for national dance and dance team competitions, talent searches, invitationals and more.
Hip-Hop
Roger is a native of Jackson, TN. His visionary and entrepreneurial spirit has been in operation throughout his life. At an early age, he was recognized as gifted in the arts. Through successive competitions, scholastic achievements and performances, he honed his abilities as a hip hop dancer, choreographer and artist.
He is now owner of Go Long Productions in Ridgeland, MS Since 2001, Roger has been a dance educator and choreographer. His high energy hip hop dance choreography has become a trademark and featured at competitions, camps, workshops and events throughout the South. He created the renowned dance program, Choreorobics Dance Off, in 2001 and its success is largely due to his powerfully thorough, positive and motivating instructional method along with his solid reputation for delivering consistent high energy classes.
In 2003, he was recognized as one of Who's Who in America's top art professionals and in 2004 among Who's Who in the World as a noted contributor to contemporary performing and visual arts. Today he continues to offer hip hop choreography and coaching through Go Long Productions . Go Long Productions is the arts-based business headed by Roger. It offers an original range of dance and visual art services, classes, events and innovations and all by Roger and Tena Long.
For years, the couple been dedicated to enriching the lives of their students, teaching, choreographing and coaching both young and old, beginners to professionals, solo performers to dance teams at classes, workshops, events and camps. They have trained dancers for national dance and dance team competitions, talent searches, invitationals and more.
TENA LONG
Hip-Hop
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Tena has had training in different facets of the entertainment and performance arts. She received formal vocal training and performed as a vocalists for over five years in both Florida and Mississippi with touring bands.
She spent many of her formative years performing.Tena also holds in B. A. in Mass Communications from Belhaven University where she graduated in 2002. She is certified as a group fitness instructor with the Athletics and Fitness Association of America and is an avid health and wellness enthusiast.
As a dancer coach and instructor, Tena believes strongly in standards of excellence and encourages positive thinking and wellness. She works along with her husband, Roger, at Go Long Productions offering select dance and performing arts services.
Mini Me, Preschool Ballet, Tap, Ballet I
Faith's bio is coming soon!
COURTNEY HOGUE
Choreography, Private Lessons
Courtney grew up in North Carolina where she attended Arts Evangelica, a Christian studio and performance company. She also attended NC School of the Arts summer program. Courtney graduated from Belhaven in 2001 with a BA in Dance.
She taught beginner jazz and ballet at Xpress Dance for five years and performed professionally with Polarity Dance Theatre. She also taught intermediate/advanced ballet, jazz, and lyrical at Mississippi Ballet Theatre in Clinton from 2004-2010. During this time, she was Artistic Director of their competition/performance company.
She also taught musical theatre jazz and beginner tap at Mississippi College. Courtney choreographs for the competition team at Dance Works Studio in Clinton.
She currently helps coach and teach technique for the Northwest Rankin Middle School dance team. Courtney lives in Brandon with her husband and three children.
JENNIFER SILVA
Front Office, Preschool Ballet & Tap, Acro, Adult Ballet, Mini Me
Jennifer was born and raised in the Dallas, TX area. She has been dancing since she was in pre-school, and has received her dance training from the Dallas Repertoire Ballet were she danced from middle school until she graduated high school. From there, Jennifer continued her dance training at West Texas A&M University where she attended college and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
She has trained in many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, and hip hop. Every year she participated in the Dallas Repertoire Ballet's production of the Nutcracker where she performed roles including solider, the rat pack, a candy cane, Spanish, reed pipes, Russian, garland, flowers, snow, and Candy Cane Princess.
In the summer of 2002, she performed with the Dallas Repertoire Ballet in the Tanzsommer Stars of Tomorrow tour at different venues in Austria including the Doguna Theater, St. Johann Platz, and the Linez Platz. During Jennifer's time at West Texas A&M University, she performed in many of Lone Star Ballet and West Texas A&M, dance productions from 2004 to 2008, and was on WTAMU's dance team from 2004 to 2005.
After graduating West Texas A&M University she taught for Lone Star Ballet and was the studio director for the Plainview, TX satellite studio from 2013 to 2014. She taught pre-k level through dance performance team from August 2015-May 2017 at Grace of Dance in Fort Worth.
Front Office, Preschool Ballet & Tap, Acro, Adult Ballet, Ballet I-III, Pointe, Mini Me
Jennifer was born and raised in the Dallas, TX area. She has been dancing since she was in pre-school, and has received her dance training from the Dallas Repertoire Ballet were she danced from middle school until she graduated high school. From there, Jennifer continued her dance training at West Texas A&M University where she attended college and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
She has trained in many styles of dance including ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, and hip hop. Every year she participated in the Dallas Repertoire Ballet's production of the Nutcracker where she performed roles including solider, the rat pack, a candy cane, Spanish, reed pipes, Russian, garland, flowers, snow, and Candy Cane Princess.
In the summer of 2002, she performed with the Dallas Repertoire Ballet in the Tanzsommer Stars of Tomorrow tour at different venues in Austria including the Doguna Theater, St. Johann Platz, and the Linez Platz. During Jennifer's time at West Texas A&M University, she performed in many of Lone Star Ballet and West Texas A&M, dance productions from 2004 to 2008, and was on WTAMU's dance team from 2004 to 2005.
After graduating West Texas A&M University she taught for Lone Star Ballet and was the studio director for the Plainview, TX satellite studio from 2013 to 2014. She taught pre-k level through dance performance team from August 2015-May 2017 at Grace of Dance in Fort Worth.
LESLIE JOHNSON
Ballet I-III, Pointe, Pre-Pointe, Competition Team, Office
Leslie Johnson began teaching in 1992 as a student teacher in San Antonio, TX. In 1993, after retiring from the US Army, her dad moved the family to Jackson, MS, and Leslie began dancing with Ballet Mississippi under Fernando Bujones. She also took dance at Power APAC in her senior year of high school under Lisa Brown and Elizabeth Sullivan.
After graduating from Murrah HS in 1994, Mrs. Johnson went to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL, where she received her BA in Dance Performance in 1998. After graduation, Leslie began teaching dance at local studios in the Jackson area. In 2003, she went back to school at Belhaven University and received her BA in Business Administration in 2005.
In 2007, Mrs. Johnson opened Bluebird Dance Academy in Pearl. In 2011, after a lot of soul searching and prayer, Mrs. Johnson closed her studio and began teaching at Hinds Community College, Raymond campus, in the dance program under Tiffany Jefferson. Mrs. Johnson currently teaches ballet, tap, jazz, modern, pointe, and repertory at Hinds CC, and is the rehearsal director for Montage Theatre of Dance, the performing arm of the Hinds CC dance program.
Mrs. Johnson lives in Pearl with her husband, Robin, and their daughter, Serenity.
NATALIE CLANTON
Acro, Jazz, Competition Team
Natalie Clanton is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi. She began studying dance at 4 years old, she danced and competed until she graduated high school in 2019. She has received many scholarships and awards throughout her many years of dance. She performed in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
She is currently a student at Hinds Community College where she is double majoring in Elementary Education and Dance Pedagogy. She currently serves as the Captain of the Hinds Community College Hi-Steppers and she is a member of Montage Theatre of Dance.
Acro, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Front Office
Natalie Clanton is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi. She began studying dance at 4 years old, she danced and competed until she graduated high school in 2019. She has received many scholarships and awards throughout her many years of dance. She performed in the 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
She is currently a student at Hinds Community College where she is double majoring in Elementary Education and Dance Pedagogy. She currently serves as the Captain of the Hinds Community College Hi-Steppers and she is a member of Montage Theatre of Dance.
ERICA WILBANKS
Acro, Musical Theater, Competition Team
Erica Wilbanks is a native of North Alabama. She began dancing at age 8 at the Dance Factory in Athens, Alabama. In 2002, while attending the University of North Alabama, she started teaching dance. What started out as a part-time summer job, teaching dance became a true passion.
Erica began teaching jazz and tap, and then added pre-school ballet/gymnastics, acrobatics, and competition dance. In 2009, she helped open Allegro Dance and Fitness. During her time there she was responsible for keeping the office running and choreographing many award winning dances. Erica is very fluent in competitive dance, and loved watching dancers become disciplined, strong, and vital members of a team.
Since moving to Mississippi, she taught at The Little Gym of Jackson. She specialized in parent/child and pre-school gymnastics classes. Erica has continued her dance education by attending numerous workshops and conventions along the way.
In the 2015, she began working at Results Physiotherapy in Muscle Shoals, AL. In 2016 she moved to Flowood, MS to help open clinics in the Jackson market. Currently she is the Patient Support Lead at the Ridgeland clinic in the Renaissance. Erica lives in Brandon with her dog, Buster.
COMING SOON!
Ballet III, Pointe
COMING SOON!
Acro, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe
Roxanne was born in California, but grew up in Fairfield, Ohio. She began her dance training at the age of five in tap, ballet, jazz, and acrobatics under the instruction of Nellie Lou Downie Smith at The Dance Company formerly known as Downie School of Dance. Roxanne continued her dance training in tap, ballet, jazz and acrobatics through her high school career under the instruction of Elizabeth Eckhoff. At the age of thirteen, Roxanne began to focus on her ballet and pointe technique dancing with Miami Valley Ballet Theatre under the instruction of Kevin Bell. Here she danced some of her favorite roles as the Spring Fairy in Cinderella, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. In high school during her summers, she trained with Ballet Tech Ohio, Cincinnati Ballet, and Ballet Magnificat.
After high school, Roxanne was accepted into Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Program in Jackson, Mississippi. She trained under the instruction of Kathy Thibodeaux, Sol Maisonet, Tracey Thompson, and Jiri and Cassandra Voborsky for three years in Ballet Magnificat’s Trainee Company. As a Trainee, Roxanne had the privilege of serving as Trainee Team Captain. Throughout the years, she has continued to love dancing and performing. Roxanne performed as a guest artist for John Tesh’s Alive television series in 2007. She has choreographed and performed in several of Crossgates Baptist Church’s Christmas Programs as well as for other local churches and programs.
In 2009, Roxanne and her husband moved to downtown Jackson and were missionaries with We Will Go Ministries until 2012. Roxanne graduated from Hinds Community College with an Associates Degree in Applied Science in Nursing in 2012. As a registered nurse, Roxanne has worked on medical-surgical and cardiac units as well as in a clinic setting. In the future, she hopes to work in the area of labor and delivery and mother and baby care.
Teaching has always been a passion for Roxanne. She began teaching tap, jazz, ballet, and acrobatics at the age of 16. Roxanne currently teaches at Crossgates Baptist Church School of Worship Arts and has been teaching there for 14 years. Roxanne finds great joy in teaching the next generation the art and discipline of dance, but most importantly how to use their gifts and movement to honor God! Roxanne resides in Brandon, Mississippi with her husband and four daughters. She is looking forward to becoming a part of the Central Mississippi Dance family
BRENNA ROBERTSON
Preschool Ballet & Tap, Intro Jazz
Brenna began her early dance training in ballet at the age of three in Nevada and later in California, where also she took classes in tap, jazz, modern, and pointe.
She has participated in many workshops and dance intensives in multiple dance styles.
Brenna attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California, and Paloma College in San Marcos, California.
She has taught children’s classes at Simply Dance in Ridgecrest, California and also began a dance program for adults with developmental disabilities in Oceanside, California.
Brenna has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Mississippi teaching license in Special Education.
Testimonials
Miss Reagan and the teachers at Central Mississippi Dance are just INCREDIBLE! They genuinely care about every single dancer and we couldn't be more grateful!
Jenna R.
Sophia very eagerly looks forward to class every single week. Tena and Roger are truly amazing. Hands down the best dance school in the area!
Edward B.
Contact Us
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ADDRESS
1902 Hwy. 471 Brandon, MS 39047
Mon – Wed : 8:00am – 6:00pm
Thu – Sat : 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday : Closed
About
Central Mississippi Dance is a children's dance studio located in Brandon with an award-winning team dedicated to providing the best dance instruction whilst also empowering tomorrow's leaders.
Opening Hours
Mon – Wed : 8:00am – 06:00pm
Thu – Sat : 10:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday : Closed
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