Ray Lynn Green is the owner, Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy in Paragould, Arkansas and Southaven, Mississippi.  Mrs. Green is a certified dance instructor and a member of Dance Masters of America, Inc.  She has attended nine summers at Kent State University, six of which were Post Graduate courses, for the attainment of current practices and techniques for the teaching of dance.
Green is a Past President of Mid-America Chapter #34 Dance Masters of America and has served as an officer for four years.  She is currently a member of the St. Louis Dance Teachers Association Chapter #21.  Ms. Green is a National Examiner for the Dance masters of America.  Since dance has been an enormous part of her life for nearly a half a century, she feels quite confident in saying that one cannot stay "on top" of things unless they constantly continue to study and work to further their own education.  She attends at least four continuing education workshops and conventions each year with world renowned dancers and educators, including the National Dance Masters convention and Regional Dance Association Festival.  She has judged many dance and performing arts competitions, beauty pageants, taught Master Classes, choreographed several musicals and done freelance modeling.  She is also the owner of the Green Room Boutique, an authorized Capezio and Gaynor Minden & Paws dealership, in Arkansas and Mississippi.  She is the proud mother of 3 daughters and Precious Nana to four grandchildren, two of which are under her tutulege.  Ms. Green is the founder of the Mid-South Ballet Theatre, formerly Eastern Arkansas Ballet, with companies at each studio location.  She has been the Artistic Director since its inception in 1992 and produces a full length Nutcracker each season.  A fifth generation dancer, and an international dance adjudicator, she maintains a high profile nationally and is respected for her teaching of correct and proper ballet technique.  In addition, she has produced several professionals with careers in the dance field.  Mid-South Ballet Theatre is proud to have Ms. Green as their very own artistic director, a position which requires considerable time and energy.  As the owner/director of education of Performing Arts Academy, she is insistent that the curriculum be progressive and employs the highest standards of serious dance schools.

Ms. Heather Green

Ms. Heather began her dancing at the age of 2, becoming a sixth generation dancer. By the age of 7, she had already established roles in several musicals and competed quite extensively. Since then, Ms. Heather has had the opportunity to perform across the country. She is the former “Miss Dance of Tennessee” and awarded scholarships at New York University’s Tisch School of the Performing Arts. and STEPS on Broadway. Ms. Heather has studied with some of dances’ finest and was a member of the Eastern Arkansas Ballet Company since it’s beginning in 1992. She began her teaching and choreography career at age 15 in her mother’s school. Ms. Heather is a graduate of Dance Masters of America’s TTS at Kent State, and a certified member of Dance Masters of America. She is happy to have gained the background to teach, choreograph and adjudicate for many studios and competitions across the United States. 

Miss Daly Foncree

Miss Daly has been a ballet dancer since the age of four. As her love for dance grew, Miss Daly showed interest in exploring all dance varieties. Before the age of 10, Miss Daly was enrolled in not only Ballet, but tap, jazz, modern, hula, hip hop, Irish dancing and baton twirling. As a former member of the "Green Team" in Paragould Arkansas, Miss Daly is familiar with competing and competition style choreography. Miss Daly is also a member of the Mid-South Ballet Theatre where she has played many parts in the annual "Nutcracker" performances such as: Spanish, Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian, Mirliton, and Mrs. Stahlbaum. Miss Daly has traveled to New York an Orlando for Dance Masters of America conventions and ballet intensives. Miss Daly also attends the University of Memphis and is a member of the Tiger Pom squad.

Mrs. Amy Harris

Born and raised in Southaven, MS.  Amy started taking gymnastics at the age of 10 and within her first year she advanced to a competitive level.  Throughout this time, she was involved in a variety of competitions throughout the United States making her way up to the elite level. 

After competing for Wimbleton Gymnastics, a well established gym in Memphis, TN, she began coaching there for several years.  Her coaching experience included Pre-School, recreational gymnastics and Team level. 

Her years of experience as a gymnast and a coach included the use of the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise / Acrobats. After getting married, having children and becoming a nurse, Amy went on to do one on one coaching on the side.  Now with her daughter’s interest, she has found her place once again in the world of gymnastics coaching at the Performing Arts Academy. 

Mr. John Roth

Miss Harmony Cagle

Harmony Cagle has been taking dance classes at the Performing Arts Academy since 1995. During this time she has also taken classes under Coleen Kelly Beaman in Dallas, Texas; Anthony Russo at Tapedemics in St. Louis, Missouri; Charles Goddertz at Steps on Broadway in New York City, New York; and other various contracted dancers at the Master’s Classes at the Performing Arts Academy.

Harmony has received many high awards and overalls for her dancing at competitions such as Star Systems, Kids Artistic Review, Talent on Parade, and Nexstar.  In 2009 she was chosen as 1^st Alternate to Miss Dance of St. Louis Chapter #21 of Dance Masters of America and as Miss Dance of West Memphis (KAR). Harmony has won numerous talent shows which have qualified her to compete at the Mid-South Fair for the past five years. She has won talent competitions at the Clay County Fair, Northeast Arkansas District Fair, and has made the top 4 dancers in the state at the Arkansas State Fair.

In addition to her competitions, Harmony has performed  as Peter in “Peter and the Wolf” and in “The Nutcracker” as Baby Mouse, Clara’s Guest, Fritz, Gumdrop, Christmas Tree, Heavenly Angel, Waltz, Snow, Soldier, Merliton,  Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Drummer Doll and Mouse Queen. 

Not only is Harmony successful in dance, but she has also won many contests and awards for her art, acting, and singing. She has participated in high school drama and has choreographed the dances for “School House Rock” and “Alice in Wonderland”.

Harmony is the video technician at Rector First Baptist Church where she is also a member of the youth group and sings in the choir. She is a freshman vocal music major at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Ms. Lenena Brezna

Lenena Brezna is a native of Booneville, Ms. She received a bachelors degree in vocal performance from the University of Mississippi and obtained her masters degree in vocal performance from Louisiana State University. In 1993, she was honored to represent her state in the 1993 Miss America pageant. She received a Bert Parks non-finalist talent scholarship and was an over-all talent winner. She has been described as a ‘prodigious talent, with insightful musicality and sparkling high notes’.  She has performed with Amici Opera in Philadelphia, Pa., Natchez Opera, Pensacola Opera, Mississippi Symphony, Corinth Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and Mexico City Symphony. She recently performed the role of Anna in THE KING AND I, and has portrayed the operatic characters Musetta, Donna Anna, Gilda, Violetta, Adele, and Queen of the Night. In 2007, she was awarded the Charlie Reicker Memorial Scholarship to further her career in opera, and in 2000 she was honored to be a national semi-finalist for the McCalister awards held in Indiannapolis, Indiana. She has also received the Audience Choice and Encouragement Awards from the regional MET auditions. She recently completed course work for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Memphis.

  Mrs. Brezna has judged several Miss Outstanding Teen and Miss America preliminaries and was honored to be a judge for the 2008 Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen Pageant and the 2009 Miss Louisiana Outstanding Teen Pageant. Both title holders finished in the top ten at the national pageant and Miss Arkansas finished in the top five.

  Mrs. Brezna has been teaching voice for twelve years, and held adjunct teaching positions at Northeast Community College and the University of Memphis. She currently teaches privately and has seen her students excel. Most recently, one of her students was chosen to be part of the Young Artist Summer Program with Opera Memphis. Although Mrs. Brezna’s formal training is in opera, she is well-versed in musical theater, Broadway and Alexander techniques.    

Mrs. Hannah Mitchell

At the age of 7 I began taking gymnastics at the request of my mother.  Soon after, I developed a passion for what I was doing moving up level by level.  After reaching the age of 12 I developed an new passion, cheerleading.  I cheered all through junior high and high school at Paragould High School competing in regional and national cheerleading competitions.  After graduating I went on to work at the Champions Gymnastics Center.  I taught pre gym, levels 1-3, and competitive levels.  I also taught beginning , intermediate, and advanced tumbling classes.  I worked with several junior and senior high cheerleading squads developing tumbling , stunting, and acrobatic skills.  I have also choreographed cheer and dance routines and have judged several beauty and gymnastic competitions.  After taking a break from coaching to become a mom to my 2 daughters , I wanted to do the same  for my girls as my mother did for me and enrolled them in the Performing Arts Academy where I have been given the opportunity to coach again.

Ms. Renee Thayer

Our Office Staff

Felisha Burnett - Southaven Studio