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.

Miss Daly Foncree

Miss Daly Foncree started her dance education at the age of four at Kehl School of Dance in Madison, WI. As her love for dance grew, Miss Daly showed great interest and natural talent as a Ballet dancer. By the age of 10, Miss Daly was proficient in a variety of dance forms; Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hula, Hip Hop, African and Irish dancing as well as Baton twirling. As a natural born leader, Miss daly was elected captain of her Junior High and High School Dance teams and led her squad to victory three times, winning two UDA National Championships. Miss Daly is a former member of the competition squad “The Green Team” in Paragould Arkansas, and is also a former member of The Mid-South Ballet Theatre. As an avid performer, Miss Daly has played many parts in The Mid-South Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker. To name her favorites: Spanish, Mrs. Stahlbaum, Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Queen Arabian, Mirliton, and is the reigning annual Sugar Plum Fairy. Miss Daly has competed many times at Regional and National levels across the country and has won numerous Elite Top First achievements and Overall awards, as well as photogenic awards, along the way. Miss Daly has had extensive dance training with Dance Masters of America in New York, Chicago and Orlando. She has also closely studied with well known instructors such as: Judy Rice, Charles Goddertz, Buddha Stretch, Chali Jennings, Jade Adams, Paul Boos, Sue Samuels and Babacar M’Baye. Currently, Miss Daly attends the University of Memphis as a double major in Marketing and Dance Education and is a former member of the Tiger Pom Squad. Miss Daly is proud to be a member of the MBT board and apart of the University of Memphis Dance Department. With a full schedule, Miss Daly inspires her students to always work hard and give 200%, and serves as a mentor to her graduating dancers.

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

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.    

Mr. Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson is a 3rd degree Black Belt Instructor of Taekwondo and a 5 year practitioner of Choi Li Fut Kung Fu. Chris began training with the International Taekwondo Alliance (Ho-Am Taekwondo) under Master Rodger Killen in 2005. He won 2 gold medals for forms and sparring at the ITA World Tournament. He then transferred to the American Taekwondo Association (Songham Taekwondo). He trained, instructed and performed on the Demonstration Team until 2010 when he received his third degree black belt in Taekwondo. Concurrent with his Taekwondo training, he became a student of Choi Li Fut Kung Fu under Master Wai Ma of Hong Kong, China in 2006. Chris currently maintains an active training schedule within this art. Because of 7 years of strict training, under the mentoring of 2 masters of the arts, he has developed a unique style of teaching. Chris has taught all aspects of Martial arts and self defense to students from 6 to 60+. A big believer in self-reliance and perseverance, Chris supports the belief that anyone can learn the art if they are willing to put in the time and effort. Chris is no stranger to the classroom as his Masters have ingrained in him that “you can always learn more” and “keep it simple, stupid”. Chris's students have more self confidence because they know, should the need arise, they will have the tools to defend themselves, within themselves. Chris offers a wide variety of programs and services from private instruction, Physical fitness, self-defense, to the art itself.

Mr. Nick Holman

Nick is one of our newest additions to the teaching staff of Performing Arts Academy. He comes to us with a wide range of experience in many genres of music: Traditional Music, Popular Music, Time Period, and Technique & Instrumentation. His background transcends both sacred and secular music spanning over three decades.  A graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tn., Nick specializes in piano, classical organ, voice and trumpet. He has served as a teacher and director of music throughout his career. He has received many honors during his career and considers teaching others to be his highest honor.

In addition to a passion and devotion to music, Nick has also taught in both primary and secondary education in North Carolina, and as a Assistant Professor in two colleges in Ohio. Because music reflects many subtle overtones found in the field of Mathematics, he felt drawn into the classroom to instruct students in various forms of Math. As an astute observer of detail, Nick discovered that a good understanding of mathematics will often strengthen the comprehension of musical skills. Consequently, he will be available on a limited basis to tutor students on the following; math basics, algebra, advanced algebra, and trigonometry.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee". Taking his excellent words to heart, it is Nick's desire to teach his students every facet of music so that they may in turn, impart this awesome gift to generations to come.

Our Office Staff

Felisha Burnett - Southaven Studio