Sharon Long

Sharon began her early training under the direction of Mary Alice McAlister.  Since that time, she has studied dance extensively with famed teachers such as David Howard, Anne Burton Avery, and others.  She has attended numerous teacher workshops in New York City and Dallas, Texas.  Sharon choreographed sixteen years of show choir performances at Tupelo High School, founding that program with Dr. Tim Coker.  She served as Dance Director for Itawamba Community College Show Choir Camps and has choreographed numerous productions for Tupelo High School, ICC, and Tupelo Community Theatre.  She has choreographed and staged 31 productions of The Nutcracker, three productions of Sleeping Beauty, four productions of Cinderella, excerpts from Les Sylphides, a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and others.  She has been instrumental in presenting various professional companies in performances and residences, including Ohio Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Chicago City Ballet, Dallas Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and in September 2011, Bad Boys of Dance.  In 2006, Alabama Ballet and the Tupelo Ballet, under the direction of Wes Chapman and Sharon, presented a full-length production of Swan Lake.  In March 2010 the Tupelo Ballet performed Giselle in cooperation with guest professional dancers from Ballet West and Pacific Northwest Ballet.