Faculty
 Andrea Faulkner’s ballet training includes Corpus Christi Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pittsburg Youth Ballet, and the Tuzerdancenter in Dallas, TX. She was a recipient of a dance scholarship at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Andrea is a former professional dancer with Ballet Magnificat and also served as the lower school director at Ballet Magnificat. She is a former faculty member of The Northshores School of Dance in Covington, LA and The Springs City Ballet School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Andrea is currently the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Company’s Apprentice teacher. |
 Mr. Kegler began his dancing career after studying at New York University. While in school, Erik was an awards recipient in choreography from the Arts Recognition and Talent Search, as well as being a three-time Gala Award recipient at the American College Dance Festival. Erik danced professionally with The Cleveland-San Jose Ballet and The Cincinnati Ballet where he performed principal and soloist roles in many classical and contemporary pieces. Mr. Kegler is best known for his World Premiere of the role of Peter Pan in the ballet by the same name. After leaving Cincinnati, Mr. Kegler worked with companies such as Ballet West, Ruth Page Foundation and Boca Ballet, as well as starting his own company, Visage, which toured and performed with symphony orchestras across the country. With Visage , Erik and his dancers performed with the Houston Symphony, Lima Symphony, Florida Symphonic Pops, as well as touring with pianist Danny Wright. Mr. Kegler has also worked in Vienna, Austria, where he performed and choreographed a PBS special at the Hofsburg Imperial Palace, which aired nationally. Erik has an interior design degree and owns his own design firm in Jackson. |
Corrie Keplinger is originally from Harrisonburg, Virginia. In Virginia she trained under Pamela McCray at the Staunton Academy of ballet, performing lead roles in the Nutcracker as well as various classical ballets. During her high schools years, she began assistant teaching at SAB as well as another local ballet school and quickly discovered a love of working with young artists. In 2018, Corrie accepted an apprenticeship with Instruments Ballet Company in Portland Oregon and taught over sixty students at Instruments Ballet Academy. In 2019, Corrie joined Ballet Magnificat!’s trainee program. Upon graduating from the trainee program, Corrie decided to put roots down in Jackson and is so excited to be part of MMDA, teaching young students and fostering the joy, confidence, and creativity that dance cultivates! |
Salome Netane is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area in CA. She started dancing at Academy of American Dance in 2012. Her training included: ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, and lyrical. In 2023 she relocated to Idaho and danced with Ballet Idaho Academy for the 2023-24 season. She placed in the top 24 in the Youth America Grand Prix Regionals in Las Vegas in 2024. Salome is now a trainee with Ballet Magnificat and is looking forward to working the front desk and teaching at the Reservoir location for MMDA. |
Abby McCaughan is an alumni of MMB/MMDA where she trained for 14 years and began her choreographic journey. In 2019, her piece Chaotic Patience won the Monticello Award at the Southeast Regional Dance Festival, which gave her the opportunity to attend the National Choreography Intensive. Since then, Abby has choreographed Press, Withering Time, and A Matter of Mind on MMB dancers, which have been performed at the RDA festivals. After her training at MMB, she attended the University of Alabama where she studied as a Dance major and Biology minor, finishing with a Bachelor of Arts degree. During her time at UA, Abby continued her training as a dancer and choreographer within the program, but extended her training elsewhere when possible. She attended the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Winter Intensive, Alonzo King LINES Exploration Lab, and the Houston Contemporary Dance Company Workshop during her studies. Since graduating from UA, Abby has joined the Royal Caribbean company as a dancer and performer and has just completed her first contract with them on Jewel of the Seas. While returning to MMB, she hopes and aims to use her experiences to help guide and teach others through her love of dance and the arts. |
  Professional hip-hop dancer/choreographer Roger L. Long and dancer/vocalist Tena Long, also known as the power-duo of hip-hop, have been collaborating for over seven years. They are known as the innovators behind the Choreorobics Dance-Off! Dance athletics training program that was started in 2001 as the first, and now is the longest-running, hip-hop training program in the state. Both have been certified as group fitness instructors through Interactive Fitness Trainers of America (IFTA). |