Faculty

Long’s School of Dance presently hosts over 20 faculty members. Members of Long’s faculty belong to such organizations as: Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Tennessee Association of Dance Masters, Dance Educators of America, International Tap Dance Association, and Southern Association of Dance Masters. Along with their extensive training, faculty members continually further their knowledge by attending workshops, seminars and conventions.

Jay Long

President/ Technical Director

President of Jam-Jer Inc. and Long’s School of Dance, Jay is the Director of the Long’s Performing Arts Team, L.L.C., Master Aerial Arts Engineer and Choreographer, and Technical Director. He began dancing at age 3, fencing at age 5, and Martial arts and boxing at age 10.

He studied Adagio under the direction of his mother Marge Long, Ben Hassen, Joseph Levinoff, and Henry Danton. Jay retired from competitive fencing with an undefeated record, having studied under Jim Long (his father) and world class fencer Giorgio Santelli.

Jay received his Martial Arts Sifu rating in 1975 and became Master Sifu in 1985. Jay is certified by the National Qi Gong Association. He holds a Bachelors in Bio-Medical Communications from Western Kentucky University, and has done graduate level work at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Texas Tech, and Northern Illinois University.

Lee Ann Long

Dance Director

Lee Ann began dancing at the age of
3 in Nashville, Tennessee. During her professional career she traveled and performed throughout Europe and the South with the Nashville Contemporary Ballet Company. Lee Ann also attended Western Kentucky University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Lee Ann is certified as a dance educator by DEA and CNADM. Lee Ann is the Regional Director for the Eastern US chapter of World Irish Dance Association. Lee Ann also holds TCRG & TMRF Irish Dance Certifications. Summer Dance Intensive, Kid’s Creative Dance Camp, and bringing Master of the Arts to the summer program are all a result of her passion for dance.

Jamie Long

Vice President

Vice President of Long's School of Dance, Jamie began his training in Martial Arts at the age of 2 and Fencing at age 6. Jamie has over 30 years of training in Martial Arts and Fencing.

Jamie is Director of the External Martial Arts Division of the Long's Combative Arts School. He also taught Acrobatics for nearly 20 years. Jamie has been teaching Martial Arts for more than 30 years and is currently instructing both Junior and Senior Kung Fu classes. Jamie is also a member of Long's Performing Arts Team, L.L.C.

Janelle Fracassi

Janelle has been dancing at Long’s since the age of 3. She has studied all subjects including jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, acro, contemporary and hiphop. She is greatful to have completed her 8th year of instructing and is currently teaching jazz, contemporary and hiphop. As a member of Long’s Performing Arts Team, LLC, Janelle had the privelage
of traveling to Disney World to perform. She is also a 2010 graduate
of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy. Outside of the studio, her greatest joy is her son , Wyatt. Janelle wishes all of her students good luck and most importantly, have fun!

Tiffany Battista

Tiffany has been dancing with the Long’s family for over 30 years, training year-round with many incredible Master Instructors. She enjoys being a member of the Performing Arts Team, LLC, studying acrobatic adagio under the direction of Jay Long, and has been an Aerial Acrobatics performer for 15 years. She is in the process of completing multiple Teacher Certificates with World Irish Dance.

Jessica Long

Jessica has been dancing for over 25 years. She spent her first 16 years with Long’s before moving to Pittsburgh and becoming a student of the LaRoche College School
of Ballet. She was also a member of the Biodiography Contemporary Ballet Studio and studied under the direction of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Jessica returned to Long’s in 2018. She is a member of the Long’s Performing Arts Team, LLC, has trained with many
incredible master instructors including the late Henry Danton, Angel Giles, Andy Bristow, Beverly and Ron Veenker and Elaine Walker, to name a few, and is a member and instructor of the Cumann Rincé Náisiúnta (CRN) Irish Dance Organization.

Jamie Schumacher

Jamie has been dancing for over 25 years and is thrilled to be celebrating another year with her Long’s Family. Long’s has offered Jamie the opportunity to perform in Walt Disney World, train and instruct on Aerial Silks, Lyra, Spanish Web, Aerial Straps and Static Trapeze. She has studied under the amazing Master Instructors, including Beverly and Ron Veenker, Marcus Alford, Annie Day, Bobby Ziegler, Henry Danton, Laura Witwer, Angela Jones, Mick O’Reilly, Andy Bristow and Angel Giles. Outside of the studio, Jamie is an attorney at MacDonald Illig Attorneys and, most importantly, mother to daughter Elliott, who recently completed her first season with Long’s.

Katie Gibala

Katie has been dancing at Long’s for over 25 years and is very excited to celebrate another year together! Katie is a member of the Long’s Performing Arts Team, LLC and had the privilege of performing in Disney World with her Long’s Family.
She has studied under Master Instructors such as Marcus Alford, Annie Day, Bobby Ziegler, Henry Danton, Beverly and Ron Veenker, Mick O’Reilly, Angel Giles and Andy Bristow. Katie has been an instructor with Long’s since 2005 and would like to wish all of her students, past and present, good luck on this year’s performance. Outside the studio, Katie is a graduate of Penn State Behrend, currently employed at Erie Federal Credit Union in the Business Lending Department.

Karen Niemic

Karen began dancing at Long’s in 1998. Since then she has studied tap, ballet, pointe, acro, jazz, hip hop, and began taking Irish when Long’s founded their Irish Dance School. Karen has studied under many master instructors and is currently pursing her full teacher’s certification with the World Irish Dance Association. Karen has been part of the Long’s Performing Arts Team and the Long’s Aerial Arts Team for many years now and is so grateful for the opportunities these teams have provided. Karen has been an instructor with Long’s since 2007 and would like to wish all of her students, past and present, good luck on this year’s performance. Outside of dance, Karen is a middle school math and science teacher. She is currently teaching 6-8 grade math at Blessed Sacrament School. Karen loves teaching middle school and credits the recognition of her passion to the wonderful experience she had teaching dance at Long’s.

Ellie Cook

Miss Ellie has been a part of the Long’s Family for 24 years, where she has studied and performed all subjects and has had the opportunity to learn from Master instructors including Beverly &
Ronald Veenker, Angel Giles, and the late ballet master, Henry Danton of England. She has coached Long’s Competition Team and has organized & choreographed for many performances, including the annual Long’s Family Christmas show, summer intensives, and annual dance recital, Erie Bayhawk’s Basketball and Harlem Globetrotter half-time shows, expo’s, and various events around the community. Ellie is also mommy to 6 year old Ariana, who is in her 4th year of dance, 3 year old Emmett, and “step- mom” to 14 year old Cali. In addition to teaching dance, Ellie is an early elementary autistic support teacher at the Elizabeth Lee Black School at Barber National Institute and recently passed the board certification exam, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Ellie is grateful to have completed her 12th year teaching jazz and contemporary and is excited for many more years to come!

Sarah Weigold

Sarah has been dancing for 19 years and continues to study ballet and pointe with experience in Tap, Jazz, and hip hop. She has trained under the direction of Beverly and Ronald Veenker and is still studying under the direction of Ms. Lee Ann Long. Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to teach her love of dance to her students. Sarah is a Gannon University graduate with a degree in Nursing where she currently works in the TNICU. Her daughter Natalie is celebrating her second year of dance! She also welcomed her second child Ryan in December 2021.

Breanna Rutkowski

Bre has been dancing with Long’s since the age of 2, studying ballet, pointe, tap, acrobatics, jazz, and contemporary. She has had the opportunity to learn from Master instructors Beverly Veenker, Angel Giles, and Andy Bristow as well as be a member of the performing arts team for 7 years. This is her first year as an instructor and is looking forward to seeing her students take the stage.

Keira Church

Keira Church has been dancing at Long’s for 14 years. She has studied Acro, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Tap, Pointe and Ballet. She has been a member of the Performing Arts Team, LLC and has trained with master instructors including Beverly Veenker, Angel Giles and Andy Bristow. As one of the few hip hop instructors at Long’s, Keira enjoys teaching and loves to see the growth of her students throughout the dance year.

Janna Teed

Janna is a Junior at Fairview High School and has danced with Long’s for 14 years. She has studied Acro, Adagio, Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip hop, Irish, and has been in the Senior Performing Arts Team for 7 years. Janna has studied under the wonderful Master Instructors including, Beverly and Ron Veenker, Mick O’Reilly, Andy Bristow, Angel Giles, Rachel Gibbins, and Elaine Walker in the summers. While she takes dance classes, Janna has also earned her black sash in the Long’s Combative Arts program and is an accomplished member of Long’s Irish Dance Competition Team, competing internationally at the Open level. This is Janna’s second year teaching and wishes the best big show to all!

Rosabella Criscione

Rosabella has been dancing with Long’s since she was 3 years old. In her 14 years she has studied ballet, pointe, tap, acrobatics, Jazz, contemporary, and Irish. Rosie is a junior at Girard High School. She is a member of the Long’s Performing Arts Team, LLC, and has trained with master instructors including Beverly Veenker, Angel Giles, and Andy Bristow.

Joe Daniels

Joe has been studying Combative Arts for 39 years, and has been instructing for more than 20 years. In addition, Joe has been a member of Long’s Performing Arts Team, L.L.C. for over 30 years.