FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES

TONY COPPOLA With long-standing national recognition as a tap dance virtuoso, All-American gymnast, master dance teacher, and professional percussionist, Tony Coppola is in high demand as a performer, choreographer and master instructor.  His television choreographic credits include commercials for McDonalds, Aramis Cologne, and Autolite autoparts, as well as the Superstars of Gymnastics for USA TV network, John Tesh Live at Redrocks for PBS, The Mystery and Magic of Nadia Comaneci for ABC TV, and The World Gold Gymnastics Tour starring Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Keri Strug and a cast of Olympic Gymnasts.  Featured for his solo tap dancing on various TV shows and in Las Vegas, Tony can also be seen in many dance magazines for his authoritative articles on jazz and tap and ads promoting Capezio's Coppola Tap Shoes, which were introduced in 1990.  Tony's modern dance background while training with Graham disciple, Jaime Rogers, and performing with the Rogers' Company, has helped him maintain a strong technical standard. He spent several years on faculty at Mesa State College, where he developed a dance major and was the program's artistic director. His musical theatre credits include; Chicago, Tommy, Return to Forbidden Planet, Kiss Me Kate, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story, and performing the lead in George "M."  Tony has choreographed several production numbers for the Hilton's "Work that Skirt" and Lake Tahoe's "Full Body Rock." He has been guest choreographer for dance concerts at University of Northern Colorado and recently at Pomona College in California. He was also featured solo performer at Reno, Nevada's Art Town Celebration in "Reflections of a Life on Stage." He choreographed a collaborative project with Chicago's Jay Franke, of the famed Hubbard Street Dance Company.  Tony Coppola is presently on faculty at UNLV in Las Vegas, where he teaches jazz, tap, dance appreciation, and provides both percussion support and covers modern class. His writing background for dance magazines has led him to his latest academic project; a workbook for dance appreciation class. Kendall Hunt Publications is collaborating with him on this project.

GERRIANNE GENGA is a choreographer and master class teacher whose choreography projects include ABC-TV national sporting events and live stage shows for leading New England nightclubs . Her students have performed in Las Vegas and around the world with such artists as Prince and Janet Jackson. Gerrianne filmed "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins and made numerous appearances in the NBC drama "Providence". She is a featured actress in the films "A Cup Of Coffee" and "Friends First Foremost." Her choreography can be seen in a film staring Alec Baldwin called "Outside Providence" and  she was choreographer for the World Cup N*SYNC show at Giant Stadium. Gerrianne is also a guest faculty member and featured choreographer at Mesa State College in Colorado.  Most recently she worked on a television pilot called “Do You Know The Grants?” as well as a television documentary called “Xtreme Dance”. Gerrianne is currently choreographing a music video for E.U featuring Lil Wayne.

BIANCA HARRIS Raised in Reno/Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Bianca Harris began dance at the age of 3.  Trained in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop, dance graced her youth with an intense schedule and countless performances.  She‘s trained with world-renowned instructors such as Tony Coppola, Rosine Bena, Mia Michaels, and Swoop resulting in many dance scholarships to programs across the United States.  In 2001, she attended Idyllwild Arts, and in 2003 relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada where she graduated from Las Vegas Academy of the Performing and Visual Arts as a dance major.  She currently assists Cirque De Soleil performer Stephan Reynolds as a member The Vibe Contemporary Dance Company. She is also an existing member of the Tony Coppola Tap Ensemble.  Harris has been teaching for 5 years at Art of Dance Studios Las Vegas; with hundreds of students, she has found a passion for inspiring young dancers.  Harris holds a Bachelors Degree in Journalism/Communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is currently working on a Masters Degree in Communication Studies from UNLV as well. 

Sandra Mirley  former principal soloist with the National Ballet of Peru and veteran of International Ballet festivals, is recognized as one of Las Vegas' foremost dancers and teachers. She began dancing at age 7. Her peers consider her to be the consummate example of technique, dynamic energy and passion.  In 2007 she won a highly competitive scholarship to study classical dance styles and musical theatre in Argentina, where she also won a gold medal in an International Jazz dance competition. Sandra's South American roots bring a special Latin flare to her performing and teaching. She is on faculty at the Rock Center for Dance, Las Vegas' professional dance studio, where she teaches Ballet, Latin dance, contemporary, and advanced stretch. Sandra's students describe her in one word- inspirational