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Marge Long (1920-2005)

Jim Long (1916-1999)

Marge Long started her professional career at the age of seven on the “Our Gang Comedy Series“. She went on to dance in engagements, performing with such noted personalities such as: Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, and Martha Raye. She was the youngest member of the “Actors Guild of Variety Artists“. Marge was the pricipal of Dance Educators of America's Training School for dance teachers based in New York City for 27 years. In 1989, she received the coveted DEA Award for Excellence in Dance Training. In 1946, Marge gave up her professional career and together with her husband, Jim, moved to Erie and established Long's School of the Dance.

Jim Long gave his first professional Piano Concert at the age of twelve. He traveled throughout Europe and the United States with many of the leading orchestras until moving to Erie in 1946 to establish Long's School of the Dance. In 1973, Jim started his own record company under the label of “Jamie Records”. He composed and directed music for dance training and performances. He was also Musical Director for the Erie Civic Theatre for seventeen years including shows such as: “The Music Man”, “The Fantasticks”, “Of Thee I Sing”, “Molly Brown”, “Sound of Music”, “Sweet Charity”, “Anything Goes”, “Gypsy”, and “Show Boat”. Jim was featured as guest pianist with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Jim Sample, performing “Rhapsody in Blue”.

Long's School of Dance, established in 1946, is Erie owned and Erie operated. Long's presently offers the most extensive training in the tri-state area. It has been the #1 performing arts school in Erie for over 60 years, and has trained thousands of students over three generations of families. Long's School of Dance is faculty certified by Dance Educators of America. Long's prides itself with teaching proper technique and employs university-educated instructors. Long's also employs teachers who are experienced in working with students with special needs and/or disabilities.

Long's is currently the largest and most prominent school in the Erie area. Long's has won first place in the Times News Erie's Choice Contest for the Best Performing Arts School in Erie 8 years in a row.

Long's presents a professional, 2-night Annual Dance Concert at the Warner Theatre with a live orchestra for all of its students. It is also the home of the traveling Performing Arts Team...gold medal winners of the 2000 Hawaiian International Dance Competition. Long's is one of the first dance studios in North America to offer a flight/aerial arts school specifically designed for the dancer.

Many of Long's students have gone on to perform professionally. Former Long's students can be found from television to Broadway, from the Rockettes to dance companies, to teaching positions throughout the country.

Long's is committed to continued excellence in dance training.