Our Faculty of Instructors

Amanda brings a lifetime of performance experience to these companies. She began dancing at the age of 4, studying Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Irish and Theater dance in Sydney, Australia. As a child and teen, she performed in musical theater productions, stage and television, became a tap champion at 12 years and placed 5th in the Australian National Irish Dancing Championships. She completed her R.A.D Ballet Exams and B.B.O Tap exams to advanced levels, and continued studying to achieve extended teaching status. At 17 years of age, when called ‘too tall for dance’, she was offered a soloist position with the Sydney Festival Ballet Company (William Gill) in Sydney Australia, toured with Apcar’s International tour of ‘Casino de Paris’ in Sydney & Melbourne, played the singing/dancing role of ‘Virtue’ in Anything Goes, and became the youngest dancer with the ‘Bluebell Girls’ at the ‘Lido’ in Paris, France. At 19, she accepted the principal lead dancer role at ‘La Scala Theater’ in Barcelona.

She studied voice with Maya Mayska from the Liceo Opera in Barcelona, The Conservatory of Music in Madrid, Clyde Wright from Mahalia Jackson, Max Aronsten and Max Speed from the Australian Opera Co. and also the Theater College of Hobart whilst performing her Solo Singing Act in Tasmania with Regmat Productions.

She toured Europe and Australia with her own singing act under the Management of Bernard Hilda from London Management, working with such major artists as June Allyson, Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Elizabeth Schwarzkoff, and Lovelace Watkins.

She came to America as principal dancer for Ron Lewis/Frederick Apcar productions, The Stardust Hotel, MGMs ‘Hello Hollywood Hello’, and has had the great pleasure to work with such master Director/Choreographers as Matt Mattox, Gino Landi, Winston Hemsley, Rich Rizzo, Michael Peters, Scott Salmon, Henry LeTang, Ann Garvin, Bob Fitch and Ron Lewis.

She collaborated with Berry Gordy from Motown, on the original writings of ‘The Life of a Dancer’, Captained the Suzanne Sommer’s Act and her National Television Special, and also choreographed Industrials and Conventions for the M.G.M , Bally’s and Hilton Hotel Casinos. She directed many Special Events, Video and Television Programs including the hugely successful fundraiser for Reno Mayor Pete Sferrazza…‘The Roast’ at the Reno Hilton in ’93, the Miss Nevada Scholarship Pageant for Television, and the R.S.C.V.A’s Television Commercial, ‘The Sky’s the Limit’, which received the 1987 West Coast Directorial Award.

Amanda wrote and originated the highly successful CityKids TV show in 1989 (on air with NBC and Local Cable TV through 1993). She performed and understudied Juliet Prowse for 2 seasons in her starring role in the Broadway Musical “Sugar Babies” with Mickey Rooney, Rip Taylor, Carol Lawrence and Bob Fitch.

Amanda opened Reno’s Dancin! Performing Arts Center in 1996, and soon created the Reno Irish Dance Company. During this time she coached Toni Tennille in performance dance for her starring role in ‘Victor Victoria’, and became the local coordinator for the Moscow Ballet Company.

Amanda continues to travel whenever possible, performing, writing, directing, choreographing, teaching workshops, coaching and judging competitions. She recently wrote and opened the “LADIES WHO TAP” Program, a unique and fascinating series of tap dance classes that are designed to delay Dementia and the onset of Alzheimer’s.

See: www.ladieswhotap.com

This Program includes the latest ‘cutting edge’ studies of the ‘Brain on Dance’ and the health benefits for ‘Women on Dance’. 

Amanda's Outstanding Injury Prevention Techniques for Dancers have been developed over her Performing and Teaching career with Sports Physical Therapists and Orthopedists.

 Her Artistic Directorship of the Reno Irish Dance Company has continued throughout the years developing a broader presentation of the Irish/Celtic Company into Musical Theater Performing Arts as seen in their annual "SIAMSA" - A Celtic Christmas.

Her Dance School/Studio, Dancin! Performing Arts Center offers a wide variety of dance and performance classes, representing Amanda's love and appreciation for diversification in the Performing Arts.

“Dancing and Performance isn’t glamorous…It’s hard, disciplined work. But, if you love it…It can be the most exhilarating, rewarding experience that any young person can have!”