About Us

Director - Amanda 'Dance'

Artistic, passionate dancer of 29 years, with 8+ years professional experience and 15+ years of performance experience. Multi-talented dancer familiar with production management, director management and strong choreography skill set. Highlights : Jazz,Tap & Toe Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Modern, Musical Theater, Ballroom (various styles), Choreographer, Production Management & Directing, Music Editing, Aerial Silks &, Tumbling, Vocal ability, Actress, Model

Professional Dance & Modeling Credits:

Various Modeling jobs from 2018-present including recent publications in Gezno Magazine and Fabotiq Models Magazine and Yale Campus Ads.

Raw Artist 2017-2019

Eminence Dance Movement - 2016 - present Founder/Producer/Director/Choreographer/Dancer

"Hallelujah" - Lead Dancer

"Addiction" - Eminence Movement -Lead Dancer

"No One" Music Video - Fiction - 2017 - Lead Dancer

Pulse Teacher Certified - 2015 & 2016

Broadway Dance Center Teacher Workshop Certified - 2014, 2015, 2016

Dance Master’s Of America First Year Certified - 2015

Wiz Production by Arts in Corp - 2014 - Choreographer

Mulan Middle School Play - 2013 - Choreographer

Training & Education

2013 - Present - Certified Dance Teacher

2016 - Present :Dancer Teacher Degree/Certification, National Dance Education Organization, Silver Springs, MD - Online Courses. Relevant Courses: Development Domains in Dance, Dance Kinesiology & Applied Teaching Practice

Various industry training programs & camps including Broadway Dance Center, Just For Kix

Pulse Teacher Certified - 2015 & 2016

Broadway Dance Center Teacher Workshop Certified - 2014, 2015, 2016

Dance Master’s Of America First Year Certified - 2015

State of CT Head Teacher Certification

B.A. Degree

Trained under industry leaders such as:

James "Combo" Marino, Brian Freedman, Tyler Peck, Travis Wall, Shelia Barker, April Cook, Greg Zane, Savion Glover, Rudy Abreu and more

I've danced on several national teams and traveled to big cities such as Disney world in Orlando, Las Vegas, New York City, Atlantic City and more. My ultimate goal as a dance educator is to teach my students to us their maximum potential in a safe and proper way. I teach dancers to understand their bodies through the science of dance. They learn how muscle groups work together to maximize their abilities while prolonging their dance careers. I want to share my passion and love of dance with each and every student as well as open up theirs, to teach the discipline and love of a beautiful art form. I wish to be more than just a teacher to them but a mentor in their every day lives. My passion is to help each dancer to achieve their dreams, and provide all the capabilities in doing so.

Learn more about me in this exclusive interview! https://youtu.be/AApOKUEMaBU

Associate Director - Melanie Shea

My name is Melanie Shea and I am Simply Dance's Associate Director. I started dancing when I was four years old and began teaching when I was 11. Dance has given me so much in my life and I am so lucky to be able to pass that long to my students. I am a Connecticut certified Elementary School teacher in addition to my dance training. I enjoy traveling to New York yearly to continue my dance education to constantly show my students the newest techniques and keep my own ideas fresh.

Dance can help students develop so many life skills in addition to learning the art. My goal is to help my students not only learn to dance, but become well rounded individuals with confidence in themselves to succeed.

Teacher: Laurent Mullen - Ballroom

Laurent Mullen is the owner of Ballroom Dancin Fools teaching adults and youth, wedding couples, social and competitive students in Connecticut since 1998. He is a Pro/Am competing professional in American Smooth & Latin, Swing, Hustle and Theater Arts. He won first place in Dancing with the Stars Clinton in 2015 & 2016. Laurent began his professional dance career with Connecticut Ballet and later joined New England Ballet Company, where he danced more than 18 principal roles in 8 years and served as its Executive Director from 2001-5. He co-founded Connecticut Ballroom Theatre in 2005. Laurent has also appeared extensively on TV and film as a professional actor, dancer and vocalist.

Ray Cook - Intern

Ray Cook is a recent musical theatre graduate from Western Connecticut State University. His last year there he had the pleasure of performing in Wild Party, and their spring production, Crazy for You. You may recognize him from his community theatre work including Prince Eric in Warner Theatre’s 2018 production of The Little Mermaid, or Berger at Sherman Playhouse’s 2017 production of Hair. Ray is over the moon about joining the lovely community of Simply Dance Studio