Tip of the Day: Remembering Choreography

Amanda's Dance Center Daytona Beach

Q:  Younger dancers tend to have a hard time picking up choreography when learning recital dances.  How can I, as their teacher, make it easier for them to remember?

A:  A fun way to help dancers remember their choreography is to incorporate the choreography into their class warm up.  This helps them see it at least one more time besides when learning the dance at the end of class.

Another way to help them remember choreography,  is to always add steps in sets of 4 or 8.  This helps them stay on the music and keep rhythm.

Another idea is to use a theme step that is repeated every time the chorus plays. This gives the dancers something to get back into, even if they don't remember the rest of the dance, they at least know that. ;)

Written by Shannon Thomas

Dance Tip of the Day: To Warm Up or Not?

Shannon Thomas

Today's Tip is from one of our dance instructor, Shannon Thomas.

Q: Why is it so important to do a warm up before dance performances and competitions?

A thorough warm up is necessary before performing any physical activity, especially in the art of dance and performance.  When dancing, you are not only using your powerhouse muscles, like the quadriceps, glutes and abdominal muscles.  You are using all of the little tiny connecting muscles in the hip joints, neck, shoulders, feet, and knees.  Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the body from head to toe before a performance or rigorous dance classes.

A proper warm up for a dancer should consist of cardio, plies, tendus, ron de jambes, stretching, leg swings/battements, petit allegro and then progressions across the floor pertaining to the pending performance.  Wearing proper warm up sweats and attire is also key to maintain the warm up as your performance goes on.


Written by Shannon Thomas

Flower Walz Ballet Amanda's Dance Center Deb Coe Choreography

Amanda's Dance Center

Dance Classes and Lesson Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach Dance Studio

386-788-9466

http://www.amandasdancecenter.com

Dance Theatre of Harlem comes to Daytona Beach

ADC Dancers cut ballet class short to see the show!

ADC dancers and teachers attended a performance of Dance Theatre of Harlem at Bethune Cookman last night.  The performance was nothing short of gorgeous!  The artists (dancers) were breathtaking as they skimmed across the stage effortlessly with grace and poise.  What a treat to see that level of professional dance in Daytona Beach, now we are looking forward to Swan Lake next the end of this month on February 27th!  
Purchase tickets to Swan Lake here!

Dance Theatre of Harlem

Inspired by a dream...
Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, encompassing a performing Ensemble, a leading arts education center and Dancing Through Barriers®, a national and international education and community outreach program. Each component of Dance Theatre of Harlem carries a solid commitment towards enriching the lives of young people and adults around the world through the arts.

Founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, Dance Theatre of Harlem was considered “one of ballet’s most exciting undertakings” (The New York Times, 1971). Shortly after the assassination of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell was inspired to start a school that would offer children — especially those in Harlem, the community in which he was born — the opportunity to learn about dance and the allied arts. Now in its fourth decade, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence that continues to set standards in the performing arts. Dance Theatre of Harlem has achieved unprecedented success, bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country and around the world. 
Written by Shannon Thomas

Dance Studio Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, Holly Hill, and New Smryna Beach

http://www.amandasdancecenter.com

Congratulations ADC Dancers on a successful Christmas Show

We would like to congratulate the dancers and staff of our brand new Christmas Show "12 Days of Christmas!"  Over 100 ADC dancers performed to a sold out theater at Embry-Riddle on Sunday December 5th.  The show not only had elegant swans and cute french hens, we also had a guest performance opening number, "Hot Chocolate" from Dance Depot in Umatilla!   

We would like to thank the parents, dancers and volunteers who made this show possible!  ADC is lucky to be a part of such a great community of people always willing to lend a helping hand!  Looking forward to upcoming holiday performances at New Smyrna Beach Showdoll Christmas Show, Spruce Creek High School Dance Show, and the Ormond Beach Parade!  

If you are looking for dance classes and dance lessons in the Daytona Beach or Ormond Beach area, contact Amanda's Dance Center at our below or call us!  :)

"It's About More Than Dance, It's About Enriching Lives..."

386-788-9466

http://www.amandasdancecenter.com

Amanda's Dance Center's Holiday Christmas Show Daytona Beach

Get into the Holiday Season with ADC's Brand New Christmas Show!!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

ADC is proud to present our brand new Christmas Show featuring our Pre-Dancers and our ADC Company Members.  The show will be on December 5th at Embry Riddle University at 7:00 pm. 

Call 386-788-9466 for more information! 
 
"Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS" presented by Center Stage Theatricals will immediately follow The 12 Days of Christmas. 

Tickets are $10 and includes admission to both shows!

Dance Lessons and Dance Classes in Ormond Beach and South Daytona!

Daytona Beach Dance Performances Amanda's Dance Center 2010

ADC News
 http://www.amandasdancecenter.com

 386-788-9466

When:  SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010 AM/PM
Where:  Port Orange Amphitheater at the City Center
What:  Port Orange Family Days
Details to be given out closer to the event.

When: SATURDAY OCTOBER 9, 2010 at 7:00pm
Where: News Journal Center
What:  Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness/Volusia County Dances 
Details to be given out closer to the event.

When:  End of October TBA
Where:  New Smyrna Beach High School
What:  Showdolls Halloween Show
Details to be given out closer to the event.
When: SATURDAY NOVERMBER 13, 2010 at 7:00pm
Where: Spruce Creek High School Auditorium
What:  Volusia County Dances Part 2
Details to be given out closer to the event.


When:  November 26-28
Where:  RenaissanceHotel Orlando (by SeaWorld)
What:  Florida Dance Masters Annual Thanksgiving Workshop and Performance
Details to be given out closer to the event.

When: December TBA
Where: TBA
What: 12 Days of Christmas
Details to be given our closer to the event.

Meet the Staff of Daytona Beach Dance Studio and Ormond Beach Dance Studio

Owners and Directors

Amanda Bell has been the owner and director of Amanda’s Dance Center for over 13 years, where she teaches ballet, jazz, point, tap, and acrobatics. Prior to her taking over the studio, she was a 13-year alumnus of Debco School of Dance. As a member of the “Debco Dancers” Competition Group, Amanda taught for 4 years and also won numerous awards and scholarships. She is currently a member-through test certificationof Florida Dance Masters. She has served on their board of directors, and is currently on the scholarship committee. She is also the Artistic Director of the Lauren Cox Memorial Benefit Concert in Ormond Beach. Amanda’s students can be seen performing at various community events and have won numerous awards and scholarships on the regional and national level. Most recently her dancers won Gold & Platinum awards at OnStage NY’s Nationals Competition in Orlando. “Exceptional Choreography” awards were given to Amanda & Shannon for the creation of those dances as well a “Class Act” Award for the studio demonstrating appropriate costuming & etiquette. Some of her students have even gone on to dance & perform at Oklahoma City University, Tisch School of the Arts, University of Florida and Florida State- one student is currently in the Theatre Program at FSU.

 In addition to teaching at the studio, Amanda has been a guest choreographer and instructor for several Florida Dance Master events in West Palm Beach, Orlando, and Sanford. She also choreographed the American Musical Theatre’s production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Seabreeze High School, the world premier of Disney’s New version of Aladdin with Center Stage Kids, and was the dance & acrobatic instructor for the Atlantic Center for the Arts at the Harris House for the past three summers. This season Amanda is developing a dance curriculum that can be integrated into the after-school programs & daycares to bring the benefits of dance to those kids that are unable to attend studio classes. Her three greatest productions are her sons Dillon Matthew and Addison Lee and daughter Caydon  Hawley!

Amanda@amandasdancecenter.com
 

David Bell has developed and directed summer theatre programs for six schools and two theatres. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and taught high school English and Drama full time in Stuart, Florida.  He began his theatrical career at age 12 and has acted in, produced, directed, and worked on community, semiprofessional, and professional productions throughout Florida, and also appeared in a feature film. Several years ago, he had the pleasure of performing with and directing his friend, Alicia Minshew, (All My Children’s Kendall Hart) in the musicals Little Shop of Horrors and Godspell. David worked as a substitute teacher for Volusia County Schools. He is employed by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department and is the owner, drama instructor, and artistic director of Center Stage Theatricals, featuring the Center Stage Kids Musical Theatre Camp, producing such shows as Grease, Mulan, Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, The Wizard of Oz, and High School Musical. Last year, Center Stage Kids produced the pilot and world premier of Disney’s new version of Aladdin Kids, lending ideas and concepts that have been incorporated in the script being published and distributed by Disney, worldwide! This summer,his theatre production company produced the very first production of Disney’s High School Musical 2 Jr. His group was one of 50, out of 35,000 selected to perform in Atlanta for Music Theatre International’s Junior Theatre Festival. 

Click here to Check out David's Musical Theater Summer Camp in Daytona Beach! 

david@amandasdancecenter.com

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Teachers

Deborah Coe owned and operated her own studio in the Daytona Beach area for 14 years before returning to college to earn her Master’s Degree in Dance Pedagogy.  She has  taught and choreographed in the dance programs at Western Kentucky University and Texas A&M University.   In addition to teaching in Daytona Beach she teaches master classes and teacher training workshops throughout the state.   Ms. Coe holds memberships in Florida Dance Masters, and the Educational Kinesiology Foundation. She has been tested and certified as a dance adjudicator by the National Dance Teachers Council of America and judges at numerous dance competitions nationally. Her students have gone on to dance professionally in venues from Disney World to the Joffrey Ballet.  She has served on the Artistic Board for the Daytona Beach Civic Ballet, the Lauren Cox Memorial Scholarship Concert Series and the Board of Directors of Florida Dance Masters.   She is the co-director of the ADC Outreach Performance Program.  Click here to see some of her articles on dance.  She also authors an informational blog at dancestudiocorner@blogspot.com.  Most recently her choreography was presented awards including: “High Score of the Competition”,  “Best Choreography”, “Best of Show” and a special award for “Flowing Transitions.”  Her goal is to use the discipline dance offers as a tool to help students be successful in all of their endeavors.

missdeb@amandasdancecenter.com

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Shannon Johnson Thomas grew up in Daytona Beach, FL where she began dancing at the age of 4 at Debco School of Dance now known as Amanda's Dance Center.  She studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, acrobatics, modern, and musical theater.  She was a member of ADC Elite Company.  While living in Florida, Shannon was extremely involved in the dance community locally and statewide. She was awarded many awards and won the over-all dancer scholarship with Florida Dance Master's at the age of 18.  Shannon participated in many workshops and conventions classes with numerous icons in the dance world; Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett, Gus Giordano, Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore, Lizzie MacKenzie, Randy Duncan, and Patsy Swayze.  She was also a part of Jazz Dance World Congress. Shannon attended Oklahoma City University's Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management to study Dance Performance.  She studied extensively in ballet, tap, jazz, theater dance, dance pedagogy, anatomy, and choreography under such people as Jo Rowan, Robert Reed, Tiffany Van der merwe, Patricia Oplotnik, and Kay Sandel.  While attending OCU, Shannon was a part of the prestigious American Spirit Dance Company for 4 years.  While at OCU, she performed with and honored such celebrities as Susan Powell, Art and Nancy Stone, Cholly Atkins, Leonard Reed, Marion Coles, and Donald O'Conner.  She has worked for corporate entertainment company Shows in a Box as a  choreographer and dancer for Industrials, Conventions and Trade Shows.  Shannon was also Magician's Assistant and Dance Captain for The World of Magic.  She recently performed with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre in their Rock Opera to Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall."  She travels teaching and choreographing for dance studios and dance teams in the. Central Florida area.Can you post something about Amanda's Dance Center on your page.  Shannon believes in teaching the proper technique to her dancers to instill correct body alignment and placement. She is teaching at Amanda's Dance Center and works with Spruce Creek High School's Papillon Dance Team and Color-guard, Creekside Middle School, mentors dancers, private lessons, and her own choreography business, Dancebrought2u.  Shannon has won numerous awards for her choreography and attends dance workshops on a regular basis.  Shannon and her husband Shane own and operate Twenty Seven Reaons Search Engine Optimization company.
shannon@amandasdancecenter.com
http://www.dancebrought2u.com

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Heather Zebell has been dancing since the age of 4.  She grew  up in Port Orange, FL starting her first years of dance at Debco School of Dance.  After dancing for 5 years, Heather decided to become a part of the performing company as a dedicated member for 7 years.  She performed and competed in many styles of dance with ADC Elite including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and lyrical.  Heather did find her nitch.  With her long graceful limbs and delicate frame, ballet came natural.  After years of hard work Heather was awarded Runner Up in the Miss American Dance Awards where she competed Nationally for the title in Boston, MA.  She was also awarded ballet scholarships from the prestigious Florida Dance Masters Scholarship Program.  Heather was a part of the Civic Ballet's "The Nutcracker" for 3 years.  Heather's love of dance started at young age and has continued to flourish as she has recently come into motherhood.  Heather is excited to be a part of Amanda's Dance Center again! 

heather@amandasdancecenter.com

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Fall Registration Daytona Dance Studio South Daytona and Ormond Beach

AmandasDanceCenter.com

Daytona Beach Dance Studio and Ormond Beach Dance Studio

386-788-9466

Fall Registration Now Underway!!

Classes offered in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Acro, 

Contemporary and MORE!!!

Open House will be held on 
August 4th at South Daytona Studio and 
August 5th at Ormond Studio, 

4-7

Classes start August 16th!!!!

Daytona and Ormond Beach Dance Studio Locations!!

* South Daytona Address:

2400 S. Ridgewood Ave. #27 South Daytona, FL Sunshine Park Mall

* Ormond Beach Address:

873 Hull Road Ormond Beach, FL

14th Annual Recital Success at Amanda's Dance Center Daytona Beach

Congratulations ADC Dancers and Staff on another wonderful Recital!! Dancers performed Amanda's Dance Center's 14th annual Recital Dancing is...on Friday June 11th at Seabreeze High School. ADC dancers were excited because we had a sold out show!!! Performers range from 3 to 19 years of age and danced to songs such as A you're adorable, C is for Cookie, Black and Gold, Soul Man, and many more!!! The lighting was created by Shane Thomas, professional lighting designer and the costumes were gorgeous! Congratulations on another successful recital!!!

June 11, 2010 Amanda's Dance Center 14th Annual Recital at SEABREEZE HIGH SCHOOL

Amanda's Dance Center will be holding its 14th annual recital this Friday, Dance is... The show will feature numbers from Damn Yankees Fame the Movie and Sesame Street. Our dancers range from ages 3-19. The older dancers will be performing their award winning production number "Lullaby" choreographed by owner, Amanda Bell. It won overall high school Production at I love Dance Competition in Jacksonville this past May.

At Amanda's Dance Center, it's about more than just dance! We base our dance studio and dance training around a strong emphasis on dance technique rather than competition. We teach children "how" to dance, not just "a" dance. We offer dance classes Daytona and dance classes Ormond for all ages with all levels of dance experience including pre-dance classes for 3 year olds and dance training for those aspiring to dance in college or professionally. Proudly serving Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach communities for over 30 years!!