Amanda loved everything dance from the time she could move, and was captivated by Lindy Hop and Collegiate Shag unknowingly as a kid through Disney cartoons. She discovered swing dancing as a teenager in 1995 in Southern California, and feels lucky to have been part of the “Swing revival” of that time. After moving to Austin in 2014, she started focusing on Shag. She fell in love immediately, spending countless hours studying it, watching clips, and of course discussing it with other Shag dancers. That same year, she won the first competition she entered, and has been teaching and performing regularly ever since.

Amanda loves sharing her love of Shag and other swing dances with new and experienced dancers alike, and regularly instructs at national Shag events. With a background in both elementary and adult education, she brings years of teaching experience to her classes and enjoys blending serious technique with fun, self-expression, and love for the dance. Currently, she teaches regular Collegiate Shag classes at The Swing Syndicate in Austin, Texas, and leads an all-female Collegiate Shag team, The Shag Hags.

Amanda