Meet company dancer Amanda!
Amanda has trained under artistic director Misako Aoki since high school and continued performing with the company through college! Amanda has graced the stage with our company as the lead role in our one-act ballet 'The Grateful Crane' and other works by guest choreographers as well as the classical ballet pieces. She's a wiz mathematician who loves crunching numbers while stretching at home and playing with her two puppies!
Continue reading to learn more about Amanda.
Astrological Sign: Aquarius Favorite Food: Berries, especially raspberries (nom nom nom) Favorite Color: Christmas! lol no seriously i'm back and forth between red and green
Favorite Book: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (I'm a nerd!)
Favorite Movie: Ugh...this is tough. But if i had to sit down and watch a movie right now, it would be Coco.
Favorite Music/Artist/Band/Musical Genre: This is hard because it depends on the day, my mood, the alignment of the planets, etc. Right now, i'm listening to a playlist with Queen, Lady Gaga and Disturbed. So TBD.
Favorite Place to Be: A coffee shop, which is the worst part of COVID. I look forward to the day i can go sit at a coffee shop with a good book and a cappuccino.
If you were a dinosaur, which dinosaur would you be? Easy! Velociraptor
Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about it/them! YES!!! I have two miniature Australian Shepherds, whom I love with all my heart. My older pup, Zephyr aka the puppy bear, is about 2 years old and is the most gentle and sweet. Zephyr and I do a lot of training together and just started to compete is rally competitions. Ember, aka panda bear, is our younger puppy (3 months old) and just wants to be held and loved. She is an excellent kisser (will lick your face constantly) and loves to play with her big brother.
Tell us about your dance background and training: Like most dancers, I started dance when I was 3 years old at a studio in Randellstown, Maryland, and moved to Ballet Royale Academy when I was 6 under Donne Pidel and later Vyacheslav Mesropov. I trained there for many years, participating in many summer camps and products, including the Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, La Bayadere, and more. I also participated in summer programs at North Carolina School of the Arts, Dance Institute of Washington, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. When I was 15, I began my training at Misako Ballet Studio and continued at Dance Institute of Washington until I went to college. I become an apprentice with Misako Ballet Company during my time at Towson University, where I studied applied mathematics, and became a full company member upon graduation from college. During and after college, I continued to take classes at various locations and gained instruction from a plethora of teachers including Lester Holmes, Kevin Malone, and more. Additionally, last year, I joined the company Ballet Embody, and am fortunate to perform with two amazing companies in fantastic productions.
What genre of dance is your favorite? Why? Ballet! It's an amazing and athletic art form that I feel is under appreciated. Today's society is amazed by how high someone can get their leg or how many turns you can do, but what is so amazing about ballet is how a few small gestures and movements can tell a story. Ballet is about the details, not just one big amazing movement. You have to be graceful and powerful all at the same time, and it is so hard, but I love it.
What is your favorite full length ballet/variation/performance? Why? Probably Swan Lake. I know it might be cheesy but I love the love story, and the choreography and music is gorgeous. I love performing it, and the duel personalities of the Odile/Odette pushes the lead dancer to their limits.
Why do you dance? It's my passion and it's part of my identity; I can't imagine my life without dance. I love the freedom of expression through movements, and the stress relief it provides me after a busy day of work or just because i need to relax.
If you wear pointe shoes, what kind do you wear? Gaynor Mindens! This is a pretty recent change, but I love how reliable they are and their comfort (yes they are comfy). Not to mention i love how long they last.
What other jobs/activities/talents/passions do you pursue? I'm a mathematician because i LOVE puzzles and math is just lots of gigantic puzzles that i get to solve for a living. I also enjoy reading, training my pups, and cooking.
