About Us
Miss Mandie, co-owner & husband- David Bell with their 3 dancers Dillon, Addison, & Caydon
A Brief History of Amanda’s Dance Center…
Amanda Bell, Owner and Director of Amanda’s Dance Center, proudly took over ownership of the studio in 1996. She continues to uphold polished and up-to-date training of the highest quality. Miss Mandie, as her students affectionately refer to her, is overjoyed to carry on the legacy started by Deborah Coe who was her instructor and owner of Debco School of Dance for 24 years prior to the “passing of the torch” to Amanda.
Amanda is a member of Florida Dance Educators Organization and the National Dance Educators Organization. She is also a 29yr member of Florida Dance Masters, Inc; a group dedicated to keeping very high the standards of dance education in the state. She has been a workshop instructor for FDM, a guest choreographer for FDM’s performance company, Main Attraction, served on the Scholarship Committee, was co-director of the Miss/Mr Dance title competition, and is currently 1st Vice President of the organization. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Organizational Management and continues to further her teaching education by attending a variety of dance education workshops such as: Jazz Dance World Congress, The Dance Teacher Summit, IDEA Conference, Dance Teacher Web, Acrobatic Arts, and Rhee Gold’s Dance Life Teacher Events. Most recently, Amanda became an Acrobatic Arts Certified Instructor in 2018 and attended the very first MODAS Colloquium for Dance Educators in 2019 in New Mexico. You can also find her 'zooming' a class for studio owners each month to explore the "other" side of the business. She feels strongly it is the continueing education that keeps her studio and dancers up to date and current in today's market.
Amanda’s students have attended college studying dance at Sam Houston State University, Tisch School of the Arts, UC Berkley, Florida State University, and University of Central Florida among others. Amanda’s students can be seen performing locally and nationally. Some have worked, performed, and choreographed with dance companies such as Whirlwind (Colombus, OH) and NobleMotion (Houston, TX) as well as Disney, The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, Six Flags, Frontier City, Sesame Street, So You Think You Can Dance, and NY’s Stage Door Manor.
Amanda is beyond excited to be working with dancers of all ages and finds delight is seeing their confidence grow as they twirl, leap, and stretch their limits to reach their fullest potential not just as dancers, but as compassionate and responsible members of our community.
Together we can “change the world!”
FACULTY
"Miss Keri" ~ Our Pre-Dance Co-ordinator and Advanced Jazz Instructor
Keri Lovecchio joined Amanda’s Dance Center in 2017 after moving to the area from Tampa, FL. She started her dance training at the age of 3 and has been passionate about the art ever since. Keri trained in the styles of; jazz, ballet, tap, acro, lyrical and competed in jazz, tap and lyrical. Keri is a proud Alum of the University of South Florida and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. She was captain of the USF SunDolls dance team, choreographed and performed at athletic and community events, and competed at the UDA College Dance Team National Championship.
After college she began her professional dance career at Busch Gardens Tampa, performing in shows, such as; DreamWorks Madagascar Live, Treasures of the Mirage, Fiends, and Christmas Celebration. She danced at Walt Disney World Resorts in many parades and shows including; Festival of Fantasy, Disney’s Electrical Parade, Move It Shake It Street Party, Mickey’s Boo To You, and Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime. She also performed at Universal Studios Orlando in the Superstar Parade.
Keri is grateful for her many opportunities to perform but is ready to focus on helping young dancers discover and develop their own passions and talents. She is thankful to have found the perfect learning environment at Amanda’s Dance Center and looks forward to helping your children grow!
"Miss Deb" ~ Partnering and Ballet Instructor
Deborah Coe has been a teacher, choreographer, studio owner, entrepreneur and student of dance for 45 years. As a lifelong student, she has studied with dozens of master teachers from all across the country. Her quest to gather and share knowledge about dance has provided the scaffolding for her students to pursue dance careers, become dance teachers and for many, to have a lifelong love of dance–filled with the positive memories provided by a solid dance education.
Miss Deb holds a Master’s Degree in Dance Pedagogy from the University of Idaho and dance teaching certifications in ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics from Dance Masters of America. She is also a graduate of the Dance Masters of America Teacher Training School (Kent State University) and the Vagonova Teaching Methods Workshop at the University of Central Florida. She has studied extensively to keep abreast of the latest developments in the dance field and teaches a process driven curriculum.
The philosophy Miss Deb uses for teaching ballet is most influenced by the work of Ballet Master David Howard. This method includes the use of energy patterns with special attention to proper body placement and age appropriate movement. Her jazz style is a combination of her studies with jazz master teachers including; Gus Giordano, Luigi, Beverly Fletcher and Tom Ralabate, with strong influence from the modern technique of Lester Horton. As in ballet, proper body placement and age appropriate movement is emphasized. Early tap and choreography influence came from the brilliant teacher Beverly Fletcher, followed by the impeccable technique and style of master tap teacher Debbie Dee. The fundamentals: the how and why of basic tap movements are the emphasis of Ms Deb’s tap classes.
Ms. Deb directed and taught at her own studio for 24 years then taught and choreographed in the dance programs at Western Kentucky University and Texas A&M University. She currently does studio teaching, and instructs master classes and teacher training workshops throughout the state. Ms. Deb holds memberships in Florida Dance Masters, the International Brain Gym Foundation and the National Dance Educators Organization. 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. 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.
*Our adorable 4-5yr old class at their June 2020 Show*
"Miss Melissa" ~ Our Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor & Guest Choreographer
Melissa moved to Orlando in 2012 from St. Louis, where she was a ballet, tap and lyrical teacher. She has been teaching dance for over 28 years. She is currently teaching ballet, pointe and PBT face-to-face and online in the central Florida area. Melissa has trained throughout the United States with Joffrey New York, BalletMet, BalletAspen and the Cecchetti Council ofAmerica. She has performed professionally with Atrek Modern Dance Company, WebsterDance Theatre, Radio City Music Hall and Buena Vista Pictures. Melissa is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique through PBT and certified in ballet and Jazz through DanceMasters of America. She is currently a member of DMA, FDM and PBT. She enjoyed teaching Zoom classes when the studios closed and looks forward to continuing her Zoom classes for the future. She is looking forward to reaching even more students on the coast and instilling the passion of dance and movement to her students far and wide.
“Miss Cat” ~ Our Receptionist, TikTok wiz, Assistant Dance Instructor, & More!!
Catharine moved to Florida in 2005 and started dancing a year after at age 6. Irish dance was her first introduction to dance where she competed for many years. Then wanting to expand her dance training, she took ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop all throughout middle and high school. Being classically trained in ballet, it easily became her favorite genre of dance. Then continuing on pointe, it was something she wishes she continued with to this day.
In high school, she was captain on the St. Augustine Dance team as a ‘Jaquette’ where they competed and took convention classes at ASH, and went to UDA camp every summer. During UDA camp, she also qualified for their travel team where she danced in the New Years Day parade in London, UK. She then went on to study business and marketing for social media at Daytona State College, receiving her Associates degree. While continuing with social media, she now owns a book club in Palm Coast and does social media full time.
Teaching has been a great opportunity as well for her, as throughout high school and college, she would come back to teach classes and choreograph for her dance team. Since dance has and will always be in her life, she is happy to be at Amanda’s Dance Center where she can help out and teach in the future.