Bio content provided by individual
Teacher Bio
Amanda Turner was born in Nottingham England, and trained at Elmhurst Ballet School (Affiliated with Birmingham Royal Ballet, UK) where her teachers were Mercia Hetherington and Merle Park, principle dancer and artistic director of The Royal Ballet.
...Read moreAmanda Turner was born in Nottingham England, and trained at Elmhurst Ballet School (Affiliated with Birmingham Royal Ballet, UK) where her teachers were Mercia Hetherington and Merle Park, principle dancer and artistic director of The Royal Ballet.
A soloist ballerina with Israel National Ballet, and in Europe with Munich Ballet Theatre, Vienna Ballet Theatre, Vienna Festival Ballet, she performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall with Wayne Sleep (The Royal Ballet). She has danced on some of Europe’s biggest stages in Geneva, Frankfurt and Vienna. Her repertoire includes Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle, Les Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty, Serenade, Paquita, Romeo and Juliet, and a wide variety of modern and contemporary works.
Recipient of the Sylphide Cup in London, for outstanding performance, presented by Dame Ninette de Valois, and granted the professional title A.R.A.D. (highest honors) by The Royal Academy of Dance in London -Amanda transitioned into Jazz and Musical Theater and was solo dancer in Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of The Opera (Choreographer Gillian Lynne) performing in the premiere cast in Vienna, and on the Original cast recording. Other Musical Theatre credits include: Evita, West Side Story, Hello Dolly, Oliver, Beauty and the Beast, Little Me, and Damn Yankees.
Amanda served as dance captain or assistant choreographer on most shows that she performed in and was fortunate enough to be coached by the late Gwen Verdon. and has studied, taught and danced the Fosse repertoire. She was assistant to Ann Reinking with her Masterclass series and continues a mentorship and friendship.
Ms. Turner is Artistic Director of her own multi media dance company, The Turner Project, who made their Broadway debut at the Mazer Theatre, NYC, performed their full length program Out of Water at The Duke Theatre on 42nd Street and all the dancers were cast at BDC where she is a is a long time teacher.
Amanda is a board certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist , and a member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). She brings all of these principles of balance of the mind, body, and spirit to her teaching and choreography.
Read lessClass Descriptions
Ms Turner's warm up is jazz and modern based yet the advanced level contains strong components of ballet structure and yoga. Be prepared to work. Her style is unique based on her European influences and her deep investment in the work of Bob Fosse and Jack Cole. The warm up includes Graham and Horton exercises and a fusion of style that you will be asked to continue into the choreography. Class is inclusive and will require you to work with others, sometimes improvise, and be a team player.
After a substantial technical warm up, you will be asked to move across the floor in a stylized way, work with props or explore a character/movement improvisation. Each class will be different due to time constraints. Choreography will be strongly stylized and prepare you for auditions across the Broadway spectrum.
Please wear form fitting professional dance attire (unless you speak with me regarding a special circumstance), professional dance shoes- flats and heels (occasionally bare foot). Most importantly bring a positive attitude no matter what is happening in your life. We are a dance community and “I got you”!!!