Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Tae.
Dancing since the age of three, Amanda attended New World School of the Arts High School in Downtown Miami. Continuing her education at Florida International University, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sports Management. In 2002, she graduated Magna Cum Laude on the Dean’s List as a member of both the Honor’s College and Phi Kappa Phi. Utilizing her background in Sports Management, she opened Focal Point Dance Studios in 2005, Tae Talent Agency in 2007, and Mosaic Dance Project, a nonprofit professional dance company in 2015.
Wanting to share her passion for dance with others, she continued teaching and choreographing while also performing professionally locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a constant and welcome presence in the community schools as a guest artist setting work and educating. As a choreographer she has received praise and recognition for her fresh and artistic approach to dancing. Her work extends beyond the walls of Focal Point Dance Studios to music video sets and concert stages for many artists and companies in the commercial music industry. As a teacher, her students have been honored with titles, high scores and special awards both regionally and nationally. Many have continued dancing, working professionally, gracing the big screen, and becoming teachers themselves.
She has performed and choreographed for a variety of shows, tours and films. She has worked with David Beckham, Pitbull, P. Diddy, Mase, Will Smith, Thalia, Enrique Iglesias, Lenny Kravitz, Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal, Christian Castro, and Method Man. Her clientele include Dodge, Mattel, Post Foods, MTV, Subway, Haig Club, Univision, Telemundo, Emilio Estefan’s Crescent Moon, EMI Records, BMI Records, Universal Records, Sony, and Nike. Some of her credits include the 3rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, MTV VMA’s, Dodge Dart featuring Pitbull, Honey Bunches of Oats, Premio Lo Nuestro, Latin Billboards, Subway commercials, Barbie Mattel Summit Fashion Show, and the movies Sex Drive starring Seth Green and James Marsden, and Bachelor Party II with funny faces Harland Williams and Greg Pitts. In addition, she directed and co-choreographed the grand prize-winning Dance Dub for Paramount Pictures’ Step Up 3D Dance Dub Contest, beating out the top studios The Edge in LA, Broadway Dance Center in NYC, and Studio 411 in Atlanta. Most recently, the talent she represents under Tae Talent Agency are all over Movie Box Office Hits: Rock of Ages, Step Up 4 Revolution, and Ghost Busters!
Among all her honors and achievements, none are as significant as the creation of Focal Point Dance Studios, Tae Talent Agency, and Mosaic Dance Project. All three were created as a means to bridge the recreational, competitive, professional, and nonprofit dance industries. While hoping to continuously influence and be impelled by the dance world, she plans on utilizing her multiple outlets to enrich and challenge this art form.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has always been and continues to be finding a home for my FP Family and students. The first and only studio I’ve ever worked for began a legal battle when I left which included my students. They of course lost on false pretenses but the process was incredibly painful. Keeping my head up, heart open, and knowing that everything comes out in the wash was key.
Please tell us about Focal Point Dance Studios.
Amanda Tae founded Focal Point Dance Studios in 2005 as a means of bridging the amateur dance world with the professional. From a modest single studio facility to a larger three studio complex, FP has become one of the nation’s top dance studios. Located just minutes from the Florida Turnpike, our facility has state-of-the-art sound systems and monitors to watch classes from the comfort of the front lobby.
FP offers professionally taught classes in Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, Contemporary, Ballroom, Breakdancing, and Acrobatics by some of the finest teachers Miami has to offer, as well as, advanced adult classes for those who still want to pursue their dance education after high school.
From ages 3 and up, FP combines a fun learning environment with energetic instructors to provide the best learning experience possible. We also keep class sizes to a minimum, guaranteeing individualized instruction and attention. Master Classes taught by professional dance teachers and choreographers from around the country are also available weekly to the public.
Simultaneously realizing the growing potential of talent in Miami and how few resources exist to assist the transition into the professional dance industry, FP brings a fresh new edge to the dance studio concept – training young dancers and providing them with the opportunity to work in professional environments such as television, film, music videos, and live shows. Working with networks such as MTV, BET, Univision, and Telemundo, as well as, music recording companies like Universal, EMI, BMI, and Sony.
Through dance, students at Focal Point learn discipline, good sportsmanship, physical fitness, and responsibility. Utilizing the many outlets dance has to offer, FP continues take dancers to the next level.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t think I’d have done anything differently necessarily… I stand by all the decisions I’ve made in the past. If I did it all again, I’d just be a little slower to trust, I’d be a bit more cautious with people, and I’d be more efficient than ever before!
Contact Info:
- Address: 12360 SW 127th Ave., Miami, Florida 33186
- Website: focalpointdancestudios.com
- Phone: 3052596960
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/focalpointdance
- Facebook: facebook.com/focalpointdancestudios
- Twitter: twitter.com/focalpointdance
Image Credit:
Mitchell Zachs of Magical Photography
Dave McMahan of Dave McMahan Photography
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