THE SWINGDANCEVEGAS ACADEMY
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      • Anthony Sham
      • Gabriel Spitzer
      • Hector Garcia
      • Jen Jeong
      • Nick Peterson
      • Stephanie Paloma
      • Stephanie Demetreon
      • Valerie Harrison
  • Classes
    • Beginning Vintage Swing Dance Lessons (Tuesdays, 7p)
    • Professor Jitterbug's School of Dance (Wednesdays, 7p)
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    • Swing Dances >
      • Balboa
    • Group Dances >
      • The Shim Sham
      • The Madison
      • The Tranky Doo
      • The Jitterbug Stroll
      • The London Stroll
  • New Students
    • Section 101 Lessons >
      • Counting to Music 101
      • Dancing to Music 101
      • Practicing 101
    • Before Your First Class

Amanda Dickens

Picture

When Did you Start dancing?

December 2013

How did you start dancing?

I first encountered swing dancing at Arizona State University in December of 2013. My introduction to dance was a Latin Swing and Ballroom class. Soon after the first class, I was invited to the local swing club on campus and learned swing outs on the first night. Falling in love with the music and the dance, I began going to classes and learning about vernacular jazz, six count and eight count swing, Charleston, collegiate shag, St Louis Shag, blues and one of my personal favorites, Balboa. While in Arizona, I participated on the dance team, The Phoenix Bomb Squad and three solo Jazz teams.

In May of 2020, I moved to Las Vegas and became dance partners with Justus Kerr. In fall if 2021, I  joined the SwingDanceVegas Academy as an instructor. I am can often be found teaching our weekly, drop-in Beginning Vintage Swing Lessons, solo jazz and Charleston classes with Justus and Balboa with fellow SwingDanceVegas Academy instructor Nick.

What vintage or modern Swing dancer should everyone watch?

Laura Glaess ​
If you like what you see and would like to learn more from Laura Glaess, support her on Patreon here.

What swing artist do you recommend new dancers check out?

Ella Fitzgerald

What is one swing album every dancer should listen to?

The Wildest! by Louis Prima

HOw about one song every one needs to dance to at least once?

"Sermonette" by Earl Grant

The dance clip that all new dancers need to see is...:

"What is Swing?" by Laura Glaess

Words of Wisdom

I'll give back the best advice ever given to me and that I use all the time: 

"Just put on a song and wiggle to it."
"Playing Around with Solo Jazz" featuring Amanda, Justus & Julie

The Swing DanCe vegas academy Motto

The best time to learn how to Swing dance was 20 years ago. The second best time is today!

Contact Us

  • Home
    • SDVA Instructors >
      • Anthony Sham
      • Gabriel Spitzer
      • Hector Garcia
      • Jen Jeong
      • Nick Peterson
      • Stephanie Paloma
      • Stephanie Demetreon
      • Valerie Harrison
  • Classes
    • Beginning Vintage Swing Dance Lessons (Tuesdays, 7p)
    • Professor Jitterbug's School of Dance (Wednesdays, 7p)
  • Events
    • Weekly & Monthly Events
    • SwingDanceVegas Events
    • SwingDanceVegas Academy Events
  • Study Materials
    • Swing Dances >
      • Balboa
    • Group Dances >
      • The Shim Sham
      • The Madison
      • The Tranky Doo
      • The Jitterbug Stroll
      • The London Stroll
  • New Students
    • Section 101 Lessons >
      • Counting to Music 101
      • Dancing to Music 101
      • Practicing 101
    • Before Your First Class