Amanda Coatham - Artistic Director
Amanda Coatham has been an instructor/choreographer in the Greater Toronto Area for the past ten years. She has been called upon to instruct for competitive and recreational studios, as well as professional and educational institutions. Her energy, passion, and enthusiastic teaching style excite and motivate all students to become the best dancer they can be!
Amanda trained with Vlad’s Dance Company, Derosiers Dance Theatre, and National Dance Canada. Her training began as a competitive dancer. This is where she won awards such as; Highest Mark in Solo Performance, Best Overall Soloist, Ms. Dance ’99 to name a few.
Since then she has performed with many different dance companies. Touring Ontario with the Ontario Ballet Theatre with “The Nutcracker”, touring Canada with The Next Step Canadian Tap Company with “The Rhythm Of Life”, and touring the US as dance captain with Jean Ann Ryan Productions.
Amanda also toured Europe with Molyneux Entertainment, and Gary Musick Productions performing in productions shows such as, “Spotlight Broadway”, ”Celebrate The World”, “Fantasy”, “Rhythm Of The Night”,
“Ces Magnifique”, “Classique”, and “Let’s Rock”. As well, she and her husband Alexander Chifman were thrilled to be the adagio couple for all of these productions shows.
Her ballet repertoire includes; The Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Spanish Variation, and Doll Soloist, (The Nutcracker).
Amanda is no stranger to the camera. Her music videos include, “Here Comes The Sunshine” by Love Inc. (This video won Best Dance Video of 2000 at the Much Music Awards) and “Dear Life” by Chantal Kreviasik. She has performed in movies by Disney “Angels In The Infield”, ABC “A Mothers Day Special” & “Mr. Rock and Roll, The Allan Freed Story”, and Lionheart Productions “Jodi” & “Taal”, as well as commercials for CBC and the Heritage Channel.
One of Amanda’s favourite moments in her career was tapping with Gregory Hines in a show directed by George Randolph, as a tribute to Gregory.
Over the years Amanda’s students have won countless awards, scholarships, and titles at national competitions. Three of her past students were accepted into the National School of Ballet, and several have become professional.
As a choreographer Amanda often has judges comment on her innovative choreography and style. In the past her routines have won Specialty Awards, a Rhythm Cup, and in 2004 Amanda was honoured to receive the Young Choreographer Award for both Junior and Senior divisions at The American Dance Awards. In seasons passed her routines have been named as “Best Presentation”, “Most Entertaining”, “The Total Package” and more!
Apart from choreographing hundreds of winning competitive routines she also has choreographed two full-length productions shows, “Swing, Swing, Swing!” and “Hometown USA”, for Regal Cruises. Amanda enjoyed her time on her children’s production of “Singing In The Rain” in 2004 and wowed audience members in 2008 with an hour long Dance/Acting production, “Pirates of The Caribbean; The Curse of The Black Pearl!”
Amanda’s extensive experience in all areas of dance have allowed her to have a wonderful and exciting career. It is this wide variety of knowledge she wishes to share with all of her students, past, present and future!