| Amanda Showell Cook Executive Director /Owner of Dancing on the shore, Professional Dance Instructor Amanda started dancing ballet and tap at 6 years old. Intrigued by her parents social ballroom dance lessons she started taking ballroom dancing at the age of 9. From that time Amanda knew ballroom dancing would be her life path. Amanda entered in her first competition at the age of 10. From there Amanda would go on to become US Amateur Junior Pro - am Champion in both International Latin & Standard , Ohio Star Ball ( Now the world pro - am championships ) Ladies Pro - Am Adult Standard Champion and US National Grand Finalist in International Standard, Latin and American Smooth. Before turning professional Amanda went undefeated in the International Standard for over a year. In 1996 Amanda decided to turn professional and began teaching. Amanda competed in the Professional International Standard division from 1996 - 2001. Some of her titles included 2000 & 2001 US PROFESSIONAL RISING STAR STANDARD GRAND FINALIST 2001SOUTHEASTERN US RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL CHAMPION 2000 DANCESPORT MONTREAL RISING STAR STANDARD CHAMPION Amanda is proud to have instructed at some of the largest dance schools on the East Coast .She is also the former coach of the University of Delaware & Princeton University Dance Teams. In 2001 Amanda decided to retire from professional competition. At that time she also returned back to her native Eastern Shore of Maryland and began instructing in Easton. In the past 8 years she has built "Dancing on the shore" which has now expanded to be in 5 locations. She is available for private & group instruction in International Standard, Latin, American Smooth and Rhythm at all levels beginners to advance. Amanda is also Vice president of the Easton's USA dance chapter. Amanda resides in Greensboro, MD with her husband Earnest. Aggie started getting professional dance training about 10 years ago when she walked into an Arthur Murray Dance Studio in San Diego, California. Although she had been partner dancing (mostly waltz and swing) most of her life, with her father back in Poland, she never had any formal training prior to deciding to walk into a dance studio. Very shortly after placing 1st in her first few amateur competitions, she started competing Pro/Am with her dance teacher at competitions all over the U.S. She specialized in American Rhythm and Salsa and in her last amateur competition placed third in the world in Arthur Murray's American Rhythm Open Championship. Soon after she was offered a teaching position. Aggie has experience teaching all levels, putting together many wedding routines and competing with her students at all levels of dance. She has had training from some of the best professional dancers in both American Rhythm and Smooth. About a year and a half ago, Aggie decided she wanted to start a family and due to medical issues had to stop teaching. She is now a proud mother of her daughter Lana and after moving from San Diego to the Eastern Shore to be close to family, she is itching to go back to doing what she loves - teaching dance. Sandra Showell has been dancing on and off for the past 20 years. Her and her husband Frank started taking dance lessons in 1988 as a fun social activity. Not long after they began dancing did their 9 year old daughter Amanda fall in love with ballroom. Sandra and Frank continued to dance while supporting their young daughters budding career along the way. Sandra has competed in many dance competitions including the Ohio Star Ball which is aired on PBS. Sandra ran her own dance studio and banquet facility in Wilmington Delaware. Sadly, Frank would never get to see her dance studio as he passed away two weeks before construction began. Sandra will be teaching the beginner group class at The Studio in St. Michaels & at the Academy Art Museum in Easton. She is proud to be able to teach classes in a town that she loves and ran an antique business in for many years. Sandra will also be available for private lesson. Local instructor and social dancer, Pam Wood, is a charter member and past president of the local USA Dance Chapter of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She has been ballroom dancing since 2005. Under the training of Amanda Showell Cook of Dancing on the Shore, Pam began her training to teach beginner lessons in Salisbury in September 2007. In April 2008 she launched “Ballroom Made Simple”. She now teaches seven styles of dance: Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Swing, Cha Cha, Salsa and Tango. She strives hard to help new dancers avoid developing bad habits before they are learned. She has been trained to teach both the lead and follow steps and works equally well with male and female clients. Pam is eager to share her love of ballroom dancing - particularly with those who say they are dancing impaired or rhythmically challenged. Pam will be a guest instructor for Dancing on the Shore in 2010 |



