Amanda Russell returns to Fossemalle Dance Studio as a teacher
Amanda Russell’s childhood dream was to become a ballerina, and her mother made sure to provide her with whatever she needed to fulfill that dream. And through hard work and dedication, that dream has been fulfilled. She was recently asked to join the staff at Fossemalle Dance Studio in Santa Ynez as a new dance teacher.
“I was basically raised at Fossemalle Dance Studio having started dance classes when I was 5 years old,” said Russell.“My first ballet dance performance was in 2011, and I wore an angel costume with wings and held a little candle. I was in awe of the older dancers and was determined to learn ballet no matter what.
“My mother raised me by herself since I was 2 and she never failed to keep me in dance classes, working several jobs so she could support my passion,” said Russell emotionally.
In time, Russell added jazz, tap, and hip-hop into her curriculum of classes. She began performing in the Christmas tree lighting dances featuring tap and ballet. The opportunities only grew as she moved into the advanced dance classes.
While attending Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, she taught basic ballet and tap as a side job at the Buellton Rec Center, taking her inspiration from Fossemalle’s classes, which she continued to take. She also occasionally stepped in as a substitute teacher at Fossemalle Dance Studio.
“I was privileged to have the opportunity to perform at the Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley in celebration of the life of Marta Becket, performer, artist, and friend of Christine’s,” she said. “That was a wonderful experience.”
Russell continued to pursue her passion for dance by applying for intensive workshops and auditioning for stage performances.
“I auditioned with the American Ballet Theater for an intensive workshop and was selected to go to Texas, but I had to decline. But that summer, I auditioned for ’42nd Street’ with Arts Outreach and tapped my heart out. That was the start of my career,” she said. “I continued doing theater at the high school with Jeff McKinnon until I graduated. I would do theater at the high school and then come after school to take dance classes. Those times were hard because of Covid. We had to dance outside and ultimately do our annual performance on Zoom. Miss Fossemalle made sure the stage outside was clean and dry and safe for the dancers.”
Russell would continue her passion for dance as she furthered her education.
“After graduation, I went to Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) intending to study animal science, but quickly shifted my focus back to theater, a field I had experienced, been involved in, and enjoyed in high school,” she said. “I was a part of two SBCC Theatre Group productions which led me to audition for various theater programs throughout the country. I was accepted at three places: Emerson in Boston, Marymount in Manhattan, and at the equally prestigious Pacific Coast Performing Arts Program (PCPA), and I chose PCPA to be close to home and to the beach.”
Due to her heavy dance background, Russell was granted several professional opportunities at PCPA while still a studentin their rigorous acting program. She was an ensemble swing for “Cinderella” (2022), ensemble member and Dance Captain for “BrightStar” (2023), ensemble member and Assistant Choreographer for “Elf” (2023), Assistant Choreographer for “Little Shop of Horrors” (2024), and ensemble member/co-choreographer for “The Clockmaker’sDaughter” (2024). Upon graduation, PCPA granted Russell the Kobelt Family Dance Scholarship in recognition of not only her diligence and commitment to each production but also her knowledge and expertise in the art of dance.
“I was in their two-year acting program and graduated in May of this year. While I was a student there, I was fortunate to be a part of several productions, mostly because of my dance background. I was even given the opportunity to be dance captain as well as assistant choreographer in ‘Elf’ the musical. I loved working with George Walker, the lead in the musical as well as the director/choreographer, and Keenon Hooks, who recognized my dancing skill and asked me to assist him in creating several productions. They both were such great mentors to me.”
After graduation, Russell was asked by Fossemalle to perform in the studio’s anniversary showcase, which included many former dancers from around the country who had graduated from Fossemalle’s Dance Studio.
“From March through June, I danced at Fossemalle’s Dance Studio, preparing for her 35th Anniversary show which took place in the Little Theater at the high school,” she said. “Christine asked me if I wanted to be in more of the dance productions and I was slightly overwhelmed but thrilled. Christine then asked me to come and be part of the staff.
Fossemalle said she feels proud to have her former student return as a teacher.
“I knew her passion for performance and dance was strong. I had worked with her before, and I knew of her dedication and dependability and I wanted her to become part of our team,” said Fossemalle. “It makes me feel so special that I have Sonia Ibarra-Corona, who I taught since she was 4 years old and now Amanda Russell, who I taught since she was 5, both now teaching dance with me at the studio with passion and love, sharing the art of dance with the next generation. It’s like passing on my legacy.”
Russell started teaching jazz and tap in September at the studio for beginners and will be adding an adult tap class using her experience training actors how to tap at PCPA.
“I am honored to join the women who shaped my life,” Russell said. “I have come full circle, back to the beginning, and back to my dance home. And I am thrilled to be a part of the team.”
For more information, call Fossemalle Dance Studio at (805) 688-8494.
Feature Image: Amanda Russell (right), shown here with studio founder Christine Fossemalle, is a new dance teacher at Fossemalle’s Dance Studio. Photo by Devyn Marseilles
