Staff
Meet the Staff
Meet the Owner - Amanda Davis
With a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance from Loyola Marymount University, 20 years of teaching experience, and 13 years of studio and production management behind her, Amanda Davis is the proud founder and owner of Transitions Dance Center. Amanda has been a member of the Yuba-Sutter community for nearly 30 years. She has worked on numerous community projects and performances - choreographing for the Yuba College Theatre Department and The Acting Company, acting as Cast Coordinator for Adventist and Rideout's, "Dancing With Our Stars", and as an assistant choreographer for Way, Way, Way Off Broadway to name a few. She is excited to open Transitions Dance Center and create a space for dancers to develop and grow as artists and humans.
Instructor - Sami Chizek
Samantha Chizek, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She graduated from Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts (high school) in 2015 and returned in Spring 2018 to teach Ballet, Jazz, Tap to 7th - 12th grade students. She completed her B.A. in Dance at California State University, Sacramento in 2021. Has been dancing in the Yuba-Sutter and Sacramento area for 20 years and has the pleasure of dancing in pieces by Keri LaGrand, G. Madison IV, Mike Esperanza, Melecio Estrella of Bandalooping and Darrius Strong of STRONGmovement. She has worked with professors from both San Diego State University and Sacramento State University including; Leslie Seiters, Joe Alter, Bernard Brown, Lorelei Bayne, Megan Brunsvold-Mercedes, and Philip Flickinger.
Samantha is currently a member of Borne Dance Company, a contemporary dance company based in Sacramento and New York. Borne Dance Company is dedicated to raising awareness to mental health, eating disorders, body positivity through art and movement.
She has choreographed in various styles for competitive dance teams, who have competed and participated in workshops/conventions all over California and Nevada. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance and being able to share such an art form with the students.
“To touch, to move, to inspire. This is the true gift of dance.” -Aubrey Lynch
Instructor - Andrea Dunham
Biography Coming Soon
Instructor - Shelley Fish
Shelley Fish started her gymnastics training at age 10. Her training led her to a private gymnastics club where she was a competitive gymnast all the way through her days at Chico State University. While on the Women’s Gymnastics Team at Chico state, she advanced all the way to Nationals where she was able to compete in Springfield, Massachusetts. Shelley spent several years teaching, choreographing and judging gymnastics and is excited to bring her knowledge into the classroom with the dancers at TDC.
Instructor - Angelica Gomer
Angelica Gomer, a dancer, a teacher and a therapist. Angelica has been dancing for 20+ years and has been teaching for a little over 3 years. She grew up in the Yuba- Sutter area and loved her roots in performing, competing and learning new styles.
Angelica received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Whitworth University in 2019 with a double minor in Sociology and Dance. While at Whitworth she preformed for three consecutive years in the American College Association and had the privilege from learning from a variety of college professors.
In 2021 she received her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from William Jessup University and is currently working as a marriage and family therapist.
Angelica also teaches contemporary at Rising Stars. She enjoys being able to pursue the things she loves in a variety of ways and aims to create an environment where dance is fun, positive and creative.
Instructor - Lena Bautista
Lena Bautista started dancing when she was 6 years old, and has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and her absolute favorite, Hip Hop! She's worked with choreographers and master teachers such as G. Madison IV, Nico O'Connor, and Kelsey Cena. When she isn't on the dance floor, you can find her at the Paul Mitchell School for Cosmetology where Lena is working to obtain her Cosmetology License!
We love how excited Miss Lena is to be a part of the TDC family and love that she pours her passion for Hip Hop into teaching.
Instructor - Katelyn Counts
Biography Coming Soon
Instructor - Mariah Larios
Biography Coming Soon
Instructor - Tiffani Powell
Tiffani Powell is a dancer, teacher, award winning choreographer and spoken word poet from Washington D.C. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of Maryland at College Park and has 30 years teaching experience in studios, universities and outreach programs. Tiffani performed with several professional dance companies in Boston and Washington D.C. traveling nationally and internationally before settling in California in 2005. Her passion for dance goes beyond the movement. Tiffani believes that dance is breath & personal expression that fosters joy in all aspects of life.
Instructors
Transitions Dance Center has qualified instructors ready to meet your dancers' needs. If you are interested in joining the faculty at TDC, please send your resume to amanda@transitionsdance.com