Amanda Bishop was raised in Bakersfield, CA. At the age of 10 after years of demonstrating her serious obsession with ballet, her parent enrolled her in Martha Knight’s Bakersfield Ballet Theatre. A couple of years later, she discovered Civic Dance Center where she was inspired to further her training. Some of her favorite childhood memories are of her years at Civic, including performances in The Nutcracker.

In 8th grade, Amanda was given a chance to teach the ballet unit to her school dance class. Trying to figure out how to teach her peers, and seeing how it encouraged their well-being, was enough to hook her on teaching ballet. She found people and places where she could teach and choreograph, and with whom she could share her joy and passion. Twenty-five years of teaching later, she is very grateful to be back at her “Home Studio” of Civic, doing what she deeply loves.

Amanda earned certifications through University of Nevada Las Vegas Dance Teacher University, Acrobatic Arts, and has studied at The Rock School for Dance Education, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet West, and Lansing Community College.

She also earned a personal training certification from the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America. She holds a 200-hour certification in Yoga Teacher Training from Soul Strong Yoga of Round Rock Texas, and has nearly completed a total of 500 hours of yoga teacher training.

She has been married to Steve Bishop for 23 years. They are the parents to 8 children.

Amanda’s love of people with her desire to help her students grow in a nurturing environment is her trademark teaching style.