Amanda Adams HuntOwner and Artistic DirectorAmanda Hunt is studio owner, artistic director, and a lifelong dancer and dance teacher. At age five, she began dance training at Julia Roberts School of Dance in Grand Prairie. She majored in ballet and modern dance at Texas Christian University, where she traveled the Southwest Conference performing as a TCU Show Girl. In 1993, she opened Amanda's Dance Express, also known as ADX Dance, in Grand Prairie, TX.
Amanda's performing credits include the Children's Dance Theater, Bruce Lea Dance Factory, and TCU Department of Ballet and Modern Dance. Her choreography credits include the Irving Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker, Grand Prairie Community Theatre's production of The Music Man, ADX Dance Concerts and award-winning competition material for ADX Xtreme Dancers, ADX Dance's nationally ranked performing company and competition team.
Now in its 31st dance season, Amanda is proud of ADX and the Dallas/Ft. Worth dance studio legacy that it has become. She is grateful for the support that fellow ADX dance faculty, employees, parents, and, most importantly, students have given her. Watching young people grow, learn, change, and develop their dance abilities and confidence makes her the happiest.
Amanda now has generations of dancers coming to the studio – moms and aunts who grew up dancing recreationally or competitively bring their children or extended family members to ADX. Many of her former dance students have gone on to dance with college dance teams, study dance in college, become dance teachers in school districts, and even dance studio owners.
Amanda has always believed that ADX is more than dance. It's a home away from home where students learn classical dance techniques and receive well-rounded dance training. It's also a place where children and teens are coached and learn proper self-care, social etiquette, and stage presence, which all together translate into valuable life skills. She looks forward to continuing to share her expertise and love of "all things dance" for many years!
Shelby AndersonOffice Manager and InstructorShelby Anderson is a 2012 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas, where she was a four-year dancer. She began her dance training in 1996 at ADX. She has studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, musical theatre, and international dance styles.
Shelby performed the choreography of or studied under: Garfield Lemonius, Paula Morgan, Danny Tidwell, Clifford Williams, Robert Battle, Linda James, Jennifer Mabus, Kyle Richards, Kate Walker, Bridget Moore, Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, Lily Cabatu-Weiss, Kitty Carter, Pam Chu, Tyce Diorio, Melody Lacayanya, Nick Lazzarini, Keri Legrand, Caroline Lewis, Kim McSwain, Desiree Robins, Benji Schwimmer, Joey Tarwater, Sonya Tayeh, Joe Tremaine, Nick DiNicolangelo, Laurie Johnson, Dee Caspary, Justin Jiles, Doug Caldwell, Chris Jacobsen, Mia Micheals, Mandy Moore, Wade Robson, Marty Dew, Gil Duldulao, Napolean & Tabitha Dumo, Comfort Fedoke, Micha Gabriel, Lauireann Gibson, Darrin Henson, Chris Judd, Dave Scott, Jamal Sims, Shane Sparks and Nick Zboroski.
Shelby’s dance strengths are jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and hip-hop. She competed as an ADX Xtreme Dancer, including the ADX Images Contemporary and ADX FIRE! Hip-hop performing companies.
Lauren ChickInstructorLauren Chick, born in Plano, Texas, began her ballet training at age two and received most of her ballet training at Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of Lisa Slagle. She attended multiple summer intensives, including American Ballet Theatre NYC, Alonzo King Lines Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater. Lauren started dancing with Texas Ballet Theater in 2018, performing with the company in ballets such as Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Lauren is excited to pass on her knowledge and love of ballet to the next generation of students.
Suzanne GreenInstructorMargie HollywoodInstructorMargie Hollywood was one of ADX's first performing company dancers when the studio opened in 1993. She started as a dance assistant in 1996 and has taught dance at ADX ever since. Margie studied ballet, modern, jazz, and folk dance at Tarrant County College, Texas Woman's University, and the University of Texas at Arlington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Education degree from Southern Methodist University.
Her dance training and teaching experience were invaluable preparation for her position as Director of the award-winning South Grand Prairie High School Indi-Anne and Chey-Anne Dance Teams from 2000-2006. Margie has choreographed for musical theatre, including the city of Grand Prairie's Once Upon a Mattress and SGPHS's Once on This Island and Aida productions. In addition to her experience performing at dance competitions, Margie has been called upon to judge drill team auditions around the DFW metroplex.
Margie teaches Pre-AP World History and AP European History at South Grand Prairie High School and serves as the Social Studies Department Chair. She received the SGPHS Teacher of the Year Award in 2012. Margie credits her training at ADX for her confidence and love of teaching, which has carried over into all her endeavors.
Margie teaches ballet, tap, and jazz to ADX's youngest and tiniest dancers in Creative Movement, PK1, PKII, and Baby Stars. She also teaches Beginning Jazz and Tap, ages 9-12. No matter which class, she enjoys teaching ALL ages, from babies to adults. She believes dance is an excellent way to build confidence, provide socialization, instill an appreciation for the arts, and provide an outlet for the soul!
ADX Dance is incredibly lucky to have Ms. Margie on staff for over 25 years. Her gift of teaching babies and young children is unparalleled. Her classes are the backbone of a strong dance foundation and set ADX's students up for success, whether they grow up as recreational or competition dancers.
Ethan SlaughterInstructorEthan Slaughter is a native of Dallas, Texas, and is currently working to achieve his degree in dance education. Slaughter began his dance training at the age of five. He has had extensive education/training with multiple ballet programs, including American Ballet Theater, Ballet Austin, and Ballet Academy of Texas.
Throughout his dance career, Slaughter has danced professionally for companies such as Ballet Dallas, Incredible Productions, International Ballet Theater, Chamberlain Ballet, and Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). At 20 years old, Slaughter is working as an instructor for all different styles of dance at Eminence Dance Complex and Rhythmic Souls Tap Company, as well as a lead assistant with Dupree Dance Convention. He also is certified to instruct AcroDance by Acrobatic Arts.
Joseph TarwaterInstructorRiTaijah ThurmanInstructorRiTaijah Thurman was raised in Dallas, TX, and began dancing at ADX Dance at age 8. She’s trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, pointe, and improvisation. She also has skills in tumbling and aerial arts.
RiTaijah graduated high school from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy (Dance strand) in 2015. She then attended Texas Woman's University and graduated in 2019 with a BA in dance and a minor in education. At both schools, she performed in numerous shows. She worked with instructors and choreographers such as Comfort Fedoke, Kathy Dunn Hamrick, Jeff Amsden, Elise LaValle, ShirJuanda Woodson, Tina Menchaca, Chloe Langley, Jennifer Mabus, Erika Record-Sparks, Jaiquan Laurencin, YeaJean Choi, Jenna Jang, Ciceley Fullylove, Matthew Henley, Jordan Fuchs, Sarah Gamblin, and Mary Williford-Shade.
After college, she danced with the Terrance M. Johnson Dance Project for one year. As a company member, she performed all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and in Louisiana with artists such as Raheem DeVaughn and Reuben Lael. In addition to choreographing for ADX Xtreme Dance, ADX’s competition team, she has choreographed for Reagan Middle School Dance Company and Central High School Lightning Dancers.
RiTaijah is in her 3rd year as a teacher in Grand Prairie ISD. She taught dance at Garner Fine Arts Academy for 2 years. Currently, she is a dance teacher at Reagan Middle School. RiTaijah has a huge passion for both teaching and performing. She hopes to do both for the rest of her life!
ADX Dance is very grateful and honored to have another one of its homegrown dancer-turned-teachers on staff.
Lola DavisGuest InstructorMadison LievrouwGuest Instructor
Amanda Hunt is studio owner, artistic director, and a lifelong dancer and dance teacher. At age five, she began dance training at Julia Roberts School of Dance in Grand Prairie. She majored in ballet and modern dance at Texas Christian University, where she traveled the Southwest Conference performing as a TCU Show Girl. In 1993, she opened Amanda's Dance Express, also known as ADX Dance, in Grand Prairie, TX.
Amanda's performing credits include the Children's Dance Theater, Bruce Lea Dance Factory, and TCU Department of Ballet and Modern Dance. Her choreography credits include the Irving Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker, Grand Prairie Community Theatre's production of The Music Man, ADX Dance Concerts and award-winning competition material for ADX Xtreme Dancers, ADX Dance's nationally ranked performing company and competition team.
Now in its 31st dance season, Amanda is proud of ADX and the Dallas/Ft. Worth dance studio legacy that it has become. She is grateful for the support that fellow ADX dance faculty, employees, parents, and, most importantly, students have given her. Watching young people grow, learn, change, and develop their dance abilities and confidence makes her the happiest.
Amanda now has generations of dancers coming to the studio – moms and aunts who grew up dancing recreationally or competitively bring their children or extended family members to ADX. Many of her former dance students have gone on to dance with college dance teams, study dance in college, become dance teachers in school districts, and even dance studio owners.
Amanda has always believed that ADX is more than dance. It's a home away from home where students learn classical dance techniques and receive well-rounded dance training. It's also a place where children and teens are coached and learn proper self-care, social etiquette, and stage presence, which all together translate into valuable life skills. She looks forward to continuing to share her expertise and love of "all things dance" for many years!
Shelby Anderson is a 2012 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas, where she was a four-year dancer. She began her dance training in 1996 at ADX. She has studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, pointe, musical theatre, and international dance styles.
Shelby performed the choreography of or studied under: Garfield Lemonius, Paula Morgan, Danny Tidwell, Clifford Williams, Robert Battle, Linda James, Jennifer Mabus, Kyle Richards, Kate Walker, Bridget Moore, Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, Lily Cabatu-Weiss, Kitty Carter, Pam Chu, Tyce Diorio, Melody Lacayanya, Nick Lazzarini, Keri Legrand, Caroline Lewis, Kim McSwain, Desiree Robins, Benji Schwimmer, Joey Tarwater, Sonya Tayeh, Joe Tremaine, Nick DiNicolangelo, Laurie Johnson, Dee Caspary, Justin Jiles, Doug Caldwell, Chris Jacobsen, Mia Micheals, Mandy Moore, Wade Robson, Marty Dew, Gil Duldulao, Napolean & Tabitha Dumo, Comfort Fedoke, Micha Gabriel, Lauireann Gibson, Darrin Henson, Chris Judd, Dave Scott, Jamal Sims, Shane Sparks and Nick Zboroski.
Shelby’s dance strengths are jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and hip-hop. She competed as an ADX Xtreme Dancer, including the ADX Images Contemporary and ADX FIRE! Hip-hop performing companies.
Lauren Chick, born in Plano, Texas, began her ballet training at age two and received most of her ballet training at Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of Lisa Slagle. She attended multiple summer intensives, including American Ballet Theatre NYC, Alonzo King Lines Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater. Lauren started dancing with Texas Ballet Theater in 2018, performing with the company in ballets such as Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Lauren is excited to pass on her knowledge and love of ballet to the next generation of students.
Margie Hollywood was one of ADX's first performing company dancers when the studio opened in 1993. She started as a dance assistant in 1996 and has taught dance at ADX ever since. Margie studied ballet, modern, jazz, and folk dance at Tarrant County College, Texas Woman's University, and the University of Texas at Arlington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master of Education degree from Southern Methodist University.
Her dance training and teaching experience were invaluable preparation for her position as Director of the award-winning South Grand Prairie High School Indi-Anne and Chey-Anne Dance Teams from 2000-2006. Margie has choreographed for musical theatre, including the city of Grand Prairie's Once Upon a Mattress and SGPHS's Once on This Island and Aida productions. In addition to her experience performing at dance competitions, Margie has been called upon to judge drill team auditions around the DFW metroplex.
Margie teaches Pre-AP World History and AP European History at South Grand Prairie High School and serves as the Social Studies Department Chair. She received the SGPHS Teacher of the Year Award in 2012. Margie credits her training at ADX for her confidence and love of teaching, which has carried over into all her endeavors.
Margie teaches ballet, tap, and jazz to ADX's youngest and tiniest dancers in Creative Movement, PK1, PKII, and Baby Stars. She also teaches Beginning Jazz and Tap, ages 9-12. No matter which class, she enjoys teaching ALL ages, from babies to adults. She believes dance is an excellent way to build confidence, provide socialization, instill an appreciation for the arts, and provide an outlet for the soul!
ADX Dance is incredibly lucky to have Ms. Margie on staff for over 25 years. Her gift of teaching babies and young children is unparalleled. Her classes are the backbone of a strong dance foundation and set ADX's students up for success, whether they grow up as recreational or competition dancers.
Ethan Slaughter is a native of Dallas, Texas, and is currently working to achieve his degree in dance education. Slaughter began his dance training at the age of five. He has had extensive education/training with multiple ballet programs, including American Ballet Theater, Ballet Austin, and Ballet Academy of Texas.
Throughout his dance career, Slaughter has danced professionally for companies such as Ballet Dallas, Incredible Productions, International Ballet Theater, Chamberlain Ballet, and Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). At 20 years old, Slaughter is working as an instructor for all different styles of dance at Eminence Dance Complex and Rhythmic Souls Tap Company, as well as a lead assistant with Dupree Dance Convention. He also is certified to instruct AcroDance by Acrobatic Arts.
RiTaijah Thurman was raised in Dallas, TX, and began dancing at ADX Dance at age 8. She’s trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern, pointe, and improvisation. She also has skills in tumbling and aerial arts.
RiTaijah graduated high school from Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy (Dance strand) in 2015. She then attended Texas Woman's University and graduated in 2019 with a BA in dance and a minor in education. At both schools, she performed in numerous shows. She worked with instructors and choreographers such as Comfort Fedoke, Kathy Dunn Hamrick, Jeff Amsden, Elise LaValle, ShirJuanda Woodson, Tina Menchaca, Chloe Langley, Jennifer Mabus, Erika Record-Sparks, Jaiquan Laurencin, YeaJean Choi, Jenna Jang, Ciceley Fullylove, Matthew Henley, Jordan Fuchs, Sarah Gamblin, and Mary Williford-Shade.
After college, she danced with the Terrance M. Johnson Dance Project for one year. As a company member, she performed all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and in Louisiana with artists such as Raheem DeVaughn and Reuben Lael. In addition to choreographing for ADX Xtreme Dance, ADX’s competition team, she has choreographed for Reagan Middle School Dance Company and Central High School Lightning Dancers.
RiTaijah is in her 3rd year as a teacher in Grand Prairie ISD. She taught dance at Garner Fine Arts Academy for 2 years. Currently, she is a dance teacher at Reagan Middle School. RiTaijah has a huge passion for both teaching and performing. She hopes to do both for the rest of her life!
ADX Dance is very grateful and honored to have another one of its homegrown dancer-turned-teachers on staff.