Dancing on Both Coasts: AMDA’s Dual Presence in NYC and L.A. Prepares Students for Broadway and Commercial Dance

Whether AMDA students are attending school at its Los Angeles campus or its New York campus, they are immersed in each city’s performing arts industry from day one. The Los Angeles campus, based in Hollywood, sits directly across from the historic Capitol Records Building, while the New York City campus, located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, abuts Lincoln Center. Students can choose to split their time between the two hubs. “On both campuses, we try to expose the dance students to as much as we possibly can,” says New York Dance Division chair Michele Hart-Haviland.

AMDA’s focus in each location is to prepare dancers for professional careers. All of the dance faculty have worked professionally in the field, and AMDA regularly brings in guest choreographers. Students have performance opportunities, graduate with a professional reel, and are encouraged to experience dance beyond their campuses, seeing shows and taking classes at studios throughout their cities. 

It pays off. Hart-Haviland shares that AMDA alumni have gone on to join contemporary and ballet companies, perform on cruise ships, become NHL and NBA cheerleaders, and work as choreographers, filmmakers, health and fitness trainers, and content creators. But two common paths she sees are careers in musical theater and commercial dance. “If they’re coming to New York, it’s more likely that they want to pursue musical theater and Broadway,” says Hart-Haviland. “In Los Angeles, there’s more emphasis on commercial dance.” 

Here’s how two recent AMDA grads describe how their unique experiences on the Los Angeles and New York City campuses prepared them for careers in commercial dance and musical theater, respectively. 

Samantha Perna

2024 AMDA L.A. campus graduate, BFA in Dance 

Discovering commercial dance: When I came to L.A., I was focused mainly on jazz. AMDA offered me a lot of versatility. I was able to take hip hop, commercial jazz, and even heels, which is now one of my favorite styles of dance. These classes really allowed me to find myself as an artist. I discovered a lot of qualities that help me stand out in a room. Now there are so many opportunities that I’m seeking in the commercial world. 

Life after AMDA: Bloc Agency reached out to me, and I got signed right after graduating. I would love to do music videos or an upcoming tour or even films. 

How AMDA prepared her for a career: I owe a lot to AMDA for the dancer I am today. I learned to take risks and just be comfortable and confident with being so bold. 

AMDA provides a lot of open classes and productions and showcases, which really helped me cultivate experiences that I think will help me in the future. I had the honor to work with a lot of professional artists that they would bring in, working choreographers in the industry. 

Dancing off-campus: It depended on the semester, but I took class at least twice a week at Millennium Dance Complex or West Coast Dance Theatre to get a little taste of the outside world. 

Jake Trammel

2022 AMDA NYC campus graduate, Conservatory Certificate in Dance Theatre

Audition-ready: AMDA really teaches you what it’s like to be in that audition room, to feel comfortable and make it your playground. AMDA prepares you to build your book and know all forms of dance, building that great foundation to go into a call and not feel so nervous. 

Favorite classes: We had different styles of tap, grounded styles and Broadway soft-shoe. Dance history was pretty fun, as was gymnastics. I got so many skills that I use when I’m dancing.

Becoming a New Yorker: We were encouraged to see Broadway shows, and got free tickets from the school. It was so helpful to get out and see what the business is really like. It made me appreciate AMDA, because you get to see the wonder of New York. 

On making it to Broadway: I was a swing for the Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of The Great Gatsby, and now I’m making my Broadway debut in the same show. Plus, AMDA L.A. alum Cedric Dodd is the associate choreographer. When I got to AMDA, I really started to find my love and passion for this business. To accomplish this now is just a dream come true.