We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Lacount a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have six older brothers and sisters. When my older sisters went to dance I would be outside the studio with my mom watching through the window. I was 2 years old and I would jump up and down. My mom decided I might like dance too, so she signed me up. I’ve been dancing ever since. When I was around 9 years old I decided I would like to be a professional dancer. When I was 14 my mom and I packed up 2 suitcases and our 2 dogs and we moved to Los Angeles to pursue my career as a professional dancer.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Amanda LaCount is a well known professional hip hop dancer, choreographer, actress, singer, model, speaker, and influencer. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old. Amanda danced competitively and attended Denver School of the Arts as a Dance Major from 6th to 9th grade.
In 2015 Amanda moved from Colorado to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a professional dancer and actress. Amanda graduated with Honors from The Dance Academy at Champs Charter High School of Performing Arts. During the COVID-19 quarantine Amanda stayed active by working on her BA in Performing Arts with a focus in Dance Performance and she graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Mary’s College of California in the Spring 2022. Then, came the SAG strike in 2023 from July to November. Once again Amanda chose to further her education earning an MBA from the University of Illinois. This knowledge will be beneficial when she opens her own inclusive dance studio some day.
Some of her most notable dance performances include performing 3 times in Rihanna’s “Savage X Fenty” Show (once at NYFW) which is now streaming on Amazon Prime, dancing in the opening number of the Emmys, dancing with Ozuna at the Latin American Music Awards, dancing with Zoe Wees at the American Music Awards, dancing at Coachella with Lizzo, dancing with Meghan Trainor at the Radio Disney Music Awards, dancing with Kelsea Ballerini at the E! People’s Choice Awards, dancing on The Ellen Show with Keala Settle from “The Greatest Showman” movie, dancing with Mario Lopez on Access Hollywood, teaching dance moves on Good Morning America, dancing with Disney’s “Descendants 2” Cast on Dancing With the Stars, dancing on two Episodes of The Voice, dancing in Lady Gaga’s “Stupid Love” music video, dancing in Katy Perry’s “Swish Swish” music video feat. Nicki Minaj, and her own National Dance Tour “Amanda LaCount Live”. She traveled to Paris, France to be featured in the music video “Comme Une Reine” (Like A Queen) for Madame Monsieur. Amanda also appeared on. America’s Got Talent Season 15 as a competitor.
Amanda was the November 2018 Dance Spirit Magazine Cover, in the January 21, 2020 Dance Magazine, in People.com July 9, 2020, in the Winter 2019 Edition of Tiger Beat where she was named one of the “6 Dancers We Can’t Stop Watching”, and in the August 2021 Edition of Germany InStyle Magazine, and the Daily Mail. Amanda is very honored to have been part of Dove’s worldwide “#showus” campaign in ads and commercials; part of American Eagle Outfitter’s worldwide “Young Money” curvy jeans campaign in ads, store posters and commercials; JCPenneys “Here I Am: Plus Size Athletes Fit At Any Size” campaign, Athleta’s “Power of She” campaign, Sephora’s “We Belong” campaign, and numerous Nike campaigns. Most recently she can be seen in JLo’s Dolby ‘Love More’ Commercial and Busta Rhymes Walmart Christmas 2024 Commercial.
Currently Amanda trains at Millennium Dance Complex Los Angeles, Movement Lifestyle, TMilly TV, and Playground LA. Also, Amanda teaches at Millennium Dance Complex, Movement Lifestyle, OffStage GRV, and other studios in the Los Angeles area. Amanda has numerous choreography credits for a number of music videos and has assisted at Celebrity Dance Convention, and taught at Dallas Hip Hop Convention, MUV LA2NE Dance Convention, Phuz3d Convention, Maxt Out Summit, Move Dance Convention (London), numerous Zumba events, etc.
Finally, in 2019 Amanda played the role of Mermaid Alana (one of Ariel’s sisters) in ABC’s Disney “The Little Mermaid Live”. Other roles she played include Jenny in the film “Ali’s Realm,” 7 Episodes of “School of Rock” as a dancer and student, 2 Episodes of “Drama Club” as a dancer, on “Alexa and Katie” as a dancer and student, as a dancer in “ROAR” with Nicole Kidman, and co-starring roles on “Good Girls,” “Physical,” “Dress My Tour,” and “Euphoria.” Amanda also played an inclusive dancer for the Netflix movie “The Prom” starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. Her most recent movie credits include “Mean Girls” and as a Villain Kid Dancer in “Descendants 4: The Rise of Red.”
Amanda can’t wait to see what the future holds for her as she continues her mission of promoting confidence and body positivity. One of her goals is “to be the person I never had growing up” (to look up to as a role model).
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
#breakingthestereotype™
Amanda has her own movement #breakingthestereotype™ which promotes body positivity and the belief that every “body” is a dancer’s body. She is breaking the stereotype that all dancers must be tall, thin and blonde or brunette. Her philosophy is “If you love it, do it. It’s as simple as that.” Amanda is also a body positivity advocate. In 2019 she was the Guest Speaker and Performer at “Beautiful U” sponsored by Wood TV and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan. Amanda was on the “Werk the Skin You’re In: Body Positivity” Panel and Performed at the 2019 RuPaul’s DragCon at the Los Angeles Convention Center, attended the 2019 Count Me In Global Leadership Summit in Toronto, Canada, and she Spoke and Performed at the 2019 National Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Bloomington, Indiana.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I was 11 I had a dance studio director kick me out of his studio after a year because my body type did not fit his “vision” for the team. I was really down and wanted to quit dancing. My mom told me not to listen to him and to not stop dancing because of him. She found another dance studio for me and I kept dancing. I have been told by many people that I am too fat to be a dancer. My belief is that every “body” is a dancer’s body.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Amanda LaCount Live
- Youtube: Amanda LaCount Dance
- Other: Instagram – @amandalacount
Tik Tok – @amanda_lacount
Website – www.amandalacount.com
iMDB – imdb.me/amandalacount
Image Credits
1st Photo – Lee Gumbs Photography
Other Photos – Alissa Rose Photography