Pilates Professionals
Amanda Short (Artistic Director, Dance & Pilates Instructor) is a certified dance & Classical Pilates instructor and degreed educator whose passion for dance began as a child. After falling in love with dance at age 3 and studying various dance forms, she later attended the Governor’s School for the Arts Dance Department in Norfolk, VA throughout high school. She continued to study classical ballet and perform in college while pursuing her teaching degree from Old Dominion University. She completed her 600 hour Classical Pilates Comprehensive certification in 2006 and began teaching Pilates and ballet locally, later returning to college for her Masters degree. Amanda regularly attends continuing education workshops in both Pilates (The Classical Syllabus with Mejo Wiggins) and dance. Amanda is proud to be an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is also certified through Dance Educators of America with a specialty in classical ballet & CLI Studios continuing education. She is a member of DEA and NDEO. Blending her passion for dance and her love of education creates a unique focus on proper technique and safe and logical dance progression. After spending 10 years teaching various levels of middle and high school, she is a natural "teacher" whose highest honor is to witness the personal growth in her students and clients.
Brenda (Pilates Instructor) is a certified Classical Pilates instructor and Physical Therapist. She is thrilled to be at Allonge', introducing people to the Pilates Method and apparatus, especially her personal favorite, the Cadillac! Brenda is a graduate of the College of William and May and received her BSci in Biology. She went on to receive a Master of Physical Therapy degree at Cal State University Northridge, and trained at a Classical Pilates studio in Los Angeles. She has been a runner, gym rat, aerobics instructor, and a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) addict, but Pilates has remained her favorite form of exercise. Physical Therapy and Pilates go hand-in-hand for improving strength, posture, body awareness, and balance. Brenda has incorporated Pilates principles into her patient care for years, and now applies her PT skills to Pilates, modifying exercises in the studio for clients with injuries or pain issues. Outside of the studio, she can usually be found gardening, knitting, and hanging out with her cats.
Leigh Ann (Pilates Instructor, Suffolk/OBX) is a dance instructor, Certified Classical Pilates Instructor, and Program Coordinator at Allonge'. After falling in love with all styles of dance (and children) at a young age, Leigh Ann loves to share her passion with dancers to give them a strong technical foundation, an outlet for self-expression, and challenge the growth the whole person. She holds a CLI certification in dance, a certification in early childhood development , and YWAM leadership certification and served as part of the Performing Arts School staff for University of the Nations (YWAM). Leigh Ann has also enjoyed being director & coordinator of Kill Devil Hills homeschool chapter, youth leader for Rock Church and Crossover Church, and the Director of Children’s Ministry at Crossover Church. Her love of God, dance, and others creates a positive and inspiring classroom environment.