Meet Our Staff!

Amanda Bassett: (Owner/Director/Instructor)

Amanda received her B.F.A degree in Dance/Ballet at Point Park University under the direction of Susan Stowe. She has performed for many choreographers such as: Kiesha Lalama, Peter Merz, Gina Patterson, Francesca Harper, Megan Doyle, and also had the honor of performing Balanchine’s version of the Raymonda Variations. Amanda performed at City Center as a YAGP NYC Finalist. She has performed all over NYC including Carnegie Hall for choreographer Bill Hastings, and at Central Park for choreographer Ofelia De Mola and Yellow House Productions, and was a Lead Company Member with Community Dance Project NYC from 2011 to 2016. She has performed at Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre, Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Mark Morris Dance Center, 92nd St. Y, Peridance, Steps on Broadway, Dance Teachers Summit, DNA, Dixon Place, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Bridge for Dance, and more. Amanda is the Co-Founder of AGile Dance Collective, which is a dance company based in NYC and Westchester County. With the company she has choreographed several pieces of work that have been showcased throughout Manhattan and Westchester. Amanda has been teaching dance for over 10 years, and along the way has taught many notable students such as Hillary & Bill Clinton’s granddaughter (Charlotte Mezvinsky), Jimmy Fallon’s Daughter (Winnie Fallon), Alec Baldwin’s Daughter (Carmen Baldwin), and Martha Stewart’s Granddaughter (Jude Stewart). Amanda has also created and implemented a complete ballet curriculum for all ages 2-18. Amanda is honored to take all her years of training, performing, teaching and dedicate it all to On My Toes Dance Academy as the owner and studio director!

Cynthia Alonzo: (Instructor & Elite Team Choreographer)

Cynthia originally from Dutchess County, NY has been dancing for over 20 years. A 2013 graduate from Manhattanvile College, Cynthia received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance & Theater (concentration in Dance). In 2016 she was accepted into, and completed Broadway Dance Center’s prestigious Professional Semester. Cynthia has trained with some of the best in the business and has performed at such venues as Madison Square Garden, New York City Center, Walt Disney World, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Her choreography has been featured during pre-game and half-time for the New York Knicks, New York Liberty and the Brooklyn Nets. Cynthia is grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as an artist, and to share her knowledge and experiences with all of her students.

Simon Alexandris (Hip Hop)

Cassie DeNisco: (Social Media Manager/ Instructor & Team Choreographer)

Miss Cassie began dancing at the young age of 18 months, as soon as she could walk, at On My Toes Dance Academy. Throughout her years of dancing, she has trained in various styles such as ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, jazz, tap, and hip hop. She was also invited to be a member of OMT’s first ever Dance Company as well as participated in her high school’s dance team. Miss Cassie’s

love of dance evolved into a love for teaching dance and sharing her passion with students when she was asked to be an assistant teacher at only 13. In addition to dance, Miss Cassie participated in competitive cheerleading for over 10 years on an All-Star team. Through cheer, she received extensive training in tumbling and gymnastics. Miss Cassie brings this knowledge of strength, flexibility and tumble she learned from cheerleading to the dance classes she instructs. Miss Cassie continues to train and take classes as much as she’s able to locally and in New York City. She has now been teaching dance for over 5 years and has loved every minute of it. Miss Cassie’s passion for dance stemmed from her experience at On My Toes where the atmosphere is welcoming and inclusive for all dancers. She is now excited to be able to provide that same experience for other dancers and share her love of dance here at OMT.

April Hamner is in her 20th year as a highly sought after teacher, trainer, and choreographer. As a dancer she has received awards such as dancer of the weekend with New York City Dance Alliance, Miss senior showbiz, singed with Block agency NYC dancing for companies such as Old navy, Victoria’s Secret, and Tag Heuer. She has trained dancers on some of the top Dance teams in America including University of Minnesota, Louisiana State University, University of Colorado, and University of Tennessee. Many of whom also go on to be on professional cheer teams like Broncos, Brooklyn Nets, Nuggets, and Dallas Cowboys. She also has several students living in NYC and LA working as a professional dancer for many different companies such as the Rockettes, touring with An American in Paris, back up for Lady Gaga, and working with companies such as Immabeast. Worked for Universal Dance Association as both a high school and college staff member as well as Core Staff, choreographer, and judge. Former head coach for Valor Christian high school dance and assistant coach for the 10x national championship dance team at Hofstra University. Her dance team choreography, and consultant work has consistently placed in top 10 at both the high school and collegiate level.

Micki Bless: (Instructor & Petite Crew Choreographer)

Micki began her dance training at the age of 6 at Dance Works in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, she attended the Fordham University/Alvin Ailey American Dance School’s BFA program. During a hiatus from college, Micki was a featured dancer and magician’s assistant for The Bart Rockett Magic Show in Branson, Missouri. Micki completed her BFA at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, California. Immediately following her time at CalArts, she produced and choreographed, along with other CalArts alumni, shows in both Studio City, California and Edinburgh, Scotland. Micki has performed for various industrials and independent projects in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. In 2019 Micki was invited to perform in “Oceans of Violet” A Tribute to Prince, a charity fundraiser event in Portland, Maine to benefit the Recovery Community. Micki continues to dance and perform with the band Rubix Kube: the Ultimate 80s tribute band, across the country and internationally. She believes passionately in teaching dance to the younger generation and has been doing so for over 20 years.

Lizzy has been dancing since the age of three. She spent endless hours at her home studio, A&E Dance Studio taking dance lessons, assisting with dance classes, and competing with their dance team throughout the years. Her passion for the art really grew when she began teaching her own classes her senior year of high school and continued to grow from there as she began choreographing and building the confidence of their novice hip-hop competitive team. She attended several Dance Teacher Conventions, where she had the opportunity to continue her education, and even became YPAD Certified (Youth Protection Advocate in Dance). She absolutely loves sharing her passion and excitement for dance with her students and being able to watch her younger students grow, improve, and find so much joy in the art. She studied at Iona College where she majored in Criminal Justice, and minored in Performing Arts with a focus in Dance; performing in the college’s Dance Ensemble, with their Dance Team, and even representing Iona at ACDA (American College Dance Association). However, Lizzy’s love for dance was placed on pause as she pursued her dreams of becoming a Law Enforcement Officer and went through a grueling six months of Police Academy. Lizzy is currently working as a Deputy Sheriff with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and is the School Resource Officer at C.V. Starr Intermediate School in Brewster. She is also a certified EMT. She is very excited to begin teaching and sharing her passion for dance again as well as developing a family here at On My Toes Dance Academy!