Amanda
Founder & Director
MEET THE TEAM
Katie
Assistant Director
Nikki
Team Health Coach
Amanda Bernice is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator known for her infectious energy and deep passion for jazz roots dances. She has performed and taught extensively in Kansas City and across the country, specializing in Chorus Girls (Chorines) as well as jazz roots dances such as the Lindy Hop and Charleston.
Beyond the stage, Amanda is a devoted advocate for jazz roots dance education. She is the founder of 627 Stomp, Kansas City’s first nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the art of jazz roots dances, as well as the Kansas City Canaries Chorus Line, a troupe celebrating the rich legacy of chorus girls. Her leadership extends to the global stage as Ballroom Manager for the International Lindy Hop Championships and the International Swing Dance Championships, a role that speaks to her esteemed reputation and expertise within the dance community.
Amanda is deeply committed to honoring the history and cultural significance of the dances she performs and teaches. She acknowledges that jazz roots dances are an integral part of Black heritage and approaches them with the utmost respect, recognizing her role as a guest in this tradition. Her mission is to preserve and share these art forms authentically, ensuring that their history, culture, and modern relevance remain central to her work.
In her classes and rehearsals, Amanda strives to nurture dancers as individuals, fostering an environment that emphasizes education, cultural and racial inclusivity, and personal growth. She is dedicated to equipping dancers with the tools they need to push their boundaries, refine their artistry, and reach their full potential.Katie Walkley (Sassy Siren) discovered swing dancing at Truman State University when friends in the dorm were looking for something fun to do on Wednesday nights. She began taking lessons in 2012 and has kept her dancing shoes close ever since. Her passion for it grew and she started traveling to conferences to expand her knowledge of the different genres and styles. Katie developed a deep love of blues and balboa along the way, preferably danced after midnight with a drink in hand.
Katie moved back to Kansas City post college, drawn in by the incredible live jazz scene (and the BBQ of course). She can’t envision living anywhere else. Katie is known for her sassy attitude on the dance floor and specializes in lindy hop, blues, and balboa. She enjoys a good solo jazz or west coast dance every now and again as well. Katie is inspired by big band music, local Kansas City jazz, and of course, showtunes. She has always had a taste for performing and is proud to dance with the lovely and talented Kansas City Canaries!
Nikki Spencer has been dancing since the age of seven, and was on The Wynn Twins School of Dance competing dance team from the age of fourteen until she graduated high school. She performed many different styles of dance such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern/abstract, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, and some irish. After this, she went to Missouri Valley College and majored in dance where she learned more in depth about choreography, laban method, pedagogy, and community dance. In her freshman year of college, she was on dance team for a year where she performed pom/jazz routines for the football and basketball team. Afterwards, she joined the dance company and picked up aerial silks, ballroom, and advanced her knowledge of ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop.
She is currently the wellness coach for the Kansas City Canaries.She currently takes drop in classes at the Kansas City Ballet, Quixotic Cirque Nouveau, and Dance Fit Flow to improve her ballet, jazz technique and heels skills. Her goal is to challenge herself in her solo routines, step outside of her comfort zone,and challenge herself on and off the stage.