Dancer Named Top 100 Black History Makers
Amiya Alexander named one of the top 100 African-American History Makers by TheGRIO and NBC News
She is the founder of Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy – the only dance studio in the country on wheels.
Detroit, MI (BlackNews.com) — Dancer and aspiring Obstetrician Amiya Alexander, is the owner of the only dance studio on wheels, Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy. She started her business as a 9 year old entrepreneur who provides dance training and community programs for all youth. Since the start of her business, Amiya has been featured on the Tyra Banks Show, Disney, CBS News, Fox 2, and The Doctors TV show, just to name a few. Her business has been a true accomplishment. Amiya’s positive attitude and elimination of “can’t in her vocabulary has contributed to her success. Amiya’s entrepreneurial spirit comes from her mother who is a Registered Nurse; she also owns businesses that help the community.
With her mother’s support, Amiya did not allow her age to limit her ability to do everything she set her mind to do. Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy’s mission “is to further the art of dance in an extended cultural community which will provide dance training and community programs for all youth. She targets under privileged youth, who may not have an opportunity to do what they love because of their circumstances. She encourages them to rise above all odds and pursue their dreams. As a role model, many of the participants look up to Amiya and would like to follow in her footsteps. Amiya’s response to her positive influence is, “building the kids self esteem makes me feel really good because it lets me know that I’m doing something right.
As a result of her doing things right, the doctors on The Doctors TV show donated a $25,000 scholarship and created a website so others can contribute to help Amiya as she strives to go to college to pursue her dreams of being an Obstetrician. Children and teens join Amiya, as she teaches dance in her personal dance studio on her pink dance bus. Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy travels to various communities to bring dance to its participants. The dance bus has festive décor that resembles a hip hop dance studio. Amiya teaches modern, African, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Jazz, Lyrical, and Salsa dance to her eager students. The variety of dance keeps her students intrigued and allows Amiya to reach many age groups and ethnicities.
Amiya has been dancing since the age of two and because it has been her passion for over a decade, she can relate to many of the participants of Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy. This allows the students to feel close to Amiya and creates an atmosphere that cannot be described. This atmosphere is boosted once the families are informed of Amiya’s non-profit company; Rising Stars Dance With Me Program. This program offers scholarships and garments to the underprivileged. It helps them with funds to receive dance lessons and provides leotards, tap shoes, and other gear to ensure the dancer’s success.
Through her dance academy, Amiya has created a fun way to eliminate a serious issue in our community. Obesity rates have more than doubled in adults and children since the 1970’s. Between 16% and 33% of children and adolescents in America are considered obese. This means that about 1 out of 3 kids in America are overweight or obese, and the figures keep on growing! The annual cost to society for obesity related conditions is over $100 billion! Not only is obesity expensive but it is life threatening. Being obese or overweight puts many at risk for developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, and other very life threatening costly conditions. Amiya chooses not to stand by and watch it continue. Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy is determined to get as many as possible in physical shape to defeat this epidemic.
At the young age of 16, Amiya is still working hard at maintaining above a 3.0 grade point average at Detroit Country Day School while passionately working to rid her community of obesity. This is an example of her “Academy Accomplishments, which states that “AMDA students are expected to achieve both artistically as well as academically. Not only does she set the goals, but she also meets the goals. As Amiya grows and travels through communities, she inspires children of all ages to be successful! Her genuine spirit and influence on children not only helps the obesity in the community, but also helps the next generation to set high goals and become the leaders of our future. Parents are very pleased with the effect that Amiya has on their children. One of the parents from a class taught by Amiya states, “AMDA has shown my daughter an effective way to spend her energy. She has been dancing since birth and now has form and structure. I trust she will pick up some of Amiya’s strengths, character and grace.”
As of today, Amiya is still traveling and effecting communities one by one. As Amiya continues to put God first, her prosperity will continue to increase. Don’t be surprised if Amiya rides by your community just join the fun!
For more details about Amiya’s Mobile Dance Academy, visit www.amiyasdancebus.com
Photo Caption: Amiya Alexander
