Tracey: What are you like 19…20? You really look young to be coming up into the clubs girl.

Amanda: Literally, laughing out loud!  No, I am 24years of age with some good genes.

Tracey: I’m not really sure that people notice that you are a very spiritual young lady who is quick to say "God Bless You” on the set when you are greeting individuals and even thanking them for the dance. At your age, do you notice that it’s a little hard to mix the spiritual side with the wordly side of steppin?

Amanda: Excellent question.  I am a "pk”(preacher’s kid), a work in process, young, and yes spiritual, but even with those facts I will answer that question with a "No”. I’m too confident in the strength of my faith, to find it hard to mix the two worlds.  I have boundaries in with how I conduct myself.  With those set boundaries, it makes it comfortable for me to live my life.  It’s not hard but it’s not easy.  A lot of religious people have a problem with dancing period, no matter what kind of dance it is.  "It ain’t dancing for the Lord, it ain’t right!” God blesses people with gifts to use them, for Him-understandable.  The problem people don’t get is the route you take with those gifts.  In my case, I had no clue I could even dance until a couple years ago.  But I am beginning to come to the conclusion that God blessed me with this particular gift of dance, to reach a particular kind of people, for Him.  I go dance and let the light shine rather you see it on me or in me.  I feel like this is the route I am to take, so I’m on it.  Doctors don’t go out helping healthy people; they go out helping the sick.  Christians should be the same with saving souls, but you have to go to where some of them are. It’s not hard but it’s not easy, and I need help and guidance myself! I could go on. But I won’t (laughing), I would come out with a book just on this one question.

Tracey: You were just a student in Drew’s class in early 2012 and you most recently competed in a steppin contest. Drew has been known to push his students in the direction of competing. How does this sit with you…the pressure to compete at this stage.

Amanda: No pressure at all! Umm yea, that’s a lie. There is a lot of pressure.  I believe there is pressure with anyone who competes.  Either you have pressure to do better than you did last competition because the expectation is so high, or you’re new, or you’re trying to keep your title, etcetera.  But I’m ok with the pressure, because I knew it came with the territory. I agreed to do it. Now I have to deal with it. I’m fine with that.

Tracey: When you are watching steppers on the floor…what do you find yourself looking at most of the time?

Amanda: Everything.  I watch everything!  The mannerisms, the footwork, how someone does there basic-I am watching for something in everyone. And not only do I watch the women, I also watch the men as well.  If I see it and I like it, then I am going to figure out how to do it.  Then once I figure out how to do it, I try and make it my own.  Honestly, sometimes I don’t even want to dance half the time because I am so busy watching someone else.  People like to watch all the heavy hitters, me as well!  But you will be shocked in what you find in watching someone who isn’t really known in their dance or even dancing with someone not known in the dance.  There is not just one thing I look at because I look at everything most of the time.

Tracey: I know that the negative side of steppin can rear its ugly head every now and then on the set. What’s the one deal breaker for you that will push you away?

Amanda: There is a negative side to everything in life, makes no sense in running away from it because it’s pushing you away.  I have no deal breakers with steppin.  The deal breaking comes in with people.  I enjoy this dance too much for someone or something to push me away.  As I see it, I would just disconnect myself from whatever that negative thing/person is so that I may continue with my enjoyment of the dance.  That is all.

Tracey: Being a college student and model can pull you in different directions. What takes precedence in your social life right now?

Amanda: Right now I would say school, my family and friends, work, church, and basketball (not in that order).  I have a close, fun, silly family.  If someone is spending a tremendous amount of time away from the family, there will be an intervention lol.  College, church, and work are self-explanatory.  Before I danced, basketball was my life.  All last year I didn’t even pick up a ball because I was so busy dancing!  I realized I am not getting paid to do this dance, so some things had to change. This year, I had to get my priorities back realigned.  I distribute my time pretty evenly now.  I just recently started playing in a woman’s basketball league, I missed it too much.  As much as I hate it, I’ve been back in school almost a couple years now so my education gets my time one notch above everything else because that’s just where I’m at in my life right now.  Other than that, everything is pretty even.

Tracey: Here’s your chance to voice your opinion about how a young person being thrust in the steppin limelight feels about the environment. What do you have to say?

Amanda: Well! Since you asked for it, here it is (Laughing). I love the stepping community.  Actually the dance community, I have learned how to do other dances from being in the steppin community.  I love the people I’ve met.  And I always enjoy my time.  I will say I hate to see some of the things I see.  And I hate to hear some of the things I hear.  I don’t like when I see people dancing with the same people; everyone needs to be danced with.  That’s why I try not to turn down dances with people, even if my feet are aching.  We are ALL STILL learning, no matter the dance level.  If you don’t like someone, we don’t need to know.  We come together to dance and have a great time, let’s keep it that way.  Let’s continue to support each other, regardless of skill level or what city you’re from.  Teaching is to be done in class, not while you’re out dancing (in my opinion).  Confidence and arrogance are two different things.  My godbrother, Ed, and I have this conversation often about how this steppin we do is actually "Chicago steppin” and not just "steppin”.  It originated from Chicago.  Makes sense to go visit the city where it originated from and experience the spirit of Chicago Steppin.  Especially if you take this dance as serious as I know everyone does.  We travel to all the events and do everything steppin, why not go travel and experience the dance in its original element-outside of an event.  If you can’t, you can’t. Believe me I know, I’m a college student (Laughing). If you can, just go!  But before I go, I just want to say I am blessed to dance! Never thought I would feel this way about dancing, but I do! I love Chicago steppin.  And if you see me out and I look sad, I’m not sad! I get "what’s wrong” a lot. That’s just my demeanor or I’m thinking (Laughing). And most importantly, know that yes I am young and still have some growing up to do.  So you also need to know I am watching you all.  I look up to the older women especially because I will be an older woman someday for some younger women that will look up to me.  And when I say older, I mean older than 24years of life (Laughing). So yes I am taking the pressure off of me and putting it on everyone who has been in this Chicago steppin community before me.  Rather you like it or not, I am looking up to some of you. Don’t steer me wrong.