FP Faculty

Amanda Tae

Director

Dancing since the age of three, Amanda Tae attended New World School of the Arts High
School in Downtown Miami, and continued her education at Florida International University,
obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sports Management. In 2002, she graduated Magna
Cum Laude on the Dean’s List as a member of both the Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi.
Utilizing her background in Sports Management, she opened Focal Point Dance Studios in
2005, Tae Talent Agency in 2007, and Mosaic Dance Project, a nonprofit professional dance
company in 2015.

Wanting to share her passion for dance with
others, she continued teaching and choreographing while also performing professionally locally,
nationally, and internationally. She is a constant and welcomed presence in the community,
schools, and universities as a guest artist setting work and educating. As a choreographer, she
has received praise and recognition for her fresh and artistic approach to dancing. Her work
extends beyond the walls of Focal Point Dance Studios to music video sets and concert stages
for many artists and companies in the commercial music industry. As a teacher, her students
have been honored with titles, high scores, and special awards both regionally and nationally.
Many have continued dancing, working professionally, gracing the big screen, and becoming
teachers themselves. Amanda also works with Dancers’ Alliance Miami and SAG-AFTRA to
negotiate fair pay and benefits for Miami’s talent.
Amanda has performed and choreographed for a variety of shows, tours, and films. She has
worked with Tate McRae, David Beckham, Pitbull, P. Diddy, Mase, Will Smith, Thalia, Enrique
Iglesias, Lenny Kravitz, Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Sanz, David Bisbal, Christian Castro, and
Method Man. Her clientele include Dodge, Mattel, Post Foods, MTV, Subway, Remy Martin, Hair
Club, Univision, Barbie Mattel, Telemundo, Emilio Estefan’s Crescent Moon, EMI Records, BMI
Records, Universal Records, Zappos, Baptist Hospital, Zumba, Revlon, Figure 8, Lottery, Sony,
and Nike. Some of her credits include the Latin Grammy Awards, Super Bowl, MTV VMA’s,
Dodge Dart, Honey Bunches of Oats, Premio Lo Nuestro, Latin Billboards, Subway
commercials, and the movies Sex Drive starring Seth Green and James Marsden, and Bachelor
Party II with funny faces Harland William and Greg Pitts. In addition, she directed and
co-choreographed the grand prize winning Dance Dub for Paramount Pictures' Step Up 3D
Dance Dub Contest, beating out the top studios such as The Edge in LA, Broadway Dance
Center in NYC, and Studio 411 in Atlanta. The talent she represents under Tae Talent Agency
are all over FPL, Wawa, Coach, Nerf, Disney Springs, Reebok, Tropical Smoothie, AutoNation,
and Sunny D Commercials. They can also be seen in episodes of La Banda, SuperBowl, Latin
Billboards, Latin AMA’s, BET Awards, Premios Lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, and Movie Box
Office Hits: Genius Rock of Ages, Step Up 4 Revolution, GhostBusters, Break the Stage, and
Step Up Highwater! You can find our talent sharing the stage with Anitta, Jason Derulo, Kygo,
Joe Jonas, DJ Khalid, Mary J. Blige, Karol G, Daddy Yankee, Rosalia, Nicky Jam, 2 Chains,
Nelly, Young Thug, Kane Brown, JLo, and Shakira.
Among all her honors and achievements, none are as significant as the creation of Focal Point Dance Studios, Tae Talent Agency, and Mosaic Dance Project. All were created as a means to bridge the recreational, competitive, professional, and nonprofit dance industries. While hoping to continuously influence and be impelled by the dance
world, she plans on utilizing her multiple outlets to enrich and challenge this art form.

EMERICK Ligonde

Born in Montreal, Canada, and raised in Miami, Florida, Emerick Wolff Ligonde is a performer, educator, producer, and artist relations professional whose career bridges the worlds of dance, live entertainment, and event production. His journey began at the age of twelve at Hotspot Dance Studio, where he trained in Latin ballroom, salsa, bachata, and ballet. Driven by a growing passion for technical excellence and artistic growth, he later joined Focal Point Dance Studios at seventeen, where he immersed himself in competitive training across ballet, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance.Following high school, Emerick quickly established himself within the commercial dance industry, working with renowned choreographers including Amanda Tae, Liz Imperio, and Kevin Maher, while also collaborating on projects involving artists and creatives such as Ryan McNamara and Becky G. His commitment to artistic development led him to New York City, where he attended The Ailey School, graduating in 2020 with a concentration in ballet and modern dance. During his time there, he had the distinguished honor of performing alongside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Memoria at Lincoln Center, a landmark experience that further shaped his artistic voice and professional aspirations.

Today, Emerick's career extends far beyond the stage. While continuing to pursue performance opportunities, he has become a respected figure in artist relations, event operations, hospitality management, and large-scale entertainment production. He has worked with internationally recognized festivals, touring artists, and major live events, overseeing talent logistics, transportation management, hospitality operations, production coordination, and artist experience. His ability to seamlessly navigate both creative and operational environments has made him a trusted resource for artists, management teams, and production companies alike. As an educator and mentor, Emerick is deeply committed to cultivating the next generation of performers. He believes technical excellence is only one component of a successful career in dance and entertainment. Through his teaching, coaching, and mentorship, he focuses on developing well-rounded artists who understand professionalism, adaptability, leadership, communication, and personal accountability. He is passionate about helping young dancers bridge the gap between studio training and professional careers, providing them with the tools, mindset, and industry knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Known for his ability to inspire confidence while demanding excellence, Emerick works to elevate not only his students' technical abilities but also their performance quality, artistic authenticity, and understanding of the entertainment industry as a whole. He is dedicated to creating opportunities for emerging artists, fostering environments where creativity and discipline coexist, and empowering young professionals to become exceptional contributors to the worlds of dance, live entertainment, and event production. Whether on stage, in the rehearsal studio, or behind the scenes managing artists and productions, Emerick approaches every project with a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and service. His unique combination of artistic training, operational expertise, and passion for mentorship continues to position him as a dynamic leader and advocate for the future of the performing arts and entertainment industries.

Andrew mulet

Andrew Mulet, a Miami native, obtained his BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University in 2019. His love for movement is encompassed by his diverse background and versatile training. Andrew's credits include Demi Lovato, Cher, Chappell Roan, Shakira, Ravyn Lenae, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Hugh Jackman, Dove Cameron, Jess Glynne, & more. Some TV/Film appearances include Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls: The Musical Movie, IF and more. In addition to his continued performance career, he has began to pave his own way as an educator & choreographer - working on various creative projects while also an adjunct professor at his alma mater Pace University. Andrew is thrilled to share his passion for dance, and continues looking forward to sharing space with other creative minds.

Isabella bolivar-lopez

Isabella Bolivar-Lopez was born and raised in Miami, Florida and began her dance training at Focal Point Dance Studios in 2012. There she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. She went on to graduate from New World School of the Arts in 2024 and moved across the country to attend CalArts in Los Angeles, California. In LA, she has worked alongside many artists. Most notably, she performed in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show and has worked on projects for a diverse range of artists, including Tyga, KATSEYE, DPR lan, Saint Satine, Dayoung, YUQI, Joe Satriani, Sacha Carlson, and more. She continues to pursue her passion to choreograph through many outlets. For example, she has choreographed for Warehouse Dance Complex in Costa Rica, Focal Point Dance Studios, and assisted choreographing for South Dade Sapphires dance team.

JEANINE Sanchez

Her devotion to dance started at a very young age but it was clear that through her incredible journey and extraordinary experiences, that her dedication and passion to dance was to be shared and used to inspire others in pursuit of their own dreams.

As a graduate of the New World School of the Arts, Jeanine's rigorous training led me to be awarded a full scholarship to New York University's TISH program for the Arts. It was through those years that her dedication extended beyond the four walls of a studio. She became an active member of the dance community, participating and organizing various events and workshops. Standing as a strong advocate for the mental and physical benefits, and often collaborated with health and wellness organizations to promote the positive impact that the art of dance can

have on an individual. For more than a decade, She has the honor of being a part of the Focal Point family where she has dedicated her training and knowledge to each and every student, passing along expertise, and teaching them that with commitment, success will be achieved. Ms. Jeanine top priority is to build a foundation of creative confidence, giving them the limitless ability to grow within their craft. With that said, throughout her amazing journey and the joy of watching her students surpass their goals, nothing holds as great of an honor as watching her own daughter, Adriana, share the same passion and as well as the opportunity to dance alongside her

ryan fernandez

Ryan Fernandez was born and raised in Miami, Florida and began his dance training at Focal Point Dance Studios in 2023. There he trained in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. He attended Coral Reef High School where he was a member of the Cudettes dance team, who won three championships. Currently, he has been sharing his love for dance through choreography and teaching classes at Focal Point Dance Studios. Starting in the fall, Ryan will be attending CLI Conservatory to help him take the next steps in his dance career.

Vadym pIDHORESTKYY

Vadym Pidhoretskyy, a Ukrainian native, is an internationally acclaimed Latin ballroom dancer. He has garnered numerous prestigious titles across the United States and has made appearances on television shows such as America's Got Talent. Among his most recent accomplishments are Blackpool Dance Festival Champion, International World Championship Winner, United Kingdom Championship Winner, WDO World Championship Winner, and WDC World Championship Winner. Vadym and his partner, Ruby, are one of the world's top Latin couples at the young age of 22 and 21, respectively. Their unwavering passion and persistence in their craft consistently propel them to new heights each dance season.