Amy is a marvelous teacher with energy to spare; her skills as a dramatic and entertaining storyteller help her pass on valuable lessons she’s learned over her lifetime to motivate her students. At age 12, Amy became an active community theatre participant gaining experience and confidence in dance and acting. In high school, she started choreographing routines as captain of her danceline. “I wanted dance lessons but that wasn’t an option for me as a kid. Danceline in high school was what was available to me but it wasn’t the same as dancing as an art form,” said Amy. At age 18, she got a job to pay for dance lessons at Music General with owner and director Sue Kuhn. “And I was horrible!” exclaims Amy. She shared that her early experience with tap dance was humbling and yet a pivotal point in her life that gave her confidence to pursue her love of dance and theatre. “I thought I was good dancer. I picked things up quickly. I moved well. I thought, ‘I got this!’ Sue thought so too and decided to give me private tap lessons to duet with one of her star students. Two lessons in and Sue said to me, ‘Hmmm, I don’t know about the duet thing, but keep taking lessons!’ Three lessons in, I quit. I thought, ‘I’m incapable of doing this.’” “I continued to take jazz lessons but found myself getting to the studio early, watching the first and second graders tap dance who, by the way, could kick my butt!” Amy recalled with humor. “To be honest, I was not OK with quitting, and at the same time, I told myself I couldn’t learn, I was terrible, a failure and embarrassed.” “I decided that if these 8-yearolds could do this, then I better get myself together and do what I had to do to learn.” “Standing at the window watching I began slowly moving my feet
Amy, middle, is teaching the Geritol Frolics dancers their choreography.
“You have to take chances, work hard and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.” - Amy Borash
to flap, flap, shuffle. I watched and listened to how the technique was taught. Then I went home and taught myself.” The lesson Amy learned: “You have to take chances, work hard and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.” Amy took dance lessons and taught at Music General while attending St. Cloud State University and studied theater arts. For a brief period of time she and her husband lived in South Dakota where she ran a dance studio and became director and choreographer of a local community theatre. After returning to Brainerd, Amy continued to teach dance at Music General and work with CLC. She became the choreographer for the Geritol Frolics and the director of Pequot Lakes Community Theatre. Amy says, “I want people to know
who I am as a teacher; choreographer and director is a culmination of my experiences and working with amazing directors and theatre people who taught me the value of hard work, and a dance teacher who encouraged me to just try and not to be afraid of doing something I’ve never done.” “When I see a student struggling, saying ‘I can’t do this,’ it takes me back to that 18-year-old girl that quit and now it gives me something that can I can use to encourage my students of all ages.” Amy has taught ballet, tap and jazz for 30 years. Her accomplishments are proof that taking chances are crucial to learning and achieving your dreams. Part 2 of The Dancing Queens, in the next Her Voice, will focus on Sue Kuhn, her company dance program and dancers who have learned to take big chances in performance and competition.
Maureen Farnsworth is a yoga therapist and lives in Nisswa with her husband, Michael. Maureen enjoys a variety of outdoor and creative activities including writing for Her Voice. Maureen and a group of older women began tap dance lessons with Amy Borash at Music General last year where she continues to take lessons and became inspired to share their story.
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