Meet the Staff

Tony and Jessica Witt

Tony & Jessica Witt, co-owners of Amoré Dance, are both ZUMBA® International Presenters and ZUMBA® Education Specialists. They are 2 of the original 13 that helped introduce ZUMBA® to the world as ZUMBA® went global. Tony & Jessica Witt are a certified ACE/AFAA instructors / presenters & Zumba Education Specialist (ZES), based in Kansas City. They are also professional dancers… [Read More...]

Deanna Taphorn

Deanna Taphorn has been a Zumba instructor since 2005. She got her first taste of Zumba with Tony and Jess’s first Zumba class in the K.C. area! Ever sinceshe’s been hooked! Zumba has helped her keep a strong workout/fitness regimin she says its because the music and melody are always changing and she never gets bored. “There is no monotony to the class and that makes me want to work out.” [Read More...]

Jon McMichen

Jon McMichen has been dancing since 2002 and teaching with Amore Dance since 2004. He enjoyes performing and teaching in many street styles such as Poppin, Electric Boogaloo, Lockin, Tut, etc. Jon has won several area talent shows and performed at local events including the Shane Sparks tour and the Royals game. He has done choreography for various local dance teams including an AAU Cheerleading… [Read More...]

Melody Gabrielle

Melody has always been a dancer. According to her mother, Melody danced before she could walk, and she even danced in the womb. She began dance classes in ballet, tap, and jazz when she was four years old. By age six Melody focused her training primarily in ballet. She danced in Metropolitan Ballet Company of Wichita 1991-1994. She also attended a workshop with David Howard of New York. [Read More...]

Kris Swearington

Kris has always had a passion for dance. During high school Kris began his dance career by dancing free style hip hop. He began swing dancing his senior year when he got a part in the schools production of “West Side Story”. That opportunity led to several different connections eventually leading to his first west coast swing competition in Tulsa, OK in 2007. [Read More...]

Tricia Davenpott

Tricia has been a Zumba enthusiast for many years and still attends classes often (especially with Tony and Jessica Witt) and has been teaching since 2008. She has been trained in Basics 1, Basics 2, Zumba Toning… [Read More...]

Sara Ann

Sara began teaching zumba at Amore Studio in 2008, moved away for a couple of years and is now back “home” teaching at Amore Dance studio. She touts herself as a DANCE type instructor… [Read More...]

Amanda Trout

Amanda started as a Zumba student at Amore in 2006 and quickly fell in love with/became addicted to Zumba by taking classes with Tony, Jess, and Sol. I became a licensed Zumba instructor in… [Read More...]

Lauren Mulvenon

Lauren started off as an amore dance fanatic as she attended every class every day of the week for several years! Her practice paid off and we are now proud… [Read More...]

Ashli

Ashli joined the amore staff in 2011 working the front desk reception staff. She is passionate about dance and helps keep the studio ‘in order’! [Read More...]

Sharon

Sharon joined the Amore team in the summer of 2010 and specializes in keeping our schedules straight. She is also working on her MBA. Sharon has experience in belly dance… [Read More...]

Stephanie Kong

Stephanie Kong teaches Ballroom and Latin dancing at Amoré Dance. She has 18+ years experience and has competed internationally. Stephanie has represented the USA in… [Read More...]

Jennie Lopez Reed

Jennie became licensed in ZUMBA in 2007, and she loves sharing her Latin roots and passion for dancing. Jennie is trained in ballet, jazz and modern dance and has been a dance instructor for students of all ages. Jennie also … [Read More...]

Laura Mogenson

Laura has taught in Kansas city for the past 25 years and has been the group exercise director at several Kansas City Area facilities.  Laura’s background is in dance.  She attended Iowa State University where she studied dance and was a cheerleader. … [Read More...]

Heather Billings

Hi there! My name is Heather Billings! Are you as excited about Zumba as I am? I love doing Zumba because I love to dance! The best part is that it doesn’t feel like I am working out!! I started dancing when I was 3 and just couldn’t stop! Come and … [Read More...]

Marci Farrar

Marci is a Kansas City area native who has been teaching tap, ballet, and jazz dance for twelve years. She became a … [Read More...]