Meet Amy Conte | Shuffle Dance Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Conte and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ultimately, I started to turn my passion (shuffle dance) into my career when Covid-19 hit. I went from working full-time to having all the time in the world (I lost my job, along with many others.) At first, I was terrified. I didn’t know what I was going to do. But I realized I had the one thing that I never had in order to turn my art into a career, and that was time. Time was all I needed to conceptualize what my classes would look like, to market myself, and to finally put what I genuinely wanted to do first!

Eventually, I moved my life from Hoboken, New Jersey to Denver, Colorado. I eventually found a new job pursuing my other passion (social media) and have continued to pursue teaching dance as a side gig. I LOVE IT! And I love the balance I have with.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is Shuffle Dance and Cutting Shapes! These are footwork-based dance styles which are heavily influenced by EDM and genres of music with that quick, upbeat tempo (like techno or house music.) This style is different from others because we essentially keep time to the beat with our feet; this means moving on every single count and half count in between. Unlike ballet or contemporary which are more progressive/slower styles. It’s extremely tiring and takes years to build endurance to actually dance to the music that you WANT to dance to! So, it’s a journey to say the least.

I’m so passionate about this style particularly because it’s just getting started. Social media has given it a solid platform and more and more are finding out about it, mainly through trending videos on TikTok and Instagram! I’ve started to see shuffling in commercials, on shows like America’s Got Talent, and even on the main stage at music festivals like Ultra Music Festival. It continues to evolve everyday!

I got to where I’m at now with the support of my friends and family, by believing in myself, practicing every single day, and honestly, through social media. Social media is an extremely powerful tool, and can change your life if used correctly! It was not easy, it took me about 4 years to actually start to grow an audience and attract more people who wanted to learn how to shuffle. I overcame my challenges by taking things day by day, letting myself go with the flow, and following where I felt called to. I know that sounds corny, but it really is the one thing in my life that I fully leaned into and let the wind take me where I needed to belong. I’ve learned that everyone’s journey is completely different and we all are on a unique paths. I’ve learned that if I focus on myself, believe in myself and that I could make the next step happen, that I would! And I have.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I have a friend coming into town, it’s likely for a Red Rocks show! We would go to Red Rocks, of course, and maybe hit up brunch at Happy Camper or Avanti beforehand. The next day, we would go for a hike or a walk around Sloan’s lake, grab lunch at the Edgewater Public Martket, and then head to Broadway for some drinks and vintage store hopping! On our last day, we head downtown! We start with a Bike Bar Tour, and end up in RiNo. We stop at a few more favorite spots: Honey Elixir, Luster Pearl, and Improper city. Lastly, dinner at the fabulous Barcelona in RiNo or Linger in LoHi. Best weekend ever!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Love this! I would love to shoutout the Shuffle Community. It is impossible to not feel inspired by those who I share the dance floor with. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve done without the support and love I’ve been given over the years from this community, so I dedicate this to them!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyyconte/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-conte-b4180295/

Image Credits
For the two photos of me in white on stage: Dimitri Dstath @dstath_ For the photo of me with the black hat on in the street: Seabass Studios @seabass.studios