Basically, two things have resulted in Amy Groves’ career in dance and establishing Encore Dance Academy in Brownfield. “It’s always been a part of my life. I don’t know anything different than dance. I’ve just always loved it….I think a lot of it had to do with my first dance teacher (Stacy Johnston). I just loved her. I still look up to her. I consider her one of my role models. I still hold her on a pedestal.”

Amy’s parents, John and Karen Tidwell of Brownfield, enrolled Amy in dance at the age of three and she’s been dancing ever since. In school she was in band and cheered, but since there was no school dance program, she attended private dance lessons at Applause School of Dance and Dance Power.

After high school, Amy enrolled at Angelo State University. There were no dance classes at the university, so she enrolled in another dance studio in San Angelo. She soon realized that she could not get what she needed from Angelo because what she really wanted to do in life was dance. She enrolled in Texas Tech with a major in dance and now has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance degree.

At the time of her graduation, there was no dance studio active in Brownfield. Two weeks later Encore Dance Academy opened its doors and Amy has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical dance ever since.

A couple of years after opening, the studio became a member of Dance Masters of America and every November has participated in Chapter Competition with members from New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The first major recognition was when Cassidy Cooper won Petite Miss Dance. That led to attending the National Dance Masters Competition. From there, the students have started doing more competitions, including Tremaine Dance Conventions. This year they have won the biggest awards they’ve ever had other than the Petite Miss Dance. Encore even had a group that won an entire competition, which was the overall high score. Also, Jasmine Fields won Team Miss Dance and will be moving up to National Competition, so Amy will be taking a group of kids to New Orleans this summer for that.

Besides dance, these days Amy spends time with her two girls Bella, 5, and Emmy, 1, and her husband Shane. They live in Wolfforth where Shane has his Robbie’s Industrial Sales business. Amy likes going to the gym and being involved in activities at Westmont Christian Church in Wolfforth.

You can learn more about Amy’s Brownfield dance studio at www.encoredancebrownfield.com.

Amy Groves and husband Shane