People

Amanda Newman

Director of Communications and Associate Director of Programs

Amanda Newman (she/her/hers) is a dancer, social worker, community organizer, and cross-field collaborator. As Director of Communications, she believes deeply in the power of stories, images, and collaboration to deepen our understanding of ourselves, our world, and all that we are co-creating in it. As Associate Director of Programs, Amanda facilitates classes and trainings as part of Dance On, plays a leadership role within the Organizing with Artists for Change initiative, and more.

Originally from Utah, Amanda earned her BFA in Modern Dance at the University of Utah, but did her most important learning about dance and community while moving and making in museums, summer camps, living rooms, and parking lots. She first came to Dance Exchange in the 2014-15 season as a resident artist, youth programs facilitator, and communications coordinator. In that season, she was project manager, key facilitator, and performer in New Hampshire Avenue: This is a Place To.... Amanda then spent a year as a healthcare innovation fellow with Health for America at MedStar Health—an experience which affirmed her belief in artists as agents of change in all of our biggest, messiest institutions. Amanda completed her master's in social work at Hunter College in New York. In addition to her work with Dance Exchange, Amanda is a teaching artist and project manager at Community-Word Project. Amanda lives in Astoria, Queens, with her partner Nick, their dog Mac, and their backyard compost bin Connie.

Amanda Newman dances in the grass with knees bent and arms askew in front of gray brick wall. A senior man sits in a green chair opposite a yellow chair in the background.