I began dancing at age five and was hooked for life! Trained in ballet, jazz and tap, I stepped up my game at age sixteen, and trained extensively in ballet and pointe, by Master ballet instructor, Dan Durrie, who was also a member of both Joffrey and Boston Ballet companies. I joined his dance company and performed all over Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley in California. I focused my training on jazz and trained with Joe Tremaine, Douglas Caldwell, Barry Lather, Marcia Lane, and later with Dennon Rawles who choreographed Staying Alive with John Travolta. In my late twenties, I performed in “The Nutcracker” as the role of “Spanish Chocolate” and later in my late thirties, was in a commercial for Hilton Hotels.

I have been a dance instructor and choreographer for more than 25 years. Since 1997 I have instructed, choreographed and directed many dancers, dance shows and showcases, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and dance companies for competition numbers, in many genres including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and musical theater, to many varying levels and age groups, both children through adult.

Beginning my fitness career as a teenager in 1986 teaching aerobics and an Abs class for a couple of years at an all-female gym as well as a local gym, I was inspired by fitness greats such as Jane Fonda, Kathy Smith, Richard Simmons, Jack LaLane, and later… Denise Austin! I took a break from teaching fitness to be a mom and jumped back into dance in 1997 and group fitness in 2001. I am twice certified in Pilates Mat: Physical Mind Institute 2003 by Maria Leone and by NESTA Spencer Pilates 2005. I certified in Yoga for sport in 2005 and Barre fitness in 2011. I taught for numerous gyms including LA Fitness and Gold’s Gym SoCal, as well as several private fitness studios. I also filmed two fitness videos: Body Transforming Pilates by Tania and Pilates for Dancers.

For 15 years, I held the position of Adjunct Professor of Dance Aerobics at California Lutheran University in southern California.

I spent a couple of years in Atlanta, GA, instructing Yoga Sculpt, (hot yoga with weights) Pilates Mat, Pilates Reformer, and sculpt fitness.

I am also a self-published author: most recently a biography, Charlie. That’s Not My Name, a short story of an Irish man, my father, from New York, born during the depression, who was born into an alcoholic and abusive family; who chose to overcome the curse and create a new life for himself. It’s a pick-yourself-up-dust-yourself-off sort of story which demonstrates his lifelong mantra that LIFE IS A CHOICE. I also wrote anon-fiction for the young reader, Just the Two of Us, and a self-help book, Get a Grip, Girl! 8 Easy Steps to a Happy, Healthy Mind and Body…available on Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/author/taniahoytjensen

Being a woman over FIFTY, mother to my beautiful daughter, and a grandmother to her two incredible son’s, I believe wholeheartedly that fitness is the fountain of youth. I believe fitness can benefit mental health… help alleviate depression and anxiety, as well as physical health… an aide in the prevention of Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Disease.

I focus on fitness for all levels, genders, ages, shapes and sizes, specifically specializing in fitness for people over forty and will help guide you to be a stronger, leaner, more balanced person, body and mind, without an aggressive approach. I hope I have created an environment that feels like fun and does not feel like torture.

Make fitness part of your lifestyle!

Consistency is key!

Never Slow Down. Never Grow Old.

Amanda is Tania’s beautiful daughter!

Dancing since she was six years old, trained in classical ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap and musical theater. Amanda was involved in many dance companies, competing companies, and dance team throughout high school. She also danced and performed in College in her early years.  Her dance competition and performance experience is immeasurable.  Along with assisting her mom in countless classes throughout the years, Amanda taught and choreographed at a local dance studio in southern California and also choregraphed several award-winning competition dances for Tania’s dance company in the 2000’s.

As a young adult, Amanda fell in love with Line Dancing, and that combined with her formal dance training, when Amanda is on that dance floor, all eyes are on her.  She moves with dashing fluidity and exquisite grace; she interprets line dance like no other.

Amanda graduated from Channel Islands University in southern California with her BA in Psychology.  She then moved to North Carolina where she met and married her husband, Randy.  Amanda and Randy actually met line dancing and together they are a dynamic duo on the dance floor; he may be popping in to assist in the line dancing classes. Amanda is also an amazing photographer and did all of my photography on this website and then some!  She specializes in fitness photography, family sessions, engagement photos and more!  Amanda and Randy have two beautiful boy’s who are both bouncing bundles of joy and as bright as the sunshine!

You can find Amanda’s Line Dancing Tutorials and Her 30 Minute Line Dance Collection on my YouTube OnDemand Fitness channel!