Judges

Amanda Kurey

Amanda grew up in Central New York, where she began dancing at the age of 3. Amanda was a top class dancer winning countless awards at both regional and national competitions. Upon graduating, she attended Fredonia State University where she studied both dance and musical theatre. In 2012 she was awarded the prestigious Carol Prevett Scholarship for dance. During her time there she was voted Vice President of the student run dance company,Orchesis. Amanda both choreographed and performed in many numbers throughout her association with the company. She performed with the Fredonia State Dance Ensemble, Fredonia State Dance Team, and Fredonia’s Performing Arts Company. She also had the privilege of working with numerous professional choreographers such as John Lehrer, Tokyo, and Chris Todar. After graduating Amanda started teaching and choreographing professionally. Since then she has won numerous top choreography and top technique awards including “Choreographer of The Year” in 2019 and 2021 for Imagine Dance Challenge as well as “Excellence in Choreography” at the Star Dance Alliance’s Circle of Excellence awards.   Amanda works for a regional theater as well as Syracuse University, teaching and assistant choreographing.  She also choreographs for local high school musicals, as well as teaching master classes, and choreographing and performing with Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company.  

Arianna Shropshire

An Atlanta native, Arianna Shropshire began her dance training at the age of 9. She has a diverse background in competitive ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip-hop, and more! At 15 years old she began teaching and choreographing for the Nu Star Maker Performing Arts competition team and received her first championship choreography award at the age of 16. Soon after, she started working in many capacities as a professional performer, choreographer, and director for The Strand Theatre and The Mable House Amphitheatre while teaching for programs including The Georgia Ballet, Georgia Dance Conservatory, and Becky Jones School of Dance.

Arianna has professionally trained many students, some of whom received full scholarships to The Joffrey Ballet and have been featured in the Disney Broadway production of The Lion King in New York City. Her passion is creating learning pathways to help children with their individual focuses, and achieving short and long-term goals whether they are school-oriented or working towards a future as a professional performer.

Debra Becerra

Debra Baile Becerra is from Jacksonville, NC.  She grew up dancing and competing at her mother’s dance studio under the direction of Desiree LeFebvre, Larry Payne and Erin Warpole.  Debra has trained under many prestigious instructors and is well versed in many styles of dance, with her main focus on jazz and contemporary.  She has been teaching for over 25 years and is the owner of Dance Theatre of Jacksonville.  Debra is the competition director as well as the executive director of the DTOJ Ballet Company.  Her students have gone on to dance in reputable college dance programs and conservatories – with many now dancing professionally in companies like Body Traffic and Giordano Jazz Company, as well as film, tv and music videos.  Debra has been with Imagine as a judge for over 8 years and loves sharing her knowledge, experience and passion for dance with dancers all over the country!