Amanda Balen

'''Amanda Balen''' (born {{Circa|1984}})<ref name=":0" /> is a Canadian professional dancer and performer.

Balen grew up near Hamilton, Ontario with parents Mary and John Balen. She began dance classes at age three.<ref name=":0" />

Balen moved to Los Angeles to pursue a dance career.{{When|date=July 2024}} There, she trained with American choreographer Mandy Moore, who featured Balen in the 2016 movie ''La La Land''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Rockingham |first=Graham |date=2017-02-25 |title=ROCKINGHAM: Hamilton dancer is upfront in La La Land |url=https://www.thespec.com/entertainment/rockingham-hamilton-dancer-is-upfront-in-la-la-land/article_3f176c18-6538-56e5-9085-db311cab1ad6.html |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=The Hamilton Spectator |via=}}</ref> She has also appeared on The Disney Channel, ''Glee'', ''American Idol'', ''The X-Factor'', ''So You Think You Can Dance'', ''Ellen,'' and ''The Oprah Winfrey Show.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Where are they now? |url=https://rhythmdance.com/where-are-they-now/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Rhythm Dance |language=en-US}}</ref>''

In addition to her time in film, Balen has toured with multiple musical and artistic performers, including travelling with Lady Gaga for the Born This Way Ball and The Monster Ball Tour, as well as Celine Dion's Taking Chances World Tour. She has also worked with Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Carrie Underwood, Pink, and Beyoncé.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> She performed in multiple Super Bowl halftime shows, including Katy Perry's performance in 2015 and Lady Gaga's performance in 2017.<ref name=":0" />

In 2020, Balen co-directed the ''Dancing with the Stars'' live tour with the Season 28 cast.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Burtt |first=Kristyn |date=2019-12-10 |title=Going to the 'Dancing with the Stars' Tour? Here's What You Need to Know |url=https://www.dancedishwithkb.com/post/going-to-the-dancing-with-the-stars-tour-here-s-what-you-need-to-know |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Dance Dish with KB |language=en}}</ref>

From 2023 to 2024, she was the dance captain and associate choreographer for Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=West |first=Bryan |date=2024-03-22 |title=The Eras Tour cast: Meet Taylor Swift's dancers, singers and band members |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/03/22/eras-tour-cast-meet-taylor-swifts-dancers-singers-and-band-members/73020978007/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=2023-07-13 |title=Swifties are losing their minds over Coloradan Mandy Moore's choreography |url=https://denvergazette.com/arts-entertainment/swifties-are-losing-their-minds-over-coloradan-mandy-moores-choreography/article_222482a6-204e-11ee-a7da-47c3f4d5b71f.html |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Denver Gazette |language=en}}</ref> and featured in ''Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour'', the tour's concert film.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Little |first1=Sarah |last2=Sharpe |first2=Lynn |date=2023-10-17 |title=Eras Tour Performer Guide: Every Taylor Swift Backup Dancer & Vocalist In The Concert Movie |url=https://screenrant.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-backup-dancers-vocalists-in-concert-movie/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, she appeared once again in the follow-up film ''Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show'' as well as the accompanying behind-the-scenes docuseries ''The End of an Era.''

== Filmography == {{Incomplete list|date=July 2024}} {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !{{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}} |- |2016 |''Agent Carter'', "A Little Song and Dance" |Dancer | |<ref name="Fonseca">{{Cite magazine |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=December 24, 2015 |title=Agent Carter: Lyndsy Fonseca to return for dreamy DWTS crossover |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/24/agent-carter-lyndsy-fonseca-dancing-with-stars-crossover-dwts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225152155/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/12/24/agent-carter-lyndsy-fonseca-dancing-with-stars-crossover-dwts |archive-date=December 25, 2015 |access-date=December 24, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> |- |2020 |''Dancing with the Stars'' |Co-director | |<ref name=":4" /> |- |2023 |''Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour'' | rowspan="3" |Dance captain | | rowspan="3" |<ref name=":3" /> |- | rowspan="2" |2025 |''Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour: The Final Show'' | |- |''Taylor Swift: The End of an Era'' | |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balen, Amanda}} Category:1980s births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian dancers Category:Canadian female dancers Category:Entertainers from Hamilton, Ontario