Meet Our Pilates Professionals
Amanda Short (Artistic Director, Dance & Pilates Instructor) is a certified dance and Classical Pilates instructor and a degreed educator whose passion for dance began in childhood. After falling in love with dance at age 3 and studying a variety of styles, she attended the Governor’s School for the Arts Dance Department in Norfolk, Virginia, throughout high school.
She continued her study of classical ballet and performance in college while earning her teaching degree from Old Dominion University. In 2006, she completed her 600-hour Classical Pilates Comprehensive certification and began teaching Pilates and ballet locally, later returning to earn her master’s degree. Amanda regularly participates in continuing education workshops in both Pilates, including The Classical Syllabus with Mejo Wiggins, and dance.
Amanda is also proud to be an ABT® Certified Teacher, having successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has staged several original ballets and enjoys collaborating with local artists, illustrators, and musicians to create fully theatrical ballet experiences for audiences.
For her students, Amanda blends her passion for dance with her love of education, emphasizing proper form and technique alongside safe and logical physical progression. Her students and clients often describe her as a “natural teacher,” and she considers it her highest honor to witness their personal growth.
Brenda (Pilates Instructor) is a certified Classical Pilates instructor and physical therapist. She is thrilled to be at Allonge, introducing people to the Pilates method and apparatus, especially her personal favorite, the Cadillac.
Brenda is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology. She went on to receive her Master of Physical Therapy degree from California State University, Northridge, and trained at a Classical Pilates studio in Los Angeles.
She has been a runner, gym enthusiast, aerobics instructor, and a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) devotee, but Pilates has remained her favorite form of exercise. Physical therapy and Pilates go hand in hand in improving strength, posture, body awareness, and balance. Brenda has incorporated Pilates principles into her patient care for years and now applies her physical therapy expertise in the studio, modifying exercises for clients with injuries or pain.
Outside of the studio, she can usually be found gardening, knitting, and spending time with her cats.
Leigh Ann (Suffolk/OBX) is a Certified Classical Pilates Instructor and the Pilates Office Manager at Allonge Pilates. Her journey began with a love for dance, which she pursued from an early age, eventually leading her to teach at Allonge Dance Academy. Her passion for movement naturally evolved into a love for Pilates.
After relocating to the Outer Banks (OBX) in 2022, Leigh Ann continued to share her expertise by offering virtual classes, helping pave the way for the innovative “Pilates Pro on the Go” program.
Beyond her Pilates practice, Leigh Ann has devoted many years to serving in children’s and youth ministry across Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. She also served as a director and coordinator of a homeschool chapter in North Carolina from 2018 to 2019 and has been homeschooling her children since 2014.
Leigh Ann’s deep love for God, Pilates, and her community fosters a positive and inspiring experience for her clients.
Meet Our Pilates Coaches
Deb Sweetman (Pilates Coach)
Rachel Lewis (Pilates coach) is a Pilates coach working toward full certification as a Pilates instructor. She has a passion for Pilates, having trained with Allonge for the past 12 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of William & Mary and later earned her master’s degree in education and counseling from Old Dominion University.
She worked in the field of mental health and child welfare for over 30 years and retired last year from the City of Suffolk after 27 years as the Children’s Services Act Coordinator. Her interest in dance began at a young age with tap and ballet classes and expanded in college with four years of modern dance.
Since retirement, she has devoted more time to coach training with Allonge and remains active in discipleship and women’s Bible study at Southside Baptist Church. She is excited about sharing her love for Pilates with new clients. Outside of the studio, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and a variety of water sports.