Amanda learned early that she was able to combine her different skills through musical theater. She auditioned and started to appear in
leading and supporting roles in numerous professional and community theaters in the Orlando area. She was awarded the Sarah
Trophy for "Best Child Actor in a Musical", and became a two-time recipient of the Broadway Trophy for acting, dance, and
choreography. Today Amanda sings in a variety of styles with her strongest style still in Broadway and pop. Her vocal inspirations are
Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood and Julie Andrews. Amanda is an honor role student in elementary school. She is also a graduate of the
"Lisa Maile Professional School of Acting and modeling". Amanda now trains vocally and takes piano and guitar lessons from private
coach, Renee Jones.
In 2005 Amanda was selected to represent the USA in the Performing Arts Olympics. 50 000 performers worldwide audition for this
spectacular event each year. However only the very best from each country are selected to compete for the gold. Three thousand
competitors of all ages, from 51 countries, make their way to Hollywood California to dance, sing, model, and act in the hope of
capturing the gold and becoming the next Grand Champion Performer of the world. The week long competition is judged by 100
directors, producers, agents, movie stars and others from the showbiz industry. Making it through both elimination rounds, Amanda
found herself winning 16 medals (6 gold) for the USA as well as the title of Acting Champion of the World.
Amanda has played lead roles in several independent and made-for-TV films. In "Challenging the Creator" Amanda stars as SCI
(pronounced "Sky"), a cloned child genius product of an ostensible scientist named Rad Sylvestry. Sylvestry presents SCI ( an
acronym for "Scientifically Cloned Infant") as his prototype and proclaims himself to be the "God of all that shall follow" . When SCI is
suddenly sold to a childless, multi-millionaire couple, secrets start to become unravelled and nothing is as it seems. The fictional drama
which runs for an hour and 45 minutes delves deep into the question "should man be permitted to destroy what he himself created".
In "Nobody's Someone" Amanda plays a precocious six year old child, Cassie, who finds herself alone after the death of her mother.
Refusing to become a "part-of-the -system" Cassie runs away from the clutches of the social worker, on a quest to find the father she
never really new. However bearing no street smarts Cassie is unsure if she will survive all the obstacles in her way. This movie is an
adaptation of a real life story and runs for 1hr and 55mins.
Along with her fellow Annie orphan cast, Amanda is one of five girl super-hero's in "Fix-it-chix". Each member uses a unique talent or
quality to outwit the bad guys in the various missions assigned to them. Requests to add further missions and to turn this short film
into a series are being considered.
Currently Amanda is playing the role of "Annie" in the Broadway musical of the same name, which is touring nationally and
internationally. This is her third season working with original Broadway director and script lyricist, Martin Charnin, who is directing
"Annie". Amanda feels really blessed to have the opportunity to work under Charnin, acknowledging that he has played large part in her
growth as an actor. Amanda entered the tour in the role of "Molly" the youngest and smallest orphan. She moved on to play "Duffy" in
the 2nd season of the shows running, and under-studied the role of "Annie" prior to being cast in the title role this season
.
Amanda along with Time-Life Records, Charnin and the 30th anniversary cast has just completed recording a 2 disc CD singing the songs
from the musical. She will additionally, be singing the never-before recorded songs from the Annie sequel. The CD's release date is
scheduled for the end of November
Amanda's most recent appearances include performing at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York to a sold out audience of
5,400. She has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox TV, ABC and WESH Channel 2, where she opened for American
Idol finalist LaToya London. On September 18th through the 23rd, Amanda will be performing at the Bobb Carr Performing Arts Center in
Orlando.
At this point in her life Amanda is doing what she loves. The ten year old lights up with an abundance of charisma whenever she is on
stage. She, just as easily, resumes her life as a normal kid, running around, laughing and playing with her friends when she is off stage.
When asked about plans for the future, one may hear murmurs of doing film someday or even following her passion in science and
astronomy to become an astronaut. One thing is clear....no matter which path she takes, Amanda will be found among the stars.
by Adrian Prescott
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Amanda Balon is an eleven year old professional actress, vocalist and dancer. She has been performing
on stage since the age of three. Amanda was born in Kansas and raised along with her twin brother and
older sister in her mom's hometown in Zimbabwe, Africa
Amanda's passion for the performing arts became apparent at an early age. As a toddler she would watch
musicals, recurrently choosing them over cartoons and regular children's shows. Quickly memorizing the
lines, lyrics and the music, she would perform alongside the television characters with unreserved gusto.
Amanda auditioned for her first musical, "Annie" at the age of three, singing the song "Tomorrow". Her
parents were, initially skeptical about allowing their daughter to audition for a musical that did not have a
role for a child of her age. However, finally giving in to Amanda's ambitious persuasion, they turned the
trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, into a family vacation. It was a vacation that marked the start of a little girls
dream-come-true. Barely visible among three hundred, eight to ten year olds auditioning for Annie that
day, Amanda was unflappable. She gave a roof raising performance of the song "tomorrow" bringing the
spectators as well the directors to their feet. Not only did Amanda leave the stage with a thunderous
standing ovation, but also with a handful of talent agency contracts, scholarships, offers from various
casting directors and an open gateway to a future of "tomorrows" in the world of the performing Arts.
Almost immediately Amanda was enrolled into the Daystar Academy of the Performing Arts as their
youngest student. By the time she was five Amanda had become a competitive, platinum -winning, vocal
soloist and was rapidly gaining a reputation throughout Florida, as a delightful entertainer and a rising
star. In spite of the fact that she was a decade too young, Amanda was invited to join the Senior Travel
Dance Company. The team's dance coach believed that Amanda's determination as well as her ability to
pick up dance steps quickly and execute them well would make up for her lack of years and experience.
Her light weight and small stature made her the perfect person for the air stunts. Amanda competed in
jazz, ballet, tap and acro-dance. She is still the youngest member and a front line dancer on one of the
highest ranked acro-dance teams in the USA.
on stage since the age of three. Amanda was born in Kansas and raised along with her twin brother and
older sister in her mom's hometown in Zimbabwe, Africa
Amanda's passion for the performing arts became apparent at an early age. As a toddler she would watch
musicals, recurrently choosing them over cartoons and regular children's shows. Quickly memorizing the
lines, lyrics and the music, she would perform alongside the television characters with unreserved gusto.
Amanda auditioned for her first musical, "Annie" at the age of three, singing the song "Tomorrow". Her
parents were, initially skeptical about allowing their daughter to audition for a musical that did not have a
role for a child of her age. However, finally giving in to Amanda's ambitious persuasion, they turned the
trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, into a family vacation. It was a vacation that marked the start of a little girls
dream-come-true. Barely visible among three hundred, eight to ten year olds auditioning for Annie that
day, Amanda was unflappable. She gave a roof raising performance of the song "tomorrow" bringing the
spectators as well the directors to their feet. Not only did Amanda leave the stage with a thunderous
standing ovation, but also with a handful of talent agency contracts, scholarships, offers from various
casting directors and an open gateway to a future of "tomorrows" in the world of the performing Arts.
Almost immediately Amanda was enrolled into the Daystar Academy of the Performing Arts as their
youngest student. By the time she was five Amanda had become a competitive, platinum -winning, vocal
soloist and was rapidly gaining a reputation throughout Florida, as a delightful entertainer and a rising
star. In spite of the fact that she was a decade too young, Amanda was invited to join the Senior Travel
Dance Company. The team's dance coach believed that Amanda's determination as well as her ability to
pick up dance steps quickly and execute them well would make up for her lack of years and experience.
Her light weight and small stature made her the perfect person for the air stunts. Amanda competed in
jazz, ballet, tap and acro-dance. She is still the youngest member and a front line dancer on one of the
highest ranked acro-dance teams in the USA.
Biography
