ABOUT
Photography credit
Photos by Bruce & Associates Albion, NY
Hello, my name is Amy Caldwell Sidari. In April of 2025 I retired from the most amazing, rewarding journey as the owner of Gotta Dance Performing Arts LLC, located in Albion, NY. After 38 years of instructing dance – 28 of those years owning the business and all the roles that come with that responsibility, I have learned so much more than dance.
Gotta Dance was my everything. I loved going to work daily, working with the most amazing staff of women, and welcoming customers with warmth. The atmosphere at 28b West Bank Street was a happy, safe, thriving environment which had to be experienced to be understood.
So why stop? Why walk away now when this business purrs like a well oiled machine? It was time. I invested all the gifts God gave me in this business and He blessed me with all of you. I was 57 years old at the time of retirement and had given 38 years of service. I am a daughter, a wife, a mother of five beautiful children, a mother-in-law, and a proud grandma to three cherished grandchildren: Charlotte, James, and Jonah. Reason enough, right?
During my first year of retirement I felt like more than “Miss Amy the dance teacher.” I prayed and tried to force the next move without success until February 26, 2026. I’d never experienced a lull where I couldn’t “find me” — it was scary and frustrating. I always knew my path; I was a dream machine, a skill my mom taught me: “Close your eyes and visualize it as if it’s already real. Open yourself to possibilities.” My mom’s positive thinking and visualizations shaped much of my success. At speaking events I’d credit my father for building my dreams with his hands and my mother for building me. (A chapter about my parents appears in my book.)
On February 26th I found clarity after a stressful day: my nearly 94-year-old dad was struggling to breathe. Despite my calmness, my intuition said we needed help. After the doctor visit he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Our longtime physician let me take him home instead of admitting him to the hospital. The reality we were experiencing at a crucial time hit me hard.
When I returned home I broke down—not angry, just overwhelmed by sadness as I accepted my father’s fragility, (I’d already lost my mother on December 16, 2021). In that surrender, my subconscious urged me to grab a pen. I wrote: “You are a teacher of many things.” “You are a facilitator of ideas.” “Your past has changed lives.” “Your love for everyone lets you achieve your dreams.” I read them as if someone else—my mom or guardian angels—had written them.
A release of more tears because I have been struggling the past ten (10) months wondering who I am and what my purpose in life is. News flash everyone, I am back. I have a clear direction now. I know how to get from A to B. And of course it isn’t cut and dried work. It’s quite involved and has several sub headings. (No surprise right? I never take the easy road.)
I am writing my first book titled, The Next Move ~The Journey Continues. Through sharing my story of dreams to reality I hope to inspire you to find your dream and live it!
The first section is dedicated to getting started. Discover your passion and invest belief into yourself! My story is made up of a series of dreams that became a reality. If I can do it, you can too. I do not have a college degree, but I have gone to the University of Life. I can guarantee you one thing… If you do not put a dream into motion, It will NEVER become a reality.
Next, take your dream from thoughts to paper. Nailing down a mission statement of your service or product, and creating a business plan for success follows.
Finally, to prepare you for the success you are about to achieve by creating a plan of action. (My definition of success is my own. To me, success is a mindset of positive energy which creates positive change.) This section will describe what it takes physically and emotionally to launch your dream.
The journey written in this book will not only tell the story but show the success in the dream, the success in the business plan, and the success in its people.
I am truly forever grateful to this beautiful community for embracing all my endeavors through the past 38 years. I look forward to serving you first and always, before the next move takes me across this great nation. God bless all of you.
Attention former customers, dancers, and community: Click the button to share a memory you experienced with Gotta Dance. Your message may be added to the book, The Next Move.