Andrea Kolbe, originally from Maryland, began her dance training at the Ballet Arts of Potomac run by her godmother, Susan Wolfarth, who had studied at the Washington Ballet under Mary Day. She continued at Ballet 106 with Linda Miller formerly with the Eliot Feld Ballet Company and then moved to the American Dance Institute founded by Pamela Booth Bjerknes, a former American Ballet Theater dancer, and Michael Bjerknes, a former Joffrey Ballet principal.

 

Andrea attended Hofstra University, graduating with a BA in Dance where she performed works by Robin Becker, Rachel List, and Karla Wolfangle. After graduating from Hofstra University in 2010, she was the first employee of the newly established Arts in Motion Dance Center (AIM) in Melville, New York. She became a co-owner when they opened their second Northport, New York location in 2019. She taught every kind of dance including ballet, contemporary, modern, lyrical, hip-hop, and jazz. She was an accomplished choreographer winning many top awards, particularly in contemporary, at the various dance competitions that AIM participated in.

 

The heartbreak that her family, friends, and dance community have endured from her tragic passing from postpartum depression has led all who knew her to channel their grief and sadness into improving maternal health care, making information available to all mothers about the critical nature of this diagnosis, and removing the stigma that surrounds the feelings that this type of depression exhibits.

 

Andrea and Chazz Fenner-McBride, the love of her life, met while in the dance program at Hofstra. They were married on June 26, 2020. Chazz, who is an accomplished dance teacher as well, has performed with various dance companies including the Eglevsky Ballet and the Lydia Johnson Dance Company. Andrea and Chazz welcomed their sweet baby boy, Harbor, into the world on August 24, 2023. They named him after the stunning harbors they had visited during their travels and adventures. Interestingly, Andrea learned the gender of her baby while enjoying a meal at one of their favorite restaurants located on Huntington Harbor. 

 

Andrea sustained herself by the love of her family, a quote of hers from an Instagram post. Her passion and love for her life, the joy of being a dance teacher, appreciation and adoration of her parents, sisters, nephews, friends, the awe of beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the walks and love of the nature that surrounded her in Caumsett State Park in Huntington, and times at the beach were what made her the extraordinarily beautiful and sensitive woman she was. Her legacy is here and all the thousands of people she touched with her kindness and love will be cherished forever.

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“Hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon.” 🌔