Meet the Staff

Alicia Jonas (Program/Managing Director)
Alicia became co-owner of Arts in Motion in 2006 and assumed full ownership in 2008. Besides teaching all levels of classes and managing day-to-day operations, she oversees the Early Childhood and School Age Programs and the AimDance Ensemble Program.  She completed Magnificent Movement™ training with Susan Bennett, and enjoys teaching all age groups.  Alicia also loves any opportunity to choreograph for the AimDance Ensemble program.

She graduated cum laude from Webster University where she earned a BFA in Dance and a BA in Management. Upon graduation, she went on to become a four year company member of MADCO. Besides performing, she has also choreographed three works for the company. She was also honored to be invited back to Webster U. in 2007 to set a new work on their current dance majors.

Alicia has had the opportunity to work with prominent choreographers Robert Battle, Alcine Wiltz, Helen Myers, Michael Mizerany, Michael Foley, Joseph Mills, and Katherine Duke, as well as local choreographers Cecil Slaughter, Mikey Thomas, Alice Bloch, Rob Scoggins, Diana Barrios, and Summer Beasley, among others. She has performed at DanceNow NYC, Toronto Fringe Festival for Performing Artists, St. Louis Contemporary Moves Festival, and St. Louis Dance Festival. Alicia has also performed with aTrek Dance Collective, in AnnonyArts "Dine on Dance" series, and most recently choreographed for 60x60 Dance.

Alicia and her husband Mike are the proud parents of one son, Michael, to whom she credits with teaching her how to be patient, playful, and sensitive to every child's differing personalities and learning styles.


Lindsay Hawkins (Artistic Director, AimDance & Ballet Ensembles)
Lindsay joined Arts in Motion in 2006 as Director of the Ballet Program, and has since been named Artistic Director of both our AimDance and Ballet Ensembles.  She is responsible for AiM’s ballet program as well as making sure both Ensembles execute an artistic vision that is in line with Arts in Motion’s philosophy.  She choreographs on a regular basis for both ensembles, and has also completed Magnificent Movement™ training.

Lindsay began dancing at the age of 7 in her hometown of Columbus, Indiana. She furthered her training at Butler University and its affiliate academy, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 2002 she graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BFA in Dance under the direction of Jeremy Blanton. While at SMU she worked with many noted ballet, modern, and jazz choreographers including Robert Battle, Hernando Cortez, and a member of the Balanchine Trust. Lindsay joined the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO) in 2003 and is now in her seventh year as a Company member.  In 2008 she was promoted to MADCO’s Assistant Rehearsal Director.

Her performance credits include Dance Now NYC Festival and International Fringe Festival in Toronto. Locally, she participated in Dance St. Louis Contemporary Moves Festival, Dancing in the Streets, St. Louis Dance Festival Showcase, Spring to Dance, and Duets for My Valentine.  She has also been the featured female role in two duets by Frank Chaves, and worked with Robert Battle, John Beasant III, Alcine Wiltz, Helen Myers, Michael Mizerany, Michael Foley, Joseph Mills, and Katherine Duke, as well as local choreographers Cecil Slaughter, Mikey Thomas, Alice Bloch, and Rob Scoggins.

Ms. Hawkins has also conducted a master class for Walt Disney Staging Specialists in Orlando, Florida, and has been a professional artist mentor for St. Louis Artworks.  In addition, she has choreographed three works for MADCO.

This is her fifth year teaching at AiM.

Keli Hermes (Instructor)
Keli Brook Hermes is a born and bred Texan originally from Dallas.  She graduated with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 2006 with a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance.  During college, Keli was a member of Contemporay Dance Oklahoma and performed works by Denise Vale, Austin Hartel, and Rob McWilliams.  She also trained with Donn Edwards, Derrick Minter, Rebecca Ratliff, and Jeff Rebudal. In 2004, Keli's piece 'Intentions' won the Scott Salmon Choreography Award and in 2005, Keli was invited to show 'Females Part One' at Summerfest/Dance '05 in Dallas, Texas. During college, Keli furthered her training at Bates Dance Festival and Dance Alloy's Summer Intensive.

Upon graduation, Keli moved to St. Louis to dance with Modern American Dance Company for four seasons completing tours to Michigan and Florida, performing in concert performances and acting as a lead educator for the 'Books in Motion' program combining dance and literacy.  In 2009, she was also hired as a teaching mentor for St. Louis Artworks. While with MADCO, Keli performed works by Robert Battle, Michael Foley, Jon Beasant III and Cecil Slaughter.  She was a featured performer in the 2009 production of 'Chimera' choreographed by Todd Weeks.  In 2009, Keli was a guest artist with the University of Missouri St. Louis dance program and in 2010 her choreography was shown at St. Louis Dance Festival and 60x60 Dance. Most recently Keli began dancing with Common Thread Contemporary Dance directed by Jennifer Medina.

This is Keli's fourth year at AiM.

Kirsten McKeown (Instructor)
Kirsten McKeown was previously an instructor at Arts in Motion from 2007-2008 and is thrilled to return this year. Kirsten began her dance training in clogging classes at the age of seven. After several years of study, she began adding more classes, first in ballet, then tap, jazz, Irish dance, and pointe. Once Kirsten reached thirteen years of age, she knew she wanted a career teaching dance and has never looked back from that goal since.

After high school, Kirsten attended Webster University, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. While at Webster, she studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and pointe while also participating in both faculty and student choreography shows. Kirsten also worked for the Foster Dance program, assisting with dance classes for teenage girls in foster care. Since graduating, Kirsten has taught a wide variety of dance techniques to students of all ages in both dance studios and public schools. She has also performed with Dine on Dance and Dancing in the Streets as well as choreographing for 60x60.

Hannahbeth Fischer (Office Manager/Instructor)
Hannahbeth Fischer graduated cum laude from Saint Mary’s College, IN (SMC) with a double major in Humanistic Studies and a Student Designed major in Digital Media, Dance and Women’s Studies.  Hannahbeth  has danced and toured with South African based performing arts group 13thFloor and worked with David Dorfman’s Underground. While at SMC, Hannahbeth founded the student group TransPose [dance collective] which innovated peer-taught classes and produced a student dance concert each semester. As a sophomore, she was the recipient of the Catherine Dooley Grant for Peace and Justice. In addition to her investment on campus, Hannahbeth engaged with the arts culture of South Bend, investing in [river park arts community] and the development of community artspace, LangLab South Bend.  With her interest in digital media, Hannahbeth produces dance + technology pieces. She produced a video-art installation for the Bold Beauty Conference 2010 and headed up the event planning committee and the digital project support team for the Bold Beauty Conference 2011. Before leaving school, Hannahbeth created and produced a full-length film/dance concert, Caught, presenting at both SMC and LangLab South Bend. In the summer of 2010, she created a piece with aTrek’s Developing Artist Project and has returned to invest in the development of aTrek’s new group LeverEdge, an artist incubator. Hannahbeth is also GreenDot trained, has worked with the BAVO (Belles Against Violence Office) and has been a scholarship recipient of the Now + Next Dance Mentorship program.

This is Hannahbeth's first year at Arts in Motion.