Meet the Staff

Alicia Jonas (Program/Managing Director)
Alicia became co-owner of Arts in Motion in 2006and assumed full ownership in 2008. Besides teaching classes and managing day-to-day operations, she oversees the Early Childhood and School Age Programs and the AimDance Ensemble Program.

She graduated cum laude from Webster University in 2003 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, Mike y 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 and most recently in AnnonyArts "Dine on Dance" series.

She will be taking a brief hiatus from performing and teaching while she and her husband welcome their first child in late summer 2008. Assuming everything goes as planned, she'll be back to 'jumpin’ for joy' later this fall!

Lindsay Hawkins (Artistic Director, AimDance & Ballet Ensembles)
Lindsay joins AiM as Director of the Ballet Program. Lindsay began dancing at the age of 7 in her hometown of Columbus, Indiana. She furthered her training at Butler University and it’s 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 in 2003 and is now in her 4th season with the company. She performed in the Dance Now festival in 2003 at the Joyce Soho in New York as well as the International Fringe Festival in 2005 in Toronto. She also participated in the Dance St. Louis Contemporary Moves showcase with Cecil Slaughter and Todd Weeks. Lindsay has choreographed two works for Madco and will begin work on her 3rd.

Upon moving to St. Louis, she joined the staff at Ballet Midwest, teaching ballet, pointe, and modern and became Artistic Director in the fall of 2005. She has recently merged Ballet Midwest students with Arts In Motion and is thrilled to be part of such a great program. She has also been on staff at Coca since fall 2005.

Kirsten Gandenberger (Instructor)
Kirsten is a recent graduate of Webster University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at Webster, Kirsten studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and modern dance, as well as improvisation and choreography.

When she's not dancing, Kirsten serves as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and Riverside Church.

Keli Hermes (Instructor)
Keli began dance training as way to improve her competitive figure skating technique. While working towards her figure skating goals, Keli began enjoying dance and began training more seriously during high school with performing arts classes and participation in Moving Ground Modern Dance Company. She later furthered her training on scholarship at the University of Oklahoma under the direction of Mary Margaret-Holt. During college, Keli was awarded the Scott Salmon Choreography Award for her piece 'Intentions' and was also invited to show her choreography at Dance for the Planet and Summerdance '05, both in Dallas, Texas.

In 2006, Keli completed her BFA in Modern Dance Performance after working with Denise Vale, Austin Hartel, Donn Edwards, and noted choreographers from Pilobolus. Keli has also participated in Bates Dance Festival helping create a festival site-specific work and trained at Dance Alloy workshops. in August 2006, Keli moved to St. Louis and joined the Modern American Dance Company. She is in her third season with the company. This is her second year with AiM.

Janele Moore (Instructor)
Janelle recently graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Ballet. Janele is from Madisonville, KY, where she taught many levels and styles of dance for three years at her home studio, and has decided to move to St. Louis to contribute to the local dance scene as well as teach here at Arts in Motion. This summer Janele performed a piece by Chicago based choreographer Eddy O'Campo with Webster U.'s dance ensemble in New York City for the National College Dance Festival Gala. Her St. Louis performance credits include One River Mississippi Project, Dine on Dance, and Dancing in the Streets.

Janele has had extensive and excellent training in ballet, modern, jazz, and dance composition from the following teachers: Gary Hubler, Beckah Voigt, Maggi Konkel, Christine Kardell, and Eddy O'Campo.