Our Faculty
Miss alicia | studio owner & executive Director
Alicia became studio owner in 2006 and has over 20 years of experience teaching children. Her journey in nurturing young children in the arts is a combination of passion and purpose.
While she no longer leads weekly dance classes herself, Alicia's heart remains firmly entrenched in the world of teaching. Her true fulfillment is in mentoring the instructors and staff members at AiM and nurturing them into dynamic leadership figures.
Alicia's expertise is deeply rooted in AiM's groundbreaking Magnificent Movement™ early childhood curriculum and teaching method, a legacy she shares with program founder Susan Bennett. Alicia provides continuous guidance and mentorship to every dance instructor under her wing. Alicia's work with Magnificent Movement™ earned a prestigious spot in Dance Studio Life magazine's 2016 publication.
She holds a BFA in Dance and a BA in Management from Webster University. She has also graced the stage as a professional modern dancer. As a company member of St. Louis-based dance company MADCO and a freelance artist, she had the privilege of performing in NYC and Toronto while collaborating with renowned local, national, and international choreographers, which enriched her dance journey with a wealth of experiences to share with her students.
Family lies at the core of Alicia's life, and she and her husband Mike are the proud parents of three sons. Alicia credits her children for imparting invaluable lessons of patience, playfulness, and a heightened sensitivity to the unique personalities and learning styles of every child.
Alicia eagerly anticipates the opportunity to share her lifelong passion for the arts and her unwavering commitment to education at Arts in Motion for many more years to come.
Miss EMILY | Assistant Director
Emily is a proud graduate of Millikin University where she obtained her BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance in 2020. She joined Arts in Motion in 2022 after serving as the Education Director and Marketing Manager at Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon, MO for a year. Emily has been dancing since she could walk, and has been teaching dance for many years! She loves all styles of dance and is always working to learn more to share new knowledge with her students. Outside of the studio, you can find Emily taking long walks with her dog, reading a good book, or traveling and seeing new places and foods!
Miss Katy | Director of Dance Ensembles
Katy is a mom of four and has been teaching dance for over two decades. She toured with Illinois Ballet under the artistic direction of Mary Price Boday right out of college and then danced, choreographed for and directed Coalescence Modern Company for 11 seasons. Katy was a professor of dance at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois for 8 years where she helped design the dance minor and curriculum. Katy is thrilled to be at Arts in Motion since 2022 and to have the opportunity to work with such talented, passionate young artists.
Miss Amanda | dance instructor
Amanda was born and raised in St. Louis, MO where she grew up dancing at several local studios. She graduated with her BFA in Dance from Southeast Missouri State University, and later earned her Masters Degree in Exercise Science from Concordia University - Chicago. She also spent a year and a half in the Big Muddy Dance Company’s Trainee program. Amanda is a wife and mom to two kiddos and is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance with students at Arts in Motion.
Miss mya | dance instructor
Mya, originally from St. Charles, Missouri, has been dancing since age 6, training at Arts In Motion School of Dance and Movement until she was 18. A former member of the AIM Performing Ensemble, she performed throughout the St. Louis community. Currently pursuing dual majors in Dance and Exercise Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Mya aims to specialize in performing arts physical therapy while also aspiring to dance professionally. She is a member of SIUE’s University Dance Company, where she continues her training and performance work with unique guest choreographers.
In her free time, Mya enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and deepening her knowledge of kinesiology. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her passion for dance with her students.
Miss madison | dance Instructor
Madison is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. She now attends Webster University where she has had the privilege of working with artists including Eve Mason, Dawn Karlovsky, Zhao Xi, Cleo Parker-Robinson, Betsy Brandt, Michael Uthoff, Monica Newsam, Donna Patzius-Hill, Beckah Reed, Ashely McQueen, Nicole Whitesell through both classes and performances with Webster University Dance Ensemble.
Outside Webster, Madison has worked with choreographers Chris Page, Kriven Douthit-Boyd, and Ghermi Clay, as well as actress Lakeetha Blakney in her one-woman show “Sweet Jenn.” Madison has performed in the Creations Concert, BFA Concerts, Webster University Dance Ensemble, Atlanta Black Film Festival, and Spring to Dance. Madison has had the pleasure of studying abroad in Thailand where she assisted in a residency at Patravadi High School and also performed and taught at Halio International School. This summer Madison attended the American Dance Festival where she was selected to perform in the International Choreography Residency.
Upon graduation, she will receive her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in modern.
Miss Morgan | dance Instructor & Customer Care Assistant
Morgan (she/her) is a St. Louis native. She began her training at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) under the direction of Ms. Lee Nolting where she focused on Jazz and Contemporary dance.
In 2021 she graduated from the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in dance. In May of 2023, she received an MA in Nonprofit Management from Wash U. During that time, she worked diligently to become certified in the Alexander Technique: a somatic, based on the awareness of oneself to break habitual patterns.
She is currently working as a dancer, teacher, and Alexander instructor.
Miss Kristina | customer care assistant
Kristina grew up in Jefferson City, MO but has made St. Louis her home for the last 18 years. She grew up participating in dance at a local studio and through school participated in the color guard which included dance.
Kristina graduated from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO with a Bachelors in Business Administration and later attended Webster University and obtained my Masters in HR Management. Kristina works full time as an HR Business Partner.
While not working, she enjoys quilting, reading, listening to podcasts or audiobooks, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
Miss Elyzah | Dance Instructor
Elyzah is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Jackson, Tennessee. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a concentration in Dance Science from the University of Memphis, where she trained in a variety of styles.
Throughout her time in Memphis, Elyzah taught and performed with many community organizations to share her love of dance and culture. She has also trained with staibdance, Doug Varone and Dancers, Pilobolus, the American Dance Festival, and MICHIYAYA Dance. Since moving to Saint Louis, she has performed with RESILIENCE Dance Company, Leverage Dance Theatre, and Space Station Dance, and she continually looks for opportunities to pour her artistry into the local dance scene.
Elyzah is very excited to be teaching again and looks forward to her first year with Arts in Motion!
Miss julia | Dance Instructor
Julia is from San Diego, CA, began her training at the California Ballet School, attending summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, and the Joffrey Academy in Chicago. In high school, she attended the Conservatory Program at the Joffrey Academy of Dance under the direction of Karin Ellis-Wentz and Kyle Seguin.
Julia went on to earn her BA in Mathematics, with a Correlate in Dance Performance, from Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, NY, where she was a member of the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, lead by John Meehan, Stephen Rooks, and Miriam Mahdaviani. With the company, she performed in original works by Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Amy Hall Garner, Mike Tyus, Yoshito Sakuraba, Leslie Partridge-Sachs, Skyla Schreter, and Souleymane Badolo. Julia was granted an Arnhold Summer Fellowship with Dance Education Lab at 92NY in New York, where she studied creative movement and dance pedagogy through DEL's accessible, multidisciplinary teaching framework. Julia is currently a second-year trainee with Saint Louis Dance Theatre, and she is thrilled to be teaching at Arts in Motion!
Miss rachel | Dance Instructor
Rachel is a St. Louis based singer, dancer, actor, teacher, and choreographer. She graduated with a degree in Musical Theater in 2020 from SIUE. At SIUE she was a member of the University Dance Company and was in several musicals including Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Chicago (Hunyak), and Mamma Mia (featured dancer/dance captain).
Since graduating she has been in several productions including A Chorus Line (Judy), She Loves Me (dance captain, ensemble), and Spring Awakening (Wendla Bergman). With her emphasis of training being in Modern, she infuses modern elements into her musical theatre choreography. She is also trained in Ballroom and Latin styles of dance, as well as Fosse.
She is very excited to join the AIM team and to share her knowledge and love for dance with the students.
Miss Angel | Dance Instructor
Angel began her dance training at the age of four and went on to train with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive program. Her deep love for childhood education led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies, where she completed her internship at a preschool, worked at a summer camp for three years with preschool age groups, and discovered her passion for working with young children. While in college, she led her own dance program for preschoolers, blending her passions for education and creative movement.
Miss Angel is skilled at creating imaginative, engaging, and developmentally appropriate dance experiences. In addition to teaching dance, she is also a certified Pilates instructor, which brings a strong foundation in body awareness and movement quality to her teaching.
Miss Angel is excited to help her dancers discover confidence, creativity, and a love of dance in a supportive and fun environment.