Our Instructors
All of AIM's instructors are highly qualified, with a college degree in their field and extensive performance and teaching experience. Our instructors are passionate about preserving, supporting, and continuing their crafts through education.
Casey Royer - Co-Owner/Director
(Photo by Dave Parrish)
Educator, choreographer, and performer Casey Royer received her early training at Experimental Movement Concepts in Baltimore, MD under the direction of Robin Snyder-Wienceck and Stacie Lanier, where she trained in Ballet (including Pointe), Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Lyrical, and African. Casey was also a member of EMC's Repertory Ensemble and performed throughout the MD-PA area from a young age through High School. She also performed as a founding member of Susquehanna Youth Ballet in Pennsylvania. At EMC Casey received an early introduction to teaching, which sparked a lifelong passion. Casey went through a teacher training program at EMC, which has grown to be one of the most successful dance studios in the country, now located in New Freedom, PA. She takes her inspiration as an instructor from her incredible teachers at EMC.
Casey graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance & Choreography in 2009. During her time at VCU she trained under faculty James Frazier, Scott Putman, Melanie Richards, Judy Steel, and also had the wonderful opportunity to study with esteemed guest artists Heidi Weiss, Miguel Gutierrez, Daniel Gwirtzman, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, among others. On stage she danced for countless fellow students and also presented her own work in numerous concerts and showings. As a student in the Pre-Physical Therapy program, Casey took courses in anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, and incorporates this scientific understanding of the human body into her teaching and choreography.
Since moving to Richmond in 2005 Casey has danced professionally with Dim Sum Dance, Starr Foster Dance Project, Mayzoul Richmond Chapter, AVDance, and is currently a performing member of rva dance collective.
Casey has also worked extensively behind the scenes as a stage technician, from operating light and sound boards to fly rail and taking on the position of Assistant Stage Manager. In 2009 she was awarded a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC as a Stagecraft Apprentice where she worked backstage for such notable companies as Mark Morris, Pilobolus, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Paul Taylor, and designed lighting for a piece choreographed by Gerri Houlihan.
Casey is the Director of Arts in Motion Dance Academy where she shares the joy of dance with the next generation of performers. She feels extremely blessed to be able to pass on the benefits of this amazing art form to her students.
Educator, choreographer, and performer Casey Royer received her early training at Experimental Movement Concepts in Baltimore, MD under the direction of Robin Snyder-Wienceck and Stacie Lanier, where she trained in Ballet (including Pointe), Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Modern, Lyrical, and African. Casey was also a member of EMC's Repertory Ensemble and performed throughout the MD-PA area from a young age through High School. She also performed as a founding member of Susquehanna Youth Ballet in Pennsylvania. At EMC Casey received an early introduction to teaching, which sparked a lifelong passion. Casey went through a teacher training program at EMC, which has grown to be one of the most successful dance studios in the country, now located in New Freedom, PA. She takes her inspiration as an instructor from her incredible teachers at EMC.
Casey graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance & Choreography in 2009. During her time at VCU she trained under faculty James Frazier, Scott Putman, Melanie Richards, Judy Steel, and also had the wonderful opportunity to study with esteemed guest artists Heidi Weiss, Miguel Gutierrez, Daniel Gwirtzman, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, among others. On stage she danced for countless fellow students and also presented her own work in numerous concerts and showings. As a student in the Pre-Physical Therapy program, Casey took courses in anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, and incorporates this scientific understanding of the human body into her teaching and choreography.
Since moving to Richmond in 2005 Casey has danced professionally with Dim Sum Dance, Starr Foster Dance Project, Mayzoul Richmond Chapter, AVDance, and is currently a performing member of rva dance collective.
Casey has also worked extensively behind the scenes as a stage technician, from operating light and sound boards to fly rail and taking on the position of Assistant Stage Manager. In 2009 she was awarded a full scholarship to the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC as a Stagecraft Apprentice where she worked backstage for such notable companies as Mark Morris, Pilobolus, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Paul Taylor, and designed lighting for a piece choreographed by Gerri Houlihan.
Casey is the Director of Arts in Motion Dance Academy where she shares the joy of dance with the next generation of performers. She feels extremely blessed to be able to pass on the benefits of this amazing art form to her students.
Maggie Joseph - Jazz & Hip Hop
(Photo coming soon)
Maggie is a full time high school Theatre and Theatre Production teacher in Chesterfield County. She has been involved with the arts, especially the performing arts, from a very early age. She started taking studio dance at the age of seven and studied tap, jazz, hip hop, acrobatics, parade drill, and ballet, working her way up to pointe. She was involved with theatre and show choir in high school and has performed on the main stage in Epcot in Walt Disney World. At Longwood University, Maggie was a Theatre Major with a Secondary Education Endorsement and also received her Master’s degree in Education. She worked behind the scenes stage managing, designing lights, sets, and running light and sound boards for dance concerts as well as plays. She also earned a spot on the Longwood Company of Dancers under the direction of Rodney Williams where she added lyrical, modern and African to her repertoire. She was highlighted in company concerts in both performance and choreography. She directs three plays a year at her school including one musical which she choreographs. Her dance team has earned three consecutive state championships in their competing category under her coaching and direction. She has worked as an instructor at Magical Movement Fine Arts Academy for the last seven years and is happy to be continuing to teach dance at AIM. |
Jennifer Krisch- Theater
(Bio and photo coming soon!)
Ashley Valo-Horrigan - Primary Program, Tap, Jazz
(Photo by Dave Parrish)
Ashley Valo-Horrigan was raised in a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Acrobatics. She received her B.A. in Modern Dance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2006. After graduating, she moved to Richmond, Virginia to pursue her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Ashley choreographs under the name AV Dance, which has performed in Richmond, Charlottesville, and the Asheville Fringe Festival. She has performed professionally with rva dance collective, Ground Zero Dance Company, Dim Sum Dance, and Starr Foster Dance Project. She was selected for the work-study position at the Studio Upsun in Pennsylvania (SUPA) Choreographers Workshop in 2010 with Jeanine Durning, 2011 ChoreoLab Workshop with Julie Mayo, and SUPA 2012 with RoseAnne Spradlin. Ashley is very excited to join the AIM team.
Ashley Valo-Horrigan was raised in a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania where she trained in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, and Acrobatics. She received her B.A. in Modern Dance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2006. After graduating, she moved to Richmond, Virginia to pursue her career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Ashley choreographs under the name AV Dance, which has performed in Richmond, Charlottesville, and the Asheville Fringe Festival. She has performed professionally with rva dance collective, Ground Zero Dance Company, Dim Sum Dance, and Starr Foster Dance Project. She was selected for the work-study position at the Studio Upsun in Pennsylvania (SUPA) Choreographers Workshop in 2010 with Jeanine Durning, 2011 ChoreoLab Workshop with Julie Mayo, and SUPA 2012 with RoseAnne Spradlin. Ashley is very excited to join the AIM team.
