Active Living with Passion & Purpose
Vitality In Motion specializes in adaptive dance and adaptive yoga classes specifically designed for seniors. Our unique “artistic exercise” classes are adapted for older adults to do from a chair, wheelchair or standing. We customize our classes to best serve seniors in independent living, assisted living, memory care and adult day centers.
Our classes engage seniors in approachable, inclusive programming supported by research to help improve balance, gait, mobility, strength, posture and coordination. We’re passionate about meaningful movement to help inspire living each day with vitality.
Vanessa Woods
Vanessa is the owner and founder of Vitality In Motion and a former professional dancer with 24 years of classical training. Originally from New Jersey, Vanessa started dancing as a young child and trained at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, Princeton Ballet, Miami City Ballet School and STEPS on Broadway in New York City. She has performed with ballet companies around the country including Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and Colorado Ballet. Vanessa moved to St. Louis in 2010 to dance with the Saint Louis Ballet performing soloist and principal roles for eight seasons. Vanessa was also on faculty with the Saint Louis Ballet School teaching ages 5 to 18, and has taught at numerous ballet schools across the country.
Vanessa started Vitality In Motion (originally Vitality Ballet) in 2012 with the collaboration of her mom (an Occupational Therapist and ballet fan). While in her performing career, Vanessa wanted to find a way to encourage adults of all ages to study dance as a way to improve overall health and wellness through more beautiful and intentional movement than traditional exercise. Starting with just a handful of participating facilities, today the program reaches thousands of adults every month and has received media attention and inquiries from around the country.
Vanessa is also an alumna of Washington University in St. Louis, a board member of the Missouri Dance Organization (MDO) and an ACE certified group fitness instructor who loves attending arts events throughout St. Louis while pursuing her new passion for salsa and bachata dancing.
Meet the Team
Lisa Horn
Lisa has spent most of her life dancing. She has owned two dance studios in St. Louis for 30 years. She’s also a certified yoga and Silver Sneakers instructor. In her spare time, she is a national rated gymnastics judge.
Anna Roberson
Anna graduated Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelors of Arts in Dance & Business. She’s a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Six and currently teaches dance & yoga throughout St. Louis for all ages with the YMCA & Arthur Murray. She also serves as an Education Coordinator for Dance St. Louis. Anna joined Vitality in Motion teaching Chair Yoga and Senior Ballet.
Ashley Stettes
Ashley is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and holds a BFA in Dance and a minor in Fine Arts Entrepreneurship. She is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Devine Performing Arts in St. Louis and dancing with Ballet 314. She began teaching with Vitality In Motion in 2018 and loves every minute of it!
Alyssa Wolf
Alyssa has been dancing for two decades! She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Alyssa grew up performing at the MUNY in their Main Stage productions as well as MunyKids and MunyTeens. She loves teaching and sharing her passion for dance with everyone!
Abbie Hinrichs
Abigail is from St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated with a BFA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance. Abbie has performed with numerous companies including Karlovsky & Company Dance, Ballet 314, and Central Studio’s non-profit Collective Motion. She earned her Pilates Teacher Certification in 2019. Abbie likes teaching with VIM because it helps others discover mental and physical healing through movement.
Rachel Tegtmeier
Hanna Pierce
Hanna is originally from Midland, Texas. She trained a numerous prestigious ballet schools including the Alonzo King LINES training program where she worked with top choreographers such as Alonzo King, Lee Wei Chao, Maurya Kerr, VimVigor, Wayne McGregor Company, and the Martha Graham Company. Hanna moved to St. Louis to dance with CommonThread Contemporary Ballet. She currently dances with Ballet 314, Resilience Dance Company and competes in the Open Professional International Latin category in ballroom.