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Meet Our Faculty!

Our faculty is the heart and soul of our community. Each member of our teaching team brings a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to their craft, ensuring that every student receives the highest quality of dance education.

Our Instructors

Our instructors are not only seasoned professionals in their respective dance disciplines but also enthusiastic mentors who are committed to nurturing each student’s potential. With diverse backgrounds in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and more, our faculty members are equipped to provide comprehensive training and foster a love for dance in every student.

Commitment to Excellence

Our faculty strives to create an environment where every dancer, regardless of age or skill level, feels valued and supported. We believe that every family is an integral part of our close-knit community, and we pride ourselves on knowing every student by name.

Heather Luke, DIRECTOR - has been dancing since the age of two and hasn’t stopped since! As a former competitive dancer, she earned numerous overall titles and Judges' Awards, building a strong foundation in both performance and discipline. Heather holds a Bachelor's degree in Dance with a concentration in Dance Education from Drexel University. During her time there, she performed and choreographed for the Drexel Dance Ensemble and participated in several outreach programs, including bringing dance into Philadelphia public schools and working with children with cerebral palsy through a wheelchair dance initiative. She also developed and implemented a dance-based movement curriculum for an elementary school’s Physical Education program. Since returning home to New Jersey, Heather has continued sharing her passion for dance throughout the local community. Now proudly serving as the Dance Program Director at HOH, she is thrilled to have found a place to call home. She committed to creating a safe, supportive environment where all students feel encouraged to grow, express themselves, and develop a lifelong love for dance.

Alexis Bartkowicz - began her dance studies at Bodies in Motion at the age of three, where she graduated a member of the Inertia Dance Troupe. While on the performance troupe, she studied various genres and danced at several venues throughout New Jersey and the surrounding area. She most recently was a member of the Middlesex College Dance Ensemble and is now attending Rutgers University finishing her degree in psychology. Dancing at BIM gave her the opportunity to be a part of the #TAPLIFE Company created by world famous “TAP DOG” Anthony LoCasio. Alexis was an assistant dance teacher at BIM for 6 years, and she is excited to now be teaching at the studio where she learned her love of dance.

Francesca Ferrari - has been dancing since she was just two years old, and it has been a core part of her life ever since. In addition to her competitive dancing, she attended a performing arts high school where she focused on dance, training in a variety of styles and deepening her understanding of movement, musicality, and performance. After stepping away from teaching for a few years to pursue her professional career in healthcare, she is excited to return to the studio and reconnect with the art form that shaped her. Teaching dance isn’t just about technique—it’s about building confidence, finding joy in movement, and creating a space where students can express themselves freely. Francesca is passionate about inspiring others to fall in love with dance the way she did and to rediscover that spark every time they step on the floor.

Amanda Mrotzek - began dancing when she was 7 years old and never stopped! After dancing recreationally at Dance Impressions for 5 years, she joined their competitive dance team and competed in many different dance styles for the next 6 years including Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Tap. The intricate rhythms and rapid footwork in Tap fascinated Amanda, and the style quickly became her favorite, leading her to compete in Tap solos throughout middle school and high school. Amanda attended The College of New Jersey for Early Childhood Education and while she was there, she helped create the TCNJ Tap Ensemble. In the Ensemble, Amanda held the position of Choreography Captain during her Sophomore and Junior years, and Vice President in her Senior year. Her passion for dance continued on and led her to Bodies in Motion where she has worked this past year teaching recreational classes in various styles. Amanda feels truly grateful that she is able to continue to spread her love of dance to the younger generations. Dance has not only been her passion but has also helped her overcome anxiety and find her confidence on stage and in herself. When Amanda is not teaching dance, she works as an Elementary School teacher in Freehold Township.

Nik Palivoda - trained and performed with Traditional Serbian Folklore Ensembles, Dukati and later Biseri, for over 20 years. He began dancing with the youth group and worked his way up to the professional ensemble where he performed and choreographed for 5 years. Nik expanded his training through the dance programs at Middlesex County College and Montclair State University. While attending school, he focused on developing local dance concert performance programs with Main Street Theatre Company in Sayreville and with the Rahway Arts + Business Partnership at the UCPAC's Hamilton Stage where local dance artists and choreographers could showcase their talents. After graduating, Nik has continued to direct and produce his concerts while also teaching at various dance studios. Nik is very passionate about dance and continues to seek any opportunity to share his love of dance with everyone.

Amanda Mrotzek is an energetic teacher and choreographer with over 16 years of experience. Amy began dancing at the early age of 2 1/2 and

immediately fell in love. She continued to attend classes in tap & ballet at various studios until ultimately landing under the direction of Carolyn

Stefanchik. Amy also had the privilege of studying tap with former Rockette, Dorianne Denardo. She was a competitive dancer for 10 years,

earning top awards and scholarships at convention. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. She is also

is dually certified in Elementary K-5 & Special Education. She has over ten years experience in the classroom teaching third grade. Amy specializes in

tap, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre. She also has 15 years of experience choreographing for competition teams ranging from solos to large

productions. Her choreography has earned many entertainment and creative awards. Amy was also named UDMA Teacher of the Year in 2018. Amy

is looking forward to working with everyone at BIM! Most importantly, all of the beautiful dancers there!

Alex Susanto - began dancing at the age of 17 during his last year of high school, from what started out as a dare with younger sister, . Little did he know that his first dance class would kindle a deep love for the art form for years to come. Alex graduated from Rutgers University in 2013 with a B.A. in Communication. During his time in college, he began training in various dance styles such as breaking, popping, commercial, house, and locking. To give students the best education possible, he continues training in studios around globe; including NYC, LA, Germany, and Japan. Alex has worked with artists such as Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, American Idol’s Jax, and Canadian pop star Vita Chambers. You can also catch him dancing with Darren Criss and Chord Overstreet in Season 5 of Fox Television’s T.V. series, “Glee”. When it comes to teaching his craft, Alex works not only to teach dance moves, but to create a fun and safe environment for his students to enjoy; fostering creativity, confidence, and positivity.

Kailani Urena is a Bodies In Motion Alumni and second-year BFA Dance Major at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross of the Arts under the direction of Gerald Casel and John Evans. She has been dancing since she was 13, training in contemporary, Hip Hop, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Improvisation. She has trained in multiple dance styles and techniques including Kathrine Dunham, Yorcha, Pilates, African Diasporic movement, and many more. She has had the honor to learn under Pam Tanowitz, DeAngelo Blanchard, Melanie George, Alessandra Williams and Barbara Angeline. She is also currently serving in the USAF as a guardsman.