OUR TEAM

Carly Vanderheyden

FOUNDER

I’m a professional contemporary dancer with The Big Muddy Dance Company, as well as a dance and lifestyle photographer, digital content designer, and dance and yoga instructor.

I’m a St. Louis transplant with a passion for creative pursuits. I graduated from The University of Iowa in Spring 2017 with a BFA in Dance, BA in Health and Human Physiology Health Promotion, and Certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship. Since relocating to St. Louis, I have creatively curated a life surrounded by the arts, dance, and dance education. I have experienced first hand how incredible and diverse the arts scene is in St. Louis, and I felt compelled to create a platform to better showcase all that this city has to offer for dancers and dance enthusiasts.

Melissa Miller

BLOG CONTRIBUTOR

I began my dance training in Paris, France under the tutelage of Meredith Hudson at The American Academy of Dance in Paris. I went on the receive my BFA from Belhaven University and am in the process of a MFA from Hollins University.

I love storytelling in all its forms and have at various times practiced storytelling as a writer, a dancer, a visual artist, a film maker, and a choreographer. I value collaborating with other artists in my process, and care deeply about supporting the work of artists across mediums. I believe that a thriving dance ecosystem requires many people working in many different ways.

I am new to this community but I am looking forward to getting to know the ins and outs in the years to come!

Josiah Gundersen

BLOG CONTRIBUTOR

Though I've been dancing all my life, I began taking dance classes when I was 15 at Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia, Washington. I then relocated to St. Louis to attend Webster University where I graduated in 2019 with a BFA in Dance. Since graduating from University, I have been a founding member of Resilience Dance Company, and collaborated with a variety of independent local choreographers. When I am not dancing or writing about dance, I also work as the Taproom Manager at Wellspent Brewing Co. and give Walking History Tours for the Missouri History Museum. 

Sarah Crawford

BLOG CONTRIBUTOR

I was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, attended college and graduate school at Lindenwood University in St. Charles and now live in Overland, MO. I’m a lifelong St. Louis area resident but became more active in the St. Louis dance community after I permanently moved to Missouri in 2015. My favorite styles of dance are ballet and musical theatre, but I love studying and viewing a variety of dance. I love that St. Louis’s dance community has something for every kind of dancer and dance enthusiast.

I began dancing at age six and grew up training in tap, ballet, and later poms. While at LU, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in dance, Master of Arts degree in Education, and State of Missouri K-12 Teaching Certificate in dance. I began my teaching career 10 years ago as a ballet teacher. I’m on faculty at St. Louis Academy of Dance and teach dance-based exercise classes at retirement communities and memory care centers throughout the St. Louis area for Vitality in Motion. I take class regularly at SLAD, choreograph, and perform throughout the area with professional companies as a community cast member and in SLAD performances. Outside the studio, I try (and sometimes fail) to write regularly for my blog: www.adayinthedancelife.wordpress.com.

St. Louis Dance HQ is currently operated on a volunteer basis. If you are interested in joining our team of contributors or if you would like to make a financial contribution to support our work, please email stlouisdancehq@gmail.com.