Faculty
AIM Family is Forever Family!
The AIM Faculty is more than a staff of dance instructors, it's a family. Many of us have been together for 28 years! We begin training our staff as teenagers, allowing them to assist the younger dancers. This staff of individuals is amazing in every way and your dancer will love and adore each and every one of them.
Staff Descriptions
Tricia Trimble/ Owner – Director: Tricia began dancing at the age of 4 in Clinton, IL. She began teaching at the age of 16, moved to Southern California in 1989 and danced/taught for 2 years at Just Plain Dancin’ before moving back to IL & opening AIM in 1991. Tricia is known for her energy & passion for teaching. She has engineered AIM for 27 years into the studio it is today. AIM is recognized nationally for its’ strong technique and creative choreography. She is thankful and blessed to have such a strong foundation in which AIM is built and for so many AIMazing people along this journey. Chad & Tricia are blessed to have their two daughters, Skylee & Symphony, grow up in the studio and take part in the many demands that AIM requires. When not teaching, managing & planning DANCE, she enjoys reading, jogging, writing, and watching HGTV.
Chad Trimble/ Owner – Director: Chad began his dancing as early back as Kindergarten, taking classes to enhance his sports abilities. Growing up in a family of athletes, he enthusiastically dove back into dance when he met Tricia at age 17. He graduated from ISU in 1993 with a BA in Special Education and taught at Jefferson Middle School in Champaign for 10 years. He currently teaches hip hop, jazz, fitness and technique classes at AIM as well as manages the studio & fitness. Chad has won numerous choreography awards throughout the last 27years and occasionally judges dance competitions across the nation. Chad enjoys fishing, playing cards, and planning the DAD DANCE!
Skylee Trimble: Skylee has been dancing at AIM before she could walk! This is her 12thyear teaching and choreographing. Skylee graduated from the University of Illinois in May, 2016 with high honors. She received a BFA in Dance while on a student talent scholarship all four years. She loves teaching all styles of dance but her passion is contemporary, lyrical and modern. Choreography is her greatest passion and she choreographs most of the company groups, duet/trios and solos each year. She is also sought after from studios across the Midwest for choreography. Her work is shown at the University of Illinois and several dance competitions around the country. She has won numerous choreography awards at competitions/conventions, including “Choreographer of the Year” at Starpower Nationals in Branson, MO in July of 2014, 2015 & 2017, the “Cutting Edge” choreography award in Orlando, FL, the choreography award this past summer in Branson, among many others. One of Skylee’s pieces was chosen to perform in Studio Dance II at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. She also received the Office of Undergraduate Research Travel Grant during her time at the University of IL. When not teaching, you can find Skylee listening to music, watching movies, reading, or shopping. She also loves to spend her down time with family and friends!
Barb Smith: Barb has been the office manager for AIM for 27 years. She is the mother of Miss Tricia. She put Tricia in dance at the age of 4 years old and the dance world has encompassed her ever since. She took jazz, ballet and tap classes for nine years and even competed in the adult division! Miss Barb devotes a great deal of her time to Alzheimer’s awareness, as she recently lost her husband to early onset Alzheimers. She is blessed to have so many wonderful, caring parents and children here at AIM to support her! She enjoys reading Christian Historical Romance novels, working in the yard, crafts and listening to Christian music and of course, Celine Dion and Enya! Her little blessing of 6.5 lbs. is her Toy Rat Terrier, Jorgie Griffin.
Kristin Rees: Kristin began her dancing career at AIM when she was just 7 years old. She is one of AIM’s original students, beginning in 1991! She graduated from Parkland College, then attended ISU and Millikin. She also works full time for State Farm in Bloomington. Kristin is a very popular AIM teacher & is known for her energy, enthusiasm and sense of humor! She enjoys spending time with family and friends and playing with her lab, Lily, and traveling.
Emily Chapman: Emily is a graduate of ISU in Bloomington and a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at the Mahomet-Seymour High School. She has a strong background in dance, as she took lessons for many years at Dance Arts Studio in Springfield, IL. In college she was a member of the Illinois State Dance Theater Company. This is her 5rd year on the AIM teaching staff. She has a passion for teaching the little dancers! In Miss Emily’s free time, she loves reading books and going for bike rides as well as spending time with her family and friends. Emily is enjoying her new little boy, Landon, born on leap day this past February!
Stephanie Clifton: Stephanie is an AIM Alumni dancer and has been on the AIM Staff for 14 years. She graduated from ISU in 2010 with a BA in hearing science. She is in the process of continuing her education in ASL Interpreting. Stephanie is a popular AIM teacher and loved for her sweet personality.
Sierra Smith: Sierra is an AIM Alumni dancer! After high school, she danced for Parkland College while pursuing her Associates in Mass Communications. She then transferred to Southern IL University Edwardsville where she studied Public Relations as well as Theater & Dance Performance, receiving her Bachelors degree. She currently works for Christie Clinic as the Training & Development Assistant. Sierra has been dancing for 22 years and has 9 years teaching experience. When she has spare time she likes to spend it with family and friends. She also enjoys outdoor activities (camping, hiking, canoeing) and shopping! AIM is excited to have Sierra on staff this season!
Angelina Gibson: Angelina graduated from Centennial High School in May, 2016 and attends the University of IL as a junior this year. She danced at AIM for 15 years and was in the Competition Company for 9 years. She is currently undeclared, but is thinking about pursuing a career in the medical field. Angelina enjoys hanging out with her friends and traveling. She loves to keep herself busy by working out, being with family, and teaching dance! She loves working with the young dancers and watching them improve each week.
Alyssa Trelz: Alyssa graduated from Charleston High School in May, 2016 and will be attending the University of IL as a junior this year. She danced at AIM for 4 years and was in the Competition Company for 4 years. She will be studying Dance & Psychology in college. In her free time, Alyssa spends time with friends, watches movies and listens to music.
Lauren McClure: Lauren McClure grew up dancing and at 16 she joined AIM. After graduating from Urbana High School, she went to Lincoln College where she was a member of the dance company for 2 years. She Graduated from Lincoln and moved on to Southern Illinois University where she was President of the Southern Illinois Dance Company. Lauren graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Art and moved to Los Angeles where she lived for 8 years. She attended dance intensives with Diavolo, workshops with Sonya Tayeh and Doriana Sanchez of SYTYCD and started training in aerial circus. She trained and taught Aerial Silks, Lyra and Trapeze for 6 years at various studios in LA and Orange County before moving back to Champaign in the summer of 2017. She looks forward to sharing her love for the arts on the ground and hopefully someday in the air!
Olivia Oltean: Livie” is a senior at Central High School. She is a 1 year letter winner as a stat girl for football and a member of Maroon Platoon. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and been in the Competition Company for 14 years. She cherishes her lifelong friendships made at the studio. In her spare time she likes to support her brother Eli in his Football career, enjoy social time with friends and spend time with family at the lake and visiting them in Nebraska. She also loves to shop!
Taylor Knott: Taylor is a senior at Central High School and has been dancing since she was 5 years old at AIM. She has been in the Competition Company for 10 years. Taylor has a background in gymnastics & tumbling. She is a varsity cheerleader and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Central H.S. In her spare time she enjoys babysitting, riding her bike, drawing, and spending time with family and friends. Taylor hopes to pursue a degree in Dance Science or Education.
Lucas Anderson : Lucas began dancing at the age of four. He danced for 22 years, including 12 years of teaching tap in Iowa and Alaska, before going to graduate school at the University of Illinois. He stopped dancing for a while, during which time he earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy and began working at the University’s teaching center, where he now oversees the teaching training and pedagogical development of graduate students. Taking his daughter to dance at AIM for the past few years inspired him to get back into practice and he is very excited to be teaching tap again. AIM is grateful to have Lucas teaching this season & excited to have him share his tap knowledge with the dancers! We welcome him to our AIM FAM!
Guest Alumni Faculty
Thomas Archey
Thomas is performing in Las Vegas as a lead dance in Cirque Du Soleil's Mystere!
Carlee Clover
Carlee is a senior dance major at the University of Arizona!
Drew Gliwa
Drew is a senior dance major at Chapman University!
Tori Knox
Tori is a sophomore dance major at the University of Missouri Kansas City!
Bridget Krouse
Bridget received her BFA in dance from the University of Arizona. She has appeared on NBC's World of Dance and So You Think You Can Dance.
Jacey Raney
Jacey is a senior dance major at the University of Arizona!
Emmaline Rapier
Emmaline is a senior dance major at the University of Illinois and a member of the Illinettes dance team!