Who We Are
Cara Dixon and Jaimie Goodwin are the founders of Relative Motion.
They are sisters who have been performing, teaching and choreographing in the dance industry for over 2 decades. Throughout their work, one concern has been a common thread among the dance community, and that’s the anatomy of technique. For this reason, they began a mission 3 years ago to create a program where the concepts of anatomy are both accessible and understandable to every dancer and teacher. Through certifications in injury prevention and personal training, along with studies in Anatomy and Kinesiology for the body in motion, and yoga certifications (200hr RTT), they have been meticulous in bringing a thorough and cutting edge program to the dance community. The goal is to simplify anatomy so it is understandable and applicable, taking the complex and making it accessible. This will strengthen and align the body for technique, so that movement serves the body and the body supports the movement.
Relative Motion adds value to both dancers and teachers, as it connects us as a community.
The Relative Motion Team
The faces behind the company!
The Relative Motion Team
Meet the amazing people behind the training
Cara Dixon, co-founder of Relative Motion, is originally from Virginia Beach, VA where she trained and later taught at Denise Wall’s Dance Energy. Cara went on to perform for Cirque Du Soleil and Stiletto Entertainment, traveling the world to share her passion for dance. She has been featured in commercials as both a dancer and a teacher, and is grateful to have had the opportunity to create her own contemporary company in NYC, where her work and the work of her dancers was recognized in various choreography showcases. While living in NYC, Cara had the pleasure of being on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and later on faculty at Old Dominion University in VA. She currently lives in Virginia raising the three sweetest boys, and travels the US and internationally teaching master classes and choreographing for various studios and companies, along with adjudicating and teaching on the convention circuit. She has a BA in Dance and is certified in both yoga (200hr RTT) and Sugarfoot Therapy’s injury prevention, and is truly passionate about the difference Relative Motion can make for dancers training in this amazing community.
Co-founder of Relative Motion, Jaimie Goodwin grew up training in dance under Denise Wall. She has gone on to perform on SYTYCD both as a contestant and an Allstar. She has also appeared in commercials, movies, and television shows including Dancing With The Stars, Ellen, Glee, Rock of Ages, High School Musical 3, Mad Men, Two and A Half Men, and many more. She’s enjoyed making appearances on the Emmy’s, The Academy Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and The American Music Awards as well as working with several artists such as, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, and Miley Cyrus. She has also enjoyed the touring world while performing with Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound Dance Company. When she’s not performing she nurtures her passion to share through teaching. Jaimie has choreographed for and taught dancers all over the world through conventions, at studios, and universities. She has overcome several severe injuries that have led her to be an advocate for wellness and injury prevention in dancers and she has been certified in Sugarfoot Therapy’s injury prevention conditioning program as well as Tspheres in hopes of bringing more knowledge of wellness and longevity to our performing community.
Kate is originally from Houston, TX, and now resides in the Tampa, FL area. She has a BFA in Dance from NYC’s Marymount Manhattan College and over 15 years of professional performance experience in regional theatre productions, theme parks, cruise lines, and various TV shows and films, where she has also served as dance captain, and as a member of Actor’s Equity. Kate has nearly 20 years of teaching, choreographing and judging experience, specializing in areas such as musical theatre, lyrical and contemporary, and strengthening and conditioning techniques, and has received numerous overall and choreography awards for her works. Kate recently furthered her education to gain an Associate of Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant, and is currently employed as a PTA at the Tampa VA. In addition to her current teaching and physical therapy careers, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband, 1 year old daughter, and dog, and is excited to be a part of the Relative Motion team where she can blend her performance, teaching, and physical therapy backgrounds and share her knowledge with young, aspiring artists.
Alexa has been a dance educator for over a decade, advocating for "smart" dance training. She has had the privilege of working with Cara and Jaimie as Relative Motion was developed and has seen consistent results first hand in her students, immediately integrating the program into her studio. Alexa graduated magna cum laude from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts 2014 with a B.F.A. in Dance and received the University Dance Works Scholarship & Dance Express Choreography Award. Alexa is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer with Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement Specialties & is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (Level 3), Progressing Contemporary Technique & is T Spheres Certified Teacher. Her students have gone on to perform in the National Tour of Matilda, the North American Tour of Mean Girls and attend Boston Conservatory, UArts, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Montclair State, Alvin Ailey and more! Alexa has worked with Larry Keigwin, Brian Brooks, Julia Ritter, Ginger Thatcher, Pamela Levy, Stefanie Batten Bland, & Sidra Bella & performed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.). As a member of Zella Dance Company, Alexa performed across the United States & she toured internationally with the production Uma Saudação à Whitney Houston. In 2017 Alexa founded Lambarri Dance Arts, in memory of her grandmother Nilda Lambarri who passed from Dementia, to provide a space for young dancers to grow as artists while developing their technique incorporating functional methods to train in "smart" and more efficient ways. Alexa is thrilled to be a Relative Motion Master Teacher and continue to share cutting edge technique training with young dancers.
Melanie, through over a decade of teaching, continues to put technique first and continue her own education to provide science-based, proven training to all of her students. She was fortunate to connect with Jaimie Godwin during the pandemic, work through unique technique curriculums together with Jaimie for her students, and have a front row seat to the launch of Relative Motion. Melanie is a graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2016 with a B.F.A. in Dance, cum laude, and was a recipient of the prestigious James Dickson Carr Scholarship. She has worked with choreographers Jessica Lang, Nick Bruder, Kate Weare, Jennifer Freeman, Kim Gibilisco, Keith Thompson, Pamela Levy, Doug Elkins, and Julia Ritter. As a member of the Movement Playground she has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Jacob’s Pillow, and other note-worthy NYC venues. Melanie is a T Spheres Certified Teacher and is certified in Alixa Flexibility (Level 3), Progressing Ballet Technique Level 3 (PBT), & Flexistretcher (Advanced). Melanie is the co-Owner of Lambarri Dance Arts which was founded in memory of her grandmother Nilda Lambarri who passed from Dementia to provide a space for young dancers to grow as artists while developing their technique incorporating functional methods to train in "smart" and more efficient ways. Melanie is so excited to be a Relative Motion Master Teacher and continue to emphasize the importance of anatomy based training methods.
Lindsey Gunn is the Competitive Director at Contempo School of Dance in Lutz, FL, and a dedicated dance educator, choreographer, and certified Pilates instructor. She earned her degree in Dance Studies from the University of South Florida and recently expanded her expertise with a certification in Dance Medicine and Science.
Lindsey specializes in teaching dancers how to incorporate safe and effective training methods to build strength, refine technique, and enhance performance. Her unique approach blends artistry with science, prioritizing the health and longevity of her students while fostering their growth as confident, well-rounded performers.
Cristina McKeever is a performer, choreographer and educator born and raised in Palm Springs, CA. Cristina graduated Summa Cum Laude from Chapman University in Orange, CA, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance and a minor in Italian Studies in 2017. Upon the completion of her collegiate education, Cristina moved to Los Angeles to start her professional dance career. While in Los Angeles, Cristina performed with Chloe Arnold's Syncopated Ladies, at the Capezio ACE Awards in NYC, appeared in music videos by J.ournal Poems and Steady Holiday, and in performed venues like the Staples Center and the historic Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, The Music Center of L.A. with Channing Cook-Holmes’ show, “Got Rhythm” and Oasis Center International alongside Jason Rodgers, for their arts education program entitled, “Making Music”, bringing Tap Dance and live music to public schools. In 2020, she performed with Christopher Erk's "Tap in the Night '' aboard the Hapag Lloyd cruise line. In 2021, Cristina began working with Nickerson-Rossi Dance, Palm Springs’ resident contemporary dance company, where she performs as a guest artist and works with their educational programming as a choreographer and faculty member. Earlier this year, she performed in Coachella Valley Repertory’s production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” directed and choreographed by David Eggers.
Cristina discovered her passion for choreography during her time studying at Chapman. Her love for tap dance, jazz and contemporary movement prompted her to explore how these different dance genres can communicate to create visual and auditory storytelling experiences. Her mission as an artist is to create authentic movement from the soul that connects with the audience and brings feelings of nostalgia, contentment and reflection. Commercially, Cristina's choreography can be seen on Disney's "Minnie's Bowtoons" and Moonchild's Official Music Video for, "The List". On the concert stage, Cristina had the honor of presenting at the 2024 Steps on Broadway Choreography Lab in NYC, as well as being recognized by Emmy Winning choreographer Tyce Diorio as the winner of the 2019 IAF Creators Exhibit in Los Angeles.She has been a 2020 and 2023 finalist for the McCallum Theater's Annual Choreography Festival. Her work has also appeared at the Bootleg Theatre in LA as well as Club Jete, Youth American Grand Prix, Chapman University, Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palm Estate, Nickerson-Rossi Dance House and more.
Cristina cares deeply about creating a formative and supportive educational environment for pre-professional dancers. As of August 2021 she assumed a role as Director of Dance for the Aztec Arts Academy at Palm Desert High School, a multi-disciplinary program offering Career Technical Education to high school students interested in pursuing the arts after high school.
Our Incredible Content Creators and Guest Master Teachers
The Relative Motion Method
