Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Miss Maya moved to Madison in 2024. She grew up as a competitive dancer, training in a variety of styles of dance, with her favorites being contemporary and hip hop. She continued her dance studies in college, earning a degree in dance and serving as the president of her college dance company. She received the Evelyn Jensen Award for Outreach and Teaching in Dance as well as the Anna Torman Award for Leadership in Dance. 

One of her biggest dance inspirations is Cat Cogliandro. Miss Maya has admired their work for years, appreciating their sense of musicality, articulation, and performance. She has gotten a lot of inspiration from them in her own work and personal style and was even fortunate enough to be able to take class from them in person. 

Miss Maya believes that the most growth comes from an environment that promotes acceptance and empowerment. She teaches because she loves being able to connect with her students and watch them grow. She takes joy in helping them build their confidence, cheer on their successes, and in being a supportive part of their journey toward reaching their goals. Miss Maya puts an emphasis on combining musicality and movement quality with technique within her choreography. She aspires to always create an environment where dancers feel supported and encouraged to try new things and push themselves out of their comfort zone.  

Fun Facts: Miss Maya is a huge Noah Kahan fan! She knows every song he has released and has seen him live three times!