Began her training at the age of ten and quickly knew she had a passion for dance.  Following high school she attended Towson University and became a member of the Towson University Dance Company.  While there, she studied ballet, pointe, and modern under the direction of an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer.  With the company she performed soloist roles in various ballets such as Paquita and other repertoire works.  After graduating magna cum laude with a B.F.A in Dance Performance, she was accepted to Richmond Ballet under full scholarship.  After suffering an injury, she continued her love of dance as a teacher. In 2016, she became an ABT Certified teacher for levels Pre-3.  Alongside Victoria Voshell, she began the EPIC Performing Company in 2016.  She is entering into her thirteenth year of teaching and En Pointe Studio's 11th season.

Was born and raised in Chicago, IL.  She started training at the age of five in all genres of dance and theater.  At the age of 16years old, she was hired by ZZAAZZ Productions as a dancer/model.  She has worked with fashion industries, performed the Oprah Show and been featured in a music video.  She has been the dance captain at Six Flags Great America in Gurney, IL and was a dancer at Walt Disney World in their 15 year Celebration.  She has been a teacher and choreographer for over 30 years and has always enjoyed sharing the love of dance with her students. 

Is from the eastern shore of Maryland and began her dance career at the age of 3.  Her range of studies include ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, and modern styles.  She is a wife, mother of four, and a registered nurse.  Her love and passion for working with children spans from the soccer fields to the dance studio.  Her passion for dance has her excited to again be part of the En Pointe Studio staff  to serve and teach our students.

Has been teaching dance for over 35 years.  Her repertoire of dance genres include ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, ballroom and Zumba! Throughout her dance career, Maria has danced for professional companies, such as Tucson Metropolitan Dance Company and Desert Gems Productions in Tucson Arizona.  In 1994 she opened her own dance studio in Milford, which she operated for 7 years and later sold to longtime friend and esteemed colleague Michele Xiques.  In 1999, she co-founded Diamond Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Tatiana Aikinfieva-Smith.  Maria held many positions with the company over the course of 10 years including President of the Board, Artistic Director and Ballet Mistress, as well as performing with the company.

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Maria is also an accomplished actress, performing professionally and non-professionally throughout Delaware and Maryland.  She continues to perform dinner theater with Footlights Productions and lends her choreography to local theater companies in Kent and Sussex Counties. Former President of the Board of Directors of Milford Second Street Players, Maria has performed in and choreographed many productions on the main stage of the Riverfront Theater over the past 20 years.  Productions include Gypsy, Crimes of the Heart, Witness for the Prosecution, Annie and Wizard of Oz, which she co-directed and choreographed.  She continues to support the Second Street Players whenever possible.

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Maria currently works for the State of Delaware as a State Contract Procurement Officer.  She has been employed by the State for 28 years and is looking forward to retirement next year.  She has 4 beautiful grown children and 3 grand-children and continues to educate dancers of all ages in the hopes they will be inspired to embrace the joy of dance for many years to come.

A native of Long Island, New York, has been dancing since the age of three. He began training at the American Ballet Centre and the American Dance Theater of Long Island with his mother, a modern dancer, and his father, a lighting designer. He also studied at Boston Ballet School and the New York State Summer School of the Arts. After graduating from high school, Jake joined Ballet Fleming, and in 2011 he joined First State Ballet Theatre, where he has danced in Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, A Midsummers Night’s Dream, Cinderella, Irene, and The Sleeping Beauty. He has also danced featured roles in Paquita, The Little Humpbacked Horse, Peter and the Wolf, Diana and Acteon, Carmen, and Chopiniana, Jake also enjoys performing in musical theater, including productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Music Man, South Pacific, Brigadoon and Gypsy. He recently performed with Jackie Evancho at Longwood Gardens for PBS’s Great Performances.

Is a Hip-Hop Dancer. He started a dance organization called Dreams of Hope Dance Organization.  The organization is from the age of seven and older. Raykeem graduate from Delaware State University in 2015, with a bachelor's degree in English. He is currently working as an ELA Teacher at Postlethwait Middle School. Not only does he dances, but also act as well. He was involved with both Calvary Assembly of God and Delaware State University productions.  He is excited to join the En Pointe family because he hopes to not only share his skills with the family but also learn some new dance techniques himself.