Artist's Biography

Maria is a teacher, choreographer, dance artist and performer. Maria trained at Central School of Ballet for 6

years then London Studio Centre for 3 years followed by a year at London Contemporary Dance School

and founded her dance company Pasgetti in 2002. 

In September 2013 she gained an MSc in Dance Science with Distinction from The University of

Wolverhampton.

Maria has taught all over the country and travelled all over the world to become the best teacher she can be

and in the process has helped many young dancers get onto vocational training courses. With over 20 years

experience Maria leads a fun fast-paced, energetic and athletically demanding technique class.

Maria has extensive experience teaching young people contemporary dance. Maria has taught both GCSE and

BTEC dance and was a contemporary technique tutor on the CAT (Centre for Advanced Training) programme

for several years which enables elite young dancers aged 12-18 to access further training in Contemporary

dance. Maria delivered CAT classes for The DanceXchange, Laban and Dance4. Maria was course leader for

‘Making Choreographers’, teaching a select group of young people aged 12-16 the tools of choreography.

Maria is currently a visiting lecturer at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire teaching physical theatre and

contemporary dance technique since 2008. Maria also lectureres at Worcestor University teaching on their

Dance and Performance BA course.  Maria guest lectures at The University of Wolverhampton teaching

3rd year BA dancers Ailvin Ailey repotoire.

Maria works extensively as a choreographer. Maria has been commisioned by Birmingham School of Actingto

choreograph the musical ‘Spring Awakening’ which performed at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham and a 

‘A Clockwork Orange’ also performed at The Cresent Theatre. 'A Street of Crocodiles' first perfomed at The

Patrick Centre, Birmingham then toured to Budapest in May 2016.  Maria created 'The Cabinet of Dr.

Caligari' with director Stephen Simms which was staged at The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham in March and

toured to Serbian and Hungary May 2017 and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire commissioned Maria in

September to choreograph 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' previously a broadway musical and the British

Premier played at The Cresent Theatre, Birmingham in October 2017 and then a private viewing for Andrew

Lloyd Webber in March 2018. Maria choreographed 'Pentacost' Directed by Aleksander Dundjerovic

performed at The Patrick Centre in December 2017, 'Rhinoceros' Directed by John Adams performed at The

Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, March 2018, Maria choreographed '3 Winters' Directed by Lise Olson performed

at The Old Rep Theatre, Birmingham, October 2018. Maria choreographed a new piece of physical theatre 

‘The Terror’ which premiered in Birmingham’s Cresent Theatre in March 2019 and toured to Serbia and

Budapest May 2019. Maria finished choreographing 'Nosfertu' in March 2020 but it never saw an audience due

to Covid 19 however Maria has remained active throughout the pandemic choreographing 'A Bride of

Frankenstein' which premiered via Zoom in March 2021. Maria has just finished choreographing 'High School

Musical' on the cast of The Cotswold School February 2024 and is about to start devising a new piece of

theatre to be performed at 'The Old Rep' Theatre Birmingham in March 2024.

TESTIMONIAL

 ‘She has the ability to cajole and nurture the dancers around her to enable them to achieve a strong sense of performance

and choreographic shape’ . Veronica Lewis MBE, Director London Contemporary Dance School.