ABOUT ME
Hola! I’m Maggie
I am a queer, neurodivergent Professional Dancer with over 10 years of experience in the dance industry.
I grew up in a diplomatic family living overseas and was raised in Mexico, Peru, Virginia, and South Africa.
I’ve been dancing ever since I could walk, and I started with baby ballet in Mexico!
I joined a modern jazz group at the international school in Lesotho when I was 7, and performed my first shows that I can remember.
I absolutely loved it, and wanted more!
In Peru, I continued dancing and took private classes from a wonderful teacher. I did many styles including contemporary, hip hop, modern jazz, and reggaeton. I also went to many bailetones with my mom and her coworkers, I truly get it from my mama. ;)
I later lived in the Virginia/Washington, D.C. area for two years, where I trained Martha Graham in Modern technique at Adagio Ballet Academy. My teacher, Arturo Garcia, played a Peruvian cajon for our warm-up every class!
I began dancing professionally at age 16 when I moved back to South Africa and started training and interning at Katz School of Dance.
I was named Senior Rising Star and Most Promising Student 2 years in a row at the studio showcase.
I began teaching adult classes and assisting baby ballet classes around the age of 17, such rewarding experiences!
Another milestone in South Africa was competing in the World Lyrical Dance Competition and placing first in my division, qualifying for the next round in Europe.
The video from our performance, Busisiwe, is available on the ‘Portfolio’ section. It was such a meaningful piece!
I was also welcomed into the Pantsula dance scene in Soweto, South Africa, and was invited to join the True Skhanda Movas crew led by the pantsula pioneer himself, Piwhokuhle Sibhande.
This crew is my family to this day and I learned incredible things from them.
Other highlights from my dance experience in South Africa include performing solo for Joburg Pride two years in a row, performing with Delta the Leo for Tshedi Mholo’s concert in front of 4,000 people (so surreal, so much fun!!), and teaching at Thusong community center in Alexandra with THEE most talented group of kids from whom I also learned so much.
After graduating high school in South Africa, I moved to Sydney, Australia where I lived and danced for 4 years.
I discovered the beautiful Brazilian community in Sydney, which I immediately fell in love with!
I was accepted from the first audition into the Sambistas pro samba team led by the samba rainha herself, Sashya Jay at Escola de Samba Sydney.
While in Sydney, I also taught reggaeton classes for BYLA Dance company run by my incredible friend Majo Arrospide. The community she has created is absolute goals! BYLA dancers are so passionate and supportive of each other; they come from all corners of the globe!
I miss my BYLA fam dearly and am so grateful to have been invited to teach in that space.
While in Sydney, I also performed as a pro dancer at Latin nightclubs and Social Dancing events weekly, including popular local venues The Establishment, La Cueva, and Kandy.
This work was incredibly demanding but such a fun ride!
One of my favorite things about Sydney is the diversity, and I was thrilled to find both African AND Latin communities, a piece of all the places I’ve called home in one place. I brought the South African flavor to Sydney and taught my own Amapiano and Sbujwa classes which was a really full circle project for me.
I recently moved to Maui, Hawai’i, and taught Amapiano, Reggaeton, and Baile Funk classes locally at a fusion dance festival. It was so much fun that I decided to teach regularly at that same venue! The continuation of my dance journey on Maui has felt so good, and so RIGHT.
I am excited to continue growing here, and share what I’ve learned so far.
Thank you for being here and reading my story! I hope to see you on the dance floor soon. :)
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