Maria trained as a contemporary dancer at Lewisham College and London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). She then joined the LCDS post-graduate performance company, then called 4D.

Maria danced professionally for Bedlam Dance Company (Yael Flexer), Henri Oguike and Phoenix Dance Company, also performing in, and choreographing work for national tours with State of Emergency Ltd.

Maria has taught contemporary dance across the UK; working with dance organisations including Phoenix Dance Company, Swindon Dance, Richard Alston Dance Company and Wycombe Swan Theatre.

Maria completed an Arts Management Diploma at Roehampton University, London, and began working as an Administrator for Independent Dance, then as Dance Officer at Swindon Dance, Company Manager for Tavaziva Dance, Community Dance Officer at Wycombe Swan Theatre, Children & Youth Dance Manager at The Place, and is currently the Creative Learning Producer at The Place.

I am currently working on the following:

In my current role, I produce projects, workshops, and performances with schools and local community groups.

Creative Learning also produces annual schools dance festivals and a youth dance platform and manages the contextual events (talks, discussions & other activities) for the professional artists and companies performing at The Place.

I am interested in research collaborations in the following areas: 

The impact of dance and movement on health and wellbeing for non-professional dancers

How dance and movement can support learning in schools; particularly for children with SEND

Publications or practice outputs:

Creative Learning Programmes

Partner Schools Programme:

Since 2016, The Place has engaged 22 local primary schools in Camden, engaging approximately 6,000 children in a dynamic programme of creative dance activities. Our aim is to immerse children in the joy of dance and empower teachers with the skills and confidence to incorporate dance into their school curriculum, and to encourage them to deliver the curriculum creatively. Schools work with us throughout the academic year, taking part in a variety of different dance activities, some of which the whole school community can engage in.

Clean Break Project:

The Place has been working in partnership with Clean Break for many years, initially delivering dance classes as part of their programme of courses. However, since 2018 we have invited dance artists to work on choreographic projects with the Members of Clean Break that usually culminate in performances of the work they have created together. Artists who have worked with us previously include Akosua Boakye, Vicki Igbokwe, Roswitha Chesher, Sara Dos Santos, and Corinne Meredith. These 8/9-week projects take place annually in the summer term and will have a creative theme.

Recovery College Course:

The partnership with Recovery College began in 2021. We co-produced and delivered our first 4-week course, entitled Introduction to Movement for Health & Wellbeing, with dance artists Leanne Lieberhong and Ulanah Morris, a peer tutor from Recovery College.

Livia Masserelli began delivering this course in 2019 and then subsequently co-produced and delivered our second course, Move into Confidence, a 6-week course, also with Ulanah Morris.

It is a body-centered, experiential course co-produced with The Place. This six-week course offers opportunities to explore and practice confident living through movement. We will encourage students to remember and rediscover the joys of movement, play, and creativity for increased wellbeing, empowerment, and agency. We aim to create a safe space where participants can safely move towards increased self-confidence and wellbeing, through mindful movement & restorative practices, breath and body awareness.