Hi, I’m Mara from Maryland - but, more importantly, I’m living proof you can do anything you set your mind to.

Growing up, I never thought I could dance. I felt awkward in my body, believed I had no rhythm, and never attempted to dance even in the privacy of my own home. Although I always admired dancers and loved the idea of dance, I simply thought that it just wasn’t in the cards for me, so I lived a very sedentary life before I started dancing.

I first discovered my passion for dance through Argentine Tango during my undergraduate years at the University of Maryland. I had decided to give dance a try since the classes were free for students and the campus was big enough that I could disappear if I embarrassed myself. But I ended up falling in love with dance and felt that it was the perfect addition to my STEM filled schedule. 

Over the course of my time in college, I became involved in the local Lindy Hop, Blues, and West Coast Swing (WCS) scenes around DC. During this time, I also taught, trained, and competed in the five International Standard Ballroom dances for 4 years. In 2016, I began teaching WCS at the Ballroom at Maryland before setting out to found the Swing Dance Club at UMD in 2018. In 2021, I co-founded The Jam - Modern Swing Dance Club and held weekly WCS socials and group classes with the intent to build up the local WCS community. The Jam is on indefinite hiatus, but a new project is in the works!

Today, I travel frequently and compete in the All-Star division on the national and international World Swing Dance Council (WSDC) WCS competition circuit. I work as an engineering project manager by day and teach group classes and private dance lessons during my evenings. When I can, I continue to be a student of dance, learning from other professionals and taking classes in other dance styles. I love all forms of social dance and always encourage students to explore different dances.

I never thought I would achieve so much in dance - much less actually be dancing. But I’m so grateful that I put myself out there and tried. I firmly believe it’s never too late to learn a new skill or discover a new passion. If you are interested in learning to dance, please reach out to me. I’d love to be a part of your dance journey.