Ace Dance Academy Faculty

Marissa is originally from Southern California and now resides in the Bay Area. She trained extensively in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, tumbling and aerial. She graduated Cum Laude from Saint Mary's College of California and was the recipient of the Louis LeFevre Award for Performing Arts in 2010. She had the opportunity to perform in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center for the Nationals of American College Dance Festival. After college she pursued her circus career, graduating from San Francisco's Aerial Professional Training Program in 2012 where she studied rope, swinging trapeze and straps under the direction of Elena Panova and Angelo Rodriguez. Later she added flying trapeze and lyra to her repertoire. Marissa has been lucky enough to travel the world performing in countries like Dubai, Peru, Ecuador, and all over the United States. She continues her love of the arts both onstage and behind the scenes working as a stage manager and pyrotechnic up and down California. She has worked the Rose Parade, Bottle Rock, Rock N Roll Las Vegas, Rose Bowl, and various shows at the Hollywood Bowl, just to name a few. Marissa has taught at dance studios across California, coached high school dance teams, and choreographed an array of pieces for both aerial and dance performances. Although she loves performing and traveling, Marissa is always excited to come back to her Ace Family to share her passion with this community of emerging artists.