Dance School Faculty - Maria Zullo

Maria Zullo
Owner, Dance Teacher

Maria began dancing when she was 7 years old at Andrea's Dance Studio in New York. While attending Andrea's Studio, she studied tap, jazz, ballet and pointe, competed in national dance competitions and taught as an assistant dance teacher. While in high school, Maria was accepted to tour the country with Caravan Kids, the dance company of Hoctor's Dance Caravan. During college, Maria studied with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. She obtained a B.S. in Finance from Fordham University and upon graduation, began her career in the financial industry in New York City, where she specialized in the valuation of business entities.

Although Maria had a very successful career in Finance, dance always remained a high-priority for her. While working in the financial service industry in New York City, Maria took dance classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway and was fortunate enough to attend dance classes led by top master teachers and choreographers, including: Mia Michaels, Sheila Barker, Germaine Salsburg and Ray Leeper.

In 2008, Maria decided it was time to embark on a new journey. She left the corporate world, relocated to Boston and began teaching tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop. She quickly came to realize her true passion in life and knew it was time to make her childhood dream become a reality, and so in the summer of 2011, she took steps to open her own dance school and hasn't looked back since!

Maria continues to remain abreast of current and new dance techniques by attending teacher training and certification programs offered by the Dance Teacher Club of Boston and Dance Educators of America. She also regularly attends national seminars and workshops led by top master teachers, including some of the most renowned instructors and choreographers in the industry. Maria is a company member of OnStage Dance Company, an organization that provides performance opportunities for experienced dancers. She is also a former Board Member of the Boston Dance Alliance, which provides services that raise the profile of dance, nurture artistic excellence, and enhance the effectiveness and vitality of its individual and institutional members.

Maria complements her love of dance with her joy of running. She has completed 16 half marathons and 4 marathons including: two NYC marathons, the Paris marathon, and most recently ran the 2011 Boston marathon with Team in Training in memory of her mother, Connie, who passed away from Leukemia in 2010. Miss Maria is currently training for the 2013 London Marathon.

Lisa Cavarretta
Dance Teacher

Lisa began dancing at age 2 with her mother Maria Scalzi Monahan. Maria founded Scalzi School of Dance in Watertown in 1970. Lisa studied dance with her mother, and eventually became Artistic Director and then Director of the studio when her mom retired. At an early age, it became apparent to Lisa and her mom, that her passion and lifelong dream was to be a dancer as well as a teacher. Lisa has trained with many great teachers including Frank Hatchett, Luigi, Gus Giordano, Michael Shawn, Ronnie Mahler and many more. She was chosen as a scholarship student at the Gus Giordano Dance Center in Chicago. Lisa performed with the Sherry Gold Dance Company, Jeannette Neil Dance Company, and Sam Fiorello Dance Ensemble. Some of her commercial credits include Weaver Chicken, RayBan Sunglasses and Massachusetts State Lottery. Lisa was chosen as a dancer for Norwegian Cruise Lines and Busch Gardens in Virginia. She has choreographed for the Reagle Players in Waltham MA. Lisa also played Sheila in “A Chorus Line”, as well as taking on the roll of dance captain for the show and was chosen to perform with Kenneth Feld Productions in Tokyo Japan. Lisa has performed in Las Vegas Nevada in “Legends in Concert”, and has choreographed many Industrials while in Nevada. Her choreography was showcased at the Rainbow Show at the Mirage Hotel, a prestigious event held yearly on New Years Eve to benefit patients with HIV.

Many of Lisa’s students have gone on to dance professionally on Broadway, cruise lines, Busch Gardens and Walt Disney World. She is a member of Dance Master’s of America, and is on the staff as a special awards judge and adjudicator for Dance Ovations Performing Arts Competition and United States Tournament of Dance. Lisa has taught master classes for these competitions throughout the U.S. and Canada. She travels each summer to teach at their conventions and judge their National Championships. Lisa is happy to be bringing her love and passion for dance to Miss Maria’s, and is so excited to be on the faculty!

Twyla Everett
Dance Teacher

Twyla Everett, of Cambridge MA, has studied dance and performed with some of the most elite dance companies in New England for over 22 years. Twyla began dancing at the age of 3. As a child, Twyla performed all over New England with "Daragee Drum and Acon con" Professional West African Ballet. She later began teaching culture and expression through the art of dance, by becoming a Hip-hop, African and Dance Performance instructor at Jam’nastics Inc. Twyla choreographed award winning pieces at major shows at the Strand Theatre, the Apollo, and the Patriots Super bowl games. Her choreography also contributed greatly to the success of Jam'nastics in multiple competitions for many years, including working with Michael Bivens, B2K’s J-Boog, and many others. Twyla is currently a choreographer and dancer for the elite EnMotion Inc., and a dancer/filter tester for Dance Central, America's Best Dance Video Game!

Twyla molded her love of dance into a professional skill and received a Master Certification of Techniques at the Blade Dance Academy and The Hip-Hop Dance Conservatory of New York. She is completing her degree in Personal Training and Nutrition Counseling and is also CPR/AED certified. Twyla strives to help people find a way to reach their fitness goal in a way that is not only fun, but also meaningful, in the hopes that it will transpire into a lifetime of happiness doing what they love!

Jennifer Kuhnberg
Dance Teacher

Jen Kuhnberg is originally from Brooklyn, NY and has danced competitively in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop and Lyrical/Contemporary. She began her training at Horizons in Dance and the Brooklyn Dance Center before moving to Boston, MA in 2002.

Jen was a choreographer and performer for the Northeastern University Dance Company and No Limits Dance Crew, as well as a Dance Instructor for the Brookline Adult & Community Education Program. While living in Australia in 2005, Jen co-founded "The Company," an advanced dance performance group as part of the Movement and Dance Society at The University of Sydney. In 2010, she founded OnStage Dance Company, a performance group for adults, where she serves as Executive Director.

In addition to teaching dance at Miss Maria's School of Dance, Jen also works as a freelance dance instructor and choreographer for Hill House and The Atrium School. She is currently producing and choreographing "Heartbeat: A Modern Dance Rock Concert" which will debut at the Oberon Theater in Cambridge as well as various projects for OnStage. Jen earned a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Undergraduate degrees in Deaf Studies and American Sign Language Interpreting at Northeastern University. When not dancing, she works as an American Sign Language Interpreter.