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ABOUT US
WHY MORITA'S?
We are excited to be celebrating our 55th year!
At Morita’s, we are all about making dance a FUN and ENJOYABLE experience for our dancers! Our dance studio is the perfect place for a young child to take their very first dance class and a professional environment for the more serious dancer to receive professional training.
You can count on us to provide a positive, family-friendly atmosphere that will INSPIRE your dancer to gain CONFIDENCE and reach their fullest potential both on and off stage. We pride ourselves in not only creating well-round dancers but well-rounded individuals!
At Morita's you become a part of our FAMILY and the studio becomes a second HOME!
MEET OUR TEAM
MORITA TAPLEY
(Owner & Artistic Director)
*Certified Zumba Instructor
*Certified TRX Instructor
Bio Coming Soon.
DENISE KNOWLES
(Assistant Director & Dance Instructor)
*Certified Acrobatic Arts Instructor
Denise grew up dancing at Morita’s School of Dance, and has over 30 years of dance training. She started assisting in classes in 1996, and began teaching in 2000. While growing up she competed in many regional, national and international competitions, traveling across the nation to compete in tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop. In 2003, Denise studied at the California Pacific College of Performing Arts, and performed with the performing arts group, The Young Americans. She returned to Maine in 2004 and began studying at the University of Maine, graduating with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education in 2007. While at the University she was a member of the University of Maine Dance Team. She was the assistant coach for the team from 2009-2016, and in 2017 became the head coach for the team. Denise teaches tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary and acro classes in Hermon, and is co-coaching the Stars Dance Team.
EMMA TURLO
(Dance Instructor)
Emma grew up dancing with both Morita’s School of Dance and Top Hat II Dance Studio. She has been taking classes since the age of 5, and started assistant teaching in 2015. She was a captain for her dance team in high school, and loved taking every opportunity to learn and perform, going to numerous summer camps and weekend clinics. Emma recently graduated from the University of Maine with a major in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a double minor in Dance and Child Development and Family Relations. During her time at UMaine she was a member of the University of Maine Dance Team, as well as an active member of the university’s Dance Department. She was elected president of the UMaine Hip Hop club in 2019. Emma is currently teaching hip hop classes at Morita’s School of Dance.
