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ABOUT US
WHY MORITA'S?
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We are excited to be celebrating our 58th year!
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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.
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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!
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At Morita's you become a part of our FAMILY and the studio becomes a second HOME!
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MEET OUR TEAM
MORITA TAPLEY
(Owner & Artistic Director)
*Certified Zumba Instructor
*Certified TRX Instructor
Bio Coming Soon.
DENISE VARNEY
(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.
MELODY MURPHY
(Assistant Director & Dance Instructor)
Melody began dancing with Morita’s School of Dance at the age of 2. She continued her training, as well as assistant teaching & teaching through high school, as well as college. Growing up she competed in many regional, national and international competitions with the Morita’s School of Dance competition team. Traveling across the US to compete in tap, ballet, jazz, and hip hop, as well as performing in Disney Land & Disney World multiple times. In 2007, Melody received her AA degree in Dance and in 2009, she received her BA degree in Arts & Entertainment Venue Management, with a concentration in Dance. Both degrees from Dean College. In 2010, Melody worked for Royal Caribbean, working with children ages 1yr-17yrs on the ship The Explorer of The Seas.
In 2011, Melody married her husband Matthew, and since then has had the opportunity to teach in other areas of the country such as Alabama and the D.C. area, while traveling for the Army. In 2016, Melody became “Mama” to Liam and Aurelia in 2020 & cannot wait to see what the future brings.
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Melody teaches tap, ballet, jazz, & tiny-tots classes at the Hermon studio, and works with the Stars Dance Team.
