.jpg)
MORITA TAPLEY
(Owner & Artistic Director)
*Certified Zumba Instructor
*Certified TRX Instructor
Bio Coming Soon.
FACULTY
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.
NATASHA CALL
(Dance Instructor)
Natasha started dancing with Morita’s School of Dance in 2004 at the age of five. So far in her dance career Natasha has competed in over 20 dance competitions, four of them being international! She has traveled across the country, taking classes from many well-known choreographers. She started assisting with classes in 2012, and began teaching tap, ballet, and jazz in Hermon four years later in 2016. Natasha graduated from Hermon High School in 2017. Natasha is currently a member of the Stars Dance Team, along with taking weekly classes.
ERYN MESSER
(Dance Instructor)
​
Eryn has been dancing with Morita’s School of Dance since the age of 8. She has been a member of the Stars Dance team for close to a decade and has traveled across the US performing and competing on multiple occasions. She began assisting classes in 2017 as a junior in high school and teaching classes in 2018. She graduated from Bangor Christian high school in 2019. During her time there, she choreographed two school musicals and co-choreographed multiple cheering routines. Eryn currently teaches tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and acro.
ALLY SCUDERI
(Dance Instructor)
Ally has been a student at Morita’s School of Dance for over 14 years. She began taking classes at a satellite studio but then transferred to the Hermon studio in 6th grade and joined the Stars Dance Team when she was in 8th. She began assisting classes at the age of 13 and began teaching as a Sophomore in high school. Ally graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 2017 and continues to teach classes in the Dover-Foxcroft Area. In addition to this she has choreographed Dover’s local musicals such as: Lion King Jr., Aladdin Jr., The Sound of Music, and many more. She is currently enrolled at the University of Maine, where she is a member of the University of Maine Dance Team, and is heavily involved in the University Dance Department. Ally currently teaches tap, jazz, ballet, and acro, and subs when needed in hip hop and contemporary.
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.
​
