MARQUITA MARIE “M.M”

Professional Dancer, Specializing in Stretching, Strengthening & Mobility

WITTY, QUIRKY, FUN-LOVING, & GENEROUS – TO NAME A FEW – A NATIVE FROM MOBILE, ALABAMA, MARQUITA MARIE’S INFECTIOUS SMILE AND ENERGY BRIGHTENS UP ANY ROOM SHE STEPS INTO. HER DRIVEN PERSONALITY TO SHARE HER TALENTS AND KNOWLEDGE PULLS YOU INTO HER UNIQUE ENCHANTING AURA. A FREELANCE DANCE ARTIST IN THE TRI-STATE AREA, MARQUITA MARIE IS THE CREATOR OF TheSmilieFitDancer STRETCHING, MOBILITY & STRENGTHENING PROGRAM, THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF MACHRISTIANDANCE&CO., AND FOUNDER OF DANCE TO LIVE, LIVE TO DANCE LLC -AN INSTITUTION THAT BELIEVES IN INSPIRING, ENCOURAGING AND EMPOWERING TODAY’S YOUTH THROUGH THE ARTS.

RUNNING, JUMPING, & LEAPING INTO THE WORLD OF FITNESS, MARQUITA MARIE’S LOVE OF LIVING A HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BEGAN AT AN EARLY AGE WHEN SHE WAS INTRODUCED TO SWIMMING, DANCE, CHEER, GYMNASTICS, AND TRACK & FIELD. THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE, FOCUS AND DEDICATION WERE INGRAINED IN HER IN HER YOUTH, AND THESE SAME PRINCIPLES GUIDE HER TODAY IN HER TEACHINGS.

ATTAINING HER CERTIFICATE OF DANCE FROM THE AILEY SCHOOL AND BECOMING A NEW YORK STATE CERTIFIED K-12 DANCE EDUCATOR, MARQUITA MARIE HAS TAUGHT A DIVERSIFIED GROUP OF CLIENTS AS YOUNG AS 10 TO AS OLD AS 85 BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY INCLUDING EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS AND FRENCH GUIANA. SHE IS PROFIRST AID CPR/AED CERTIFIED AND IS RENOWNED FOR HER ABILITY TO ASSESS AN INDIVIDUALS NEEDS AND LIMITATIONS CREATING A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE AND PROGRAM THAT IS NOT ONLY ACHIEVABLE BUT CHALLENGING AS WELL. SHE HAS A STRONG PASSION FOR HELPING HER CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR LIFESTYLE GOALS OF BECOMING MORE FLEXIBLE AND MOBILE ALL WHILE TEACHING INJURY PREVENTION TECHNIQUES WHEN STARTING A NEW PHYSICAL FITNESS REGIME.

MARQUITA MARIE GUIDES, ENCOURAGES, AND MOTIVATES EVERY CLIENT IN EACH SESSION, WHETHER IT’S ONE – ON – ONE OR IN A GROUP SESSION, WITH HER STRONG WORK ETHIC AND ENTHUSIASM. HER AMBITIOUS AND AUTHENTIC PERSONALITY ALLOWS HER CLIENTS TO FEEL SAFE, SEEN, AND HEARD AS THEY JOURNEY TO A HEATLHIER LIFESTYLE. THEY TRUST HER TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE THEY SET REALISTIC GOALS AND STAY ON TRACK ON BECOMING THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.

Marquita Marie, a native from Mobile, AL, is a freelance dance artist, a the Artistic Director of MaChristianDance&Co. and the Founder of Dance To Live, Live To Dance LLC- an institution that believes in inspiring, encouraging, and empowering today’s youth through the arts.
She began her training at Mobile Ballet under the direction of Winthrop Corey where she had the opportunity to perform both original famous ballets and new ballets nationally. She later attended Grambling State University where she was a part of the Orchesis Dance Company under the direction of the legendary Diane Maroney-Grigsby. She not only toured with the company nationally, performing many works by Allyne D. Gartrell and Tally Beatty, but also had the opportunity to perform during NFL Halftime games as well as making a guest appearance in the Madden ’04 video game.
Marquita Marie’s artistic journey has taken her to many locations- Murfreesboro, Dallas, Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Orlando- all leading to the greater New York Metro area, where she completed and attained her Certificate of Dance at The Ailey School. With award winning choreography and the continuous recognition she receives as an educator of the arts, she is constantly seeking new ways and opportunities to inspire both her students and the public.
Having performed original works with renowned industry names such as Christian Von Howard, Hollie Wright, Judine Somerville, Freddie Moore, Vic Dimonda, Tony Mayes, Debbie Wilson, and Alison Cook Beatty Dace, she has performed with the metro area’s most sought after dance companies.
Currently she serves as a faculty member of The Ailey School, Junior Division and as a director in the dance department at Success Academy Charter School in Harlem. Implementing the DTLTD motto – Inspire. Encourage. Empower.- both on stage and in the classroom, Marquita Marie not only pushes her students to strive for excellence in dance but to live it in their everyday lives.