Marina has had the joy of teaching dance, rhythmic gymnastics, creative movement, and music & movement to young dancers in a variety of settings including schools, studios, and community centers. She spent several years in Washington, D.C., where she taught classes for children ranging from toddlers to elementary-aged dancers of varying abilities. During that time, she partnered with nonprofit organizations and mobile arts companies to help make movement more accessible and community-centered. While pursuing a Master’s in Education with a focus in School Counseling at DePaul University, she is commited to deepening her understanding of child development, learning, and inclusive teaching practices
Alongside her teaching, Marina is a performing artist. In 2024, she led a Family Dance Workshop at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and served as a Rehearsal Director and Co-Choreographer for In Wonderland(’23 & ’25) productions with Local Motion Project. She also performed with Liberation Dance Project in their debut at the Dance Canvas DMV festival(’24) and was cast in works presented through NACHMO DC and the Intersections Festival(’24), collaborating with artists across the Washington, D.C. dance community
Marina’s teaching style blends imagination with structure, turning every class into an adventure. Whether dancers are skipping through a magical forest, dancing with scarves to show falling snow, or heading out on a dragon hunt, she keeps students engaged through storytelling and expressive movement. Technique and musicality are woven into class with call-and-response rhythms, dance games, and lots of positive encouragement.
What makes Marina happiest is watching dancers light up with confidence that moment when something clicks and they realize, “I can do this!” Whether it’s a perfectly timed jump or joyful giggles while dancing their hearts out, those moments of growth and self-expression are what make teaching so meaningful to her.
When she’s not dancing, Marina can usually be found playing with her pets, Ozzy and Caper or hunting down the best thrift stores in town.