Maria graduated from the National School of Dance and the Contemporary Dance School of Teatro Municipal San Martin, both in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She holds a medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires. She is a Laban/Barteneiff Analyst of movement (CMA) and has a Master Degree in teaching with an endorsement in bilingual education. Maria has been a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for more than 30 years. She has worked in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Her choreography has been presented internationally at prestigious places such as the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater and Dance Place in Washington D.C., Bay Area Dance Festival and Monterey Dance Festival in California, Espace Tangente in Montreal, Quebec and the Fringe Festival in Toronto, Ontario. From 1996 to 2004 Maria led the School of Rockford Dance Company as the first full time school director. In 2001 Maria received a Finalist Award in choreography from the Illinois Arts Council. In 2002 she was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Award, given by La Voz Latina for her contributions to the cultural life of the community. Maria is the Artistic Director of the Without Shoes Modern Dance Company. She teaches at Lathrop Elementary School in the Bilingual Department.