Maria Hanson

Stars Team
​Combo Program Director & Recital Director

Maria was born in Shelton, CT and lived there for the first 12 years of her life. She took ballet, pointe, tap, and jazz at the Barbara Hillis Dance Studio in Huntington, CT. She moved to Gilbert, AZ in 1997 and began dancing again at the age of 15. She played an active role in the dance program at Hamilton High School in Chandler, AZ, participating in the Advanced dance class, being a T.A. for a beginning dance class, and choreographing for her classmates. ​

As a child, Maria led a very active life, including earning her 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, playing flute and piccolo at Hamilton High and for the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band. She was also drum major for the Hamilton High School marching band and played lacrosse and softball in high school as well. After graduating high school in 2003, she began attending Arizona State University to pursue dance more seriously. She presented her Senior Capstone project, "Emotional Development in the Dance Class: Making Children's Dance Beneficial to their Well-Being." in fulfillment of earning her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Studies with an emphasis in Child Development.

​Maria worked at The Little Gym for 7 years at multiple locations and was Gym Director at the Scottsdale, AZ location and was trained as a Training Ambassador for The Little Gym International.  

Maria is a certified Acrobatic Arts instructor.

Maria married her high school sweetheart, Adam in 2007 and they have 2 beautiful daughters, Teresa and Lena. She is very passionate about being a positive and influential role model for every child that enters into her life