Maria Morca, born into a family of musicians and dancers, started dancing at an early age. Her training of Oriental and Interpretive dance began when she became a protégé of the Ruth St. Denis Foundation in Hollywood. She has an extensive background in ballet, classical Spanish, Flamenco and many other ethnic dance forms.
Maria has been a professional dancer since the age of nineteen, has toured the United States and Canada, and has performed on stage and in nightclubs all over the continent, including Las Vegas. Her film and television credits include I Dream of Jeannie, Gun Smoke, Mission Impossible, I Spy, Run For Your Life, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Story of Ruth, Can Can, Hello Dolly, Ship of Fools, and Go North to Alaska to name a few. She also coached and choreographed in Hollywood over a period of twelve years.
She then founded the highly successful Academy of Dance Arts in Toronto, Canada, and later in Bellevue, near Seattle, Washington. She created the prominent performance group, Maria Morca and the Dances of Spain, acting as director and solo dancer.
Currently Maria Morca’s flamenco classes are held on the East side of Seattle in Kirkland and Bothell. Her aim in these classes is to develop physical fitness and self-expression through dance. Besides teaching on-going classes, she holds master classes, lectures and conducts seminars and workshops. She is also the author of MARIA MORCA’S BELLY DANCE WORK BOOK.