Maria Ines Serritella

Maria Ines Serritella, born in the United States, is an artist who began her training at an early age. She is the eldest of three siblings, all of whom have excelled in the world of the performing and visual arts. Her mother is of Cuban-Spanish descent and her father of English-Italian-Irish. It was at the early age of four that her parents recognized her innate ability as a mover and shaker with great musicality and made the decision to enroll her in a variety of dance classes. This would be the beginning of Maria Ines' professional career towards becoming an experienced dancer, choreographer and actress. Early in her adolescence, she was accepted to and attended the North Center for the Arts Dance Division at Miami Norland Middle School. This is where Maria would first experience and acquire her love of acting through musical theater. In her final summer there, she performed as "Maria" in the school's dance version of West Side Story. After that, she auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious New World School of the Arts (NWSA) High School, located in the heart of Downtown Miami. While at NWSA, Maria focused on intense training in dance fundamentals: Jazz, Modern, and Classical Ballet. Combined, her intense training and recognition gained her the prestigious New World School of the Arts "Deans Award", awarded by renowned dance master, choreographer, and Dean of Dance, Daniel Lewis. With the experience gained in NWSA and New York, her repertoire grew to include Spanish Ballet (Flamenco), Belly Dance and Tap, all acquired under the tutelage of choreographers and instructors of renowned dance companies, such as: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jose Limon Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Broadway Dance Center. During her career she has shared the stage dancing and studying with dancers and performers that also acquired positions in renowned dance companies and Broadway musicals such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Wicked, to name a few. Upon graduation from NWSA, Maria Ines has danced professionally for Miami-based dance companies such as Freddick Bratcher and Company Contemporary Dance Theatre, Ballet Español Rosita Segovia, Cultural Dance Theatre, Aire Dance Company, as well as several production companies. Maria Ines's career has continued to grow to include lifestyle modeling and actress for TV commercials, TV series, short films, and feature films. Through her experiences, Maria Ines has had the honor of working with recognized artists and directors such as, Director: Adam Shankman, Choreographer: Mia Michaels, Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages", Director: David Gordon Green (HBO's Eastbound & Down), and Athletes: LeBron James, Richard Sherman and Alex Morgan in a commercial for McDonalds. Throughout her career as a dancer and choreographer, Maria Ines has received nominations and awards, including a nomination for "Best Choreography" by La A.C.C.A., an organization formed to recognize Hispanic artists. Additionally, Maria wrote as a contributor for AprilGoLightly, a top South Florida Lifestyle blog about Fashion, Beauty, and Entertainment, and was also one of the Captains/Choreographers for the Strikers Dancers of the FTLStrikers, the premier NASL soccer team of Fort Lauderdale. Maria is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Spotlight Studios Miami operated inside Ray's Guitars N Gear in the exclusive city of Miami Springs, FL. Her support of NWSA also prevails through her continued membership on the Alumni Board of Directors.