ABOUT THE FOUNDER:

 

Cancer survivor, first generation Filipina-American, and South Bay San Diego native, Anjanette Maraya-Ramey always dreamed of building an inclusive arts center where individuals from all walks of life can come together and experience the healing and transformational power of the arts. After being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia on September 11, 2018, Anjanette immediately underwent intense chemotherapy treatments and was hospitalized for 45 days. Anjanette knew that she would beat cancer, and immediately dreamed of a new life after treatment.  While Anjanette achieved remission in 2019, her treatment was a total of 3 years of DAILY chemo, and she completed her last treatment on April 2021. During treatment, she  started business planning to make her lifelong dream of having her own arts center a reality.

 

However...the plot thickens...

 

On March 1, 2020, after a long time of planning and searching, Anjanette signed a 5-year lease on a space in Eastlake. However, not long after getting the keys to the new space,  these dreams came to a hard stop. The entire world shut down, due to COVID shelter in place orders. However, even a global pandemic did not stop this cancer warrior from fighting to survive, yet another 'near death' experience.

 

With grace, and tenacity, Anjanette started fundraising, writing grants, and underwent construction plans to improve the space to be COVID friendly. After nearly 1 incredibly rough year into the pandemic, construction was FINALLY completed, and we were able to (re)open our physical doors  on February 20, 2021. Woo hoo!

Our dream home now includes 2 dance studios with professional sprung dance flooring throughout, high vaulted ceilings with natural skylights, brand new HVAC system, and a roll up garage door for plenty of ventilation and viewing area for parents. In the future we plan to design a co-working shared office space and classroom for artists, administrators, and creative entrepreneurs. We would also like to host professional development/arts administration trainings to learn the ins and outs of the "business of making art."

Throughout the pandemic, we have creatively pivoted...and continue to do so EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. We have adapted to the ever changing small business mandates to close, open, close and re-open our business multiple times. Since our virtual inception in March 2020, we have not stopped offering critical multicultural and multigenerational arts programming for our community including: virtual youth theatre classes, outdoor parking lot dance classes, virtual dance classes from international dance artists, and have hosted multiple guest speakers from the arts and entertainment industry. We have also received numerous invitations and commissions to create new and innovative dance theatre projects in collaboration with our arts partners, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Filipino Cinema, The Slants Foundation, Pacific Arts Movement, New Children's Museum, San Diego Housing Federation, and the Bonita Museum to name a few. Furthermore, we have received commendations and recognition by County of San Diego Vice Chair, Supervisor Nora Vargas, and City of San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe.

Every day our rockstar team works hard towards our vision to create a community where the performing arts are accessible to ALL regardless of their life circumstances - whatever may be. We strive to be the 'go to' artistic hub for diverse multigenerational artists from all walks of life.

Maraya Performing Arts is truly a place for ALL!

We serve all ages, all abilities, from all walks of life. 

We look forwarding to welcoming you and yours to this vibrant, safe, and inclusive community arts center!