meet our teachers
Natalie Gonzalez
Natalie Gonzalez
Natalie Gonzalez
Natalie Gonzalez (she/her) is an arts advocate, visual artist, curator and exhibitions coordinator.
Natalie has been an active international art promoter and art educator for over 15 years, organizing art exhibitions in Europe and Mexico. Her passion in life is to make art more accessible to our society, helping youth develop their creativity, and instill a sense of community surrounding these activities.
Morie Williams
Natalie Gonzalez
Natalie Gonzalez
Morie has performed his way across seven continents and over 200 counties.
Originally from Los Angeles, Morie grew up in San Jose California where he found a love for performing with San Jose Children’s Musical Theater. Williams was most recently part of the featured entertainer line-up with Barry Manilow’s Stiletto Entertainment Production Company in Los Angeles. When not on tour, Williams most enjoys paying- it -forward through his love for the arts.
Genel Querido
Natalie Gonzalez
Genel Querido
Genel (she/her) received her classical ballet training from Chula Vista Ballet and Neisha's Dance and Music Academy under the Vaganova methodology.
Notable roles include Princess Florine and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Clara and Dewdrop in the Nutcracker, Odette and Big Swan in Swan Lake, Thumbelina in Thumbelina and Snow White in Snow White. She has attended summer programs at Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC as well as with Ms. Victoria Schneider.
Matt Ignacio
Stephen Evangelista
Genel Querido
Matt Ignacio (he/him) is an accomplished singer and choir director. Matt is the artistic and chorus director for Tremble Clefs San Diego (a local non-profit dedicated to those living with Parkinson’s Disease) as well as the Music Director at St. John of the Cross Church.
A San Diego native, Matt also performs as a soloist throughout the county, and seasonally with the Tinseltone Carolers. Previous MD credits include Music Man (NYA Award Winner), Spring Awakening, Matilda, Seussical, and more!
Xavier Hicks
Stephen Evangelista
Stephen Evangelista
Xavier Hicks (he/him) is a dancer with an extensive career in San Diego as a Principal Dancer.
An alumni of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA), Xavier went on to become a Principal Dancer with California Ballet. Some of his notable affiliations and partnerships include working with Jean Isaacs (San Diego Dance Theater), Betsi Roe, and Eddie Tuscan, as well as dancing with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company.
Stephen Evangelista
Stephen Evangelista
Stephen Evangelista
Stephen (he/him) started working in the theater at San Diego State University – where he is studying vocal education.
Steven has worked as a crew member in various theater productions and works Audio-Visuals for churches throughout San Diego County.
Sean Asuncsion
Sean Asuncsion
Sean Asuncsion
Sean (He/Him) has been a dancer/performer for 11 years and a choreographer for 10.
Starting off his training at culture shock, urban fx and Grossmont College; he found his passion for dance and decided to pursue a degree in performing arts. Through the years he's performed for shows such as Bodyrock, Vibe and Bridge as a team member of dance crews Gwownups, Major League Crew and New Image Dance Crew. Originally a student of Maraya's Studio owner Anjeanette; he hopes to pass on his many years of experience and the lessons Anjeanette has instilled within him.
Our founder & founding
In 2019 – it was time for Anjanette Maraya-Ramey to make a change. After years of work in San Diego's Arts / Non-Profit sectors – serving as Company Manager for La Jolla Playhouse, Theatre Operations Manager for Lawrence Family JCC, Grants & Donor Relations Manager for ARTS: A Reason to Survive, and eventually the Senior Manager of Funding for the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture – she got knocked out of her career by a cancer diagnosis.
It was time to be bold – what did She sold her house, and took out a lease on a studio space in Chula Vista.
And Maraya Performing Arts was born!
It was at this point that Anjanette was able to put all of her years of experience – as a performer, a choreographers, a manager – into action. It is a rare thing for someone to work their way up as a dancer and be able to found their own institution.
Anjanette was able to take her intimate (sometimes too intimate) experience with the various factors that can be alienating for students and teachers – from issues of cultural competency to more basic things, like just not being warm and observant of your precious students – and build a studio from the ground up to make arts education realize its full potential as a transformational force in students lives.
If you come by the studio, you might see her teaching a class. This studio is her vision, and she definitely not just in it for the money. She is building something, and you should join us!
Staff
Dianna Nicasio
Dianna Nicasio
Dianna Nicasio
Diana (she/her) is a theatre technician, stage manager, and an administrative
assistant at Maraya Performing Arts. She found love with the backstage life in high school and continued her education at San Diego State University with a B.A. in Theate Arts.
She loved working on projects with The Old Globe, Blindspot Collective, Amigos Del Rep, and La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival.
With 8 years of experience in stage management, she hopes to bring
positivity and a creative eye to projects.
Nahla Valdez
Dianna Nicasio
Dianna Nicasio
Nahla (she/her) came to San Diego from right across the border in Tijuana – she is an accomplished Art Director, making various music videos here in San Diego and in Los Angeles.
She is another administrative assistant, and occasional teaching artist.
She was president of her college's film club, and, outside of her work with Maraya, she is currently working to launch 'Blood of Aurora' – a feminist/lifestyle magazine.
Diego Lynch
Dianna Nicasio
Diego Lynch
Diego (he/him) is the guy writing all this stuff – he is Maraya's communications associate!