Student of the Month – Maria G. Shapiro

Name: Maria Grabowski Shapiro

Town you Live In: Andover, MA

How long have you been dancing?  I have had an on again off again relationship with dance for the last twelve years.

How did you get into ballroom? I got into ballroom when my daughter decided to make ballroom dance her career.

Which dance do you enjoy the most? I enjoy most of the smooth dances as well as swing, cha cha,  rumba and tango. My current favorite is foxtrot beause that is the formation I am in right now.

What is your favorite dance memory? My favorite dance memory was dancing the Anniversary Waltz with my husband, Bob, at our 40th wedding anniversary celebration.  My second favorite dance memory was performing a Viennese Waltz with Ray Huard.

What dance goal would you like to conquer next? My next dance goal is to become an asset to the Foxtrot Formation.

What are your other hobbies? My main passions are horticulture, landscape design and floral arranging.

Tell us something you think most people don’t know about you. In my prior life, I was an aviation accident defense attorney in L.A., a legal publications manager in Manhattan, a plaintiff’s personal injury and workers compensation attorney in New Jersey and an employment discrimination attorney in Boston. I have traded in my briefcase for a shovel and a rake.