Mariana holds her BFA in Ballet and a minor in Child Development from Texas Christian University. She received early training from Donna Patzius-Hill in St. Louis, Missouri where she performed with student company Midwest Ballet Theatre and attended such summer programs as American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Academy of Dance, Ballet West, IU Jacobs School of Music, and Nashville Ballet where she was offered a second company contract.
During her time at TCU, Mariana had the opportunity to perform in a number of contemporary and classical works, notably the Pas de Six from August Bouronville's Napoli and Jewels from Sleeping Beauty. Also, during her undergraduate experience, she developed her passion for both early childhood dance education and working with special populations through adaptive dance. Mariana is a recipient of an Undergraduate Professional Developments Grant for her work as a dance instructor at Cook Children’s Hospital and received additional training in this field at Boston Ballet.
While pursuing her BFA, Mariana additionally achieved her comprehensive Pilates Teaching Certificate, culminating in 650 hours of practice. She incorporates her knowledge of anatomy and emphasis on functional, healthy movement patterns in her approach to teaching dance.