MAYA COOK

JAZZ, POM

Meet Maya Cook! Her love of dance began when she was just two years old and has been a source of inspiration for her whole life. Maya, who was raised in Tempe, Arizona, she focused her training in jazz, ballet, tap, ballroom, contemporary, and hip hop for 16 years while traveling around the world for performances and going to numerous summer intensives. She spent her childhood at Tempe Dance Academy, where she grew in the world of competitive dance and created the foundation for her future accomplishments. Maya, a Seton Catholic Preparatory alumna, spent four years on the Pom team, standing out as head captain for two of those critical years.

Maya just recently graduated from Grand Canyon University as a Psychology major. Maya chose to join the GCU Dance Team in order to advance her dancing career and continue her adventure. While on the team she held a leadership position in community outreach and was Jazz captain and a Game Day timeout choreographer this past year for their UDA National routines. She has won three UDA National Game Day titles throughout her four years on the team.

Maya has been teaching at two local studios, Tempe Dance Academy and South Mountain Performing Arts, for 5 years. During this time she discovered her love for choreography. She loves being able to share her passion with her students and push them to the best of their ability. During this time working with this studios, Maya has won numerous High Score Overall and Top Choreography awards, at competitions such as New York City Dance Alliance and LA Dance Magic.

Maya loves teaching & choreography even more than she loves performing. Maya gets a lot of joy in sharing her knowledge and passion to others, a trait she gained from her parents, who are retired professional dancers and teachers and share their love of dancing. Maya's teaching approach is based on inspiration, creativity, and enthusiasm. She wants to pour into her students the same passion that has driven her own incredible journey.

Moving into her first year working with Tribe 99, Maya specializes in Jazz, Game Day, and Pom choreography. She cannot wait to embark on this journey and share her passion for dance with those around her!