Our Founder & Creator of Leadership through Dance™
Melody Mai
- Creator and Lead Instructor, Leadership through Dance™ @All schools
- Lead Instructor, Zumba Kids @Roy cLoud & North Star
Melody Mai, founder of Mariposa Dance and creator of our Leadership through Dance™ program, has been passionate about dance and music all her life. As a child, it taught her to love herself and to have self-confidence. As a performer through early adulthood, it gave her a passion and drive to continuously grow and learn. As a busy working mom of three, it has been her outlet to relieve stress. Understanding the different benefits that dance can bring to anyone at any phase of their life, Melody is here to share her energy and love of music and dance with the Redwood City community.
As the creator of the program, Melody is currently the Lead Instructor for all of our Leadership through Dance™ programs. She also teaches Zumba Kids at North Star and Roy Cloud.
Learn more about Melody’s story here!
Our Team
Esiah Gomez
- Lead Choreographer and Dance Instructor, Leadership through Dance™ @North Star and @CSM
Esiah has always had a passion for developing leadership skills and empowering young girls. She is excited about our Leadership through Dance™ mission and brings with her, her extensive dance experience in modern and contemporary dance, and her background teaching self-defense to middle schoolers.
Esiah is currently our Lead Choreographer for our Teens Leadership through Dance™ program hosted at CSM, as well as our school-based programs hosted at North Star or Roy Cloud.
Rita Finones
- Lead instructor, Zumba Kids @Clifford
- C0-INstructor, Leadership through Dance™ @roy cloud
Rita Finones is a natural leader who loves working with kids. With a background in teaching Zumba, Zumba Kids, UJam and other styles of dance fitness, we are excited to have Rita bring her energy and passion for dance to our programs!
Rita is currently our Lead Zumba Kids instructor at Clifford Elementary. She is also one of our co-teachers for our Leadership through Dance™ programs hosted onsite at North Star or Roy Cloud.
SARA DEMELO
- Lead instructor, Zumba Kids @ORION and @roy cloud
Sara is so grateful to be a part of this amazing team at Mariposa Dance. Her passions for music, movement, and helping others find their voices are deeply aligned with the Mariposa Dance mission. She is thrilled to be a Zumba Kids instructor to help kids feel embodied and find the fun in movement. Her experiences in musical theatre and live music performances, combined with her degree in Human Development, specifically adolescent development, made it easy to seize the opportunity to work with Melody. She looks forward to what the future holds for her and her two daughters with Mariposa Dance.
ELISE DIMICK
- Co-instructor, Zumba Kids @Clifford
Elise is endlessly passionate about dance and building creative community. Aside from being a licensed Zumba instructor, she works with children as a teacher at Paragon Montessori. Elise is enthusiastic and encouraging, bringing her love for dance and play to the Zumba Kids community with Mariposa Dance.