MAUREEN ERRATO grew up in Asheville, NC where she studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, and modern dance. She performed with the Asheville Civic Ballet under the direction of Ann Dunn, culminating with her performance of the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. She has also studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the American Dance Festival. Maureen attended Florida State University and graduated with a BFA in Dance. While there, she studied with well-known dancers and choreographers including Suzanne Farrell, Jawole Zollar, Donlin Foreman, Sean Curran, and Gerri Houlihan. After college, she enjoyed a dance career as a Rockette in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and in Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way. She also toured the U.S. with the Broadway show Crazy for You in the role of Patsy. She has been teaching dance, including ballroom, for 13 years. She holds the honor of being crowned Mrs. America 2009 and during her reign received the Fame award from the National Association for Music Education for her work in support of music education in public schools.