Maurissa Koide is a Columbia University graduate with a Masters in Public Health that inspires her to use dance in promoting healthy lifestyles. She has been trained in all areas of dance with an emphasis in ballet since the age of three. Dance has afforded her many opportunities including: a scholarship at Steps on Broadway in NYC, an appearance on the cover of In Motion Magazine, a layout in Dance Spirit Magazine, and the title of Miss Dance of California. She has been fortunate to represent the area that helped her to realize her ambitions and achieve her goals when bestowed the honors of: Santa Clara County’s Young Woman of the Year in 1996, Miss San Jose 2003 and Miss Santa Clara 2004 (Miss America Scholarship Organization). Maurissa has taught dance since 2003 and is ecstatic to join The Dance Zone.