Maura is such a positive female force in the world. It's a cliché, but when everything seems dark and troubled, Maura smiles and makes lemon-aide from the lemons. She's there when you need her, and she always has wise counsel to make others feel better. To me, she is the essence of womanhood.

I love and admire her vibrancy and vitality. As a performer, she brings a wonderful sense of drama to the stage—I especially loved that performance when she entered as a crone using her veil to peer out and then transformed to a lively gypsy girl. Maura's zills are marvelous, just ask anyone who's studied with her. She's courageous and experimental, daring and provocative in her dance. She has an incredible sense of costuming and is the maven of make-up fun. She is an instrumental member of the Shake Charmers Dance Company.

I am so grateful to count her as a friend. Maura embodies the best traits of all of the amazing, inspiring, positive women I have met through the belly dance community.

A lovely dancer, a great friend. When Maura dances, she goes into a trancelike state and begins to move in spirals and circles. The audience holds its breath for this beautiful, mesmerizing, improvisational magnet. She is also the sweetest friend. Calls ya up when yr sick and asks if she can bring you chicken soup kinda person. Splendid.