Mary Jo Scanio is owner and director of Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy, Artistic Director of the Universal Movement Performing Arts Company, and Artistic Director of the Tampa Bay Triple Threat Theatre.  Mary Jo and the Academy are noted on a national level for superior training in the performing arts. Her background includes a Fine Arts Degree from the University of South Florida with concentrations in Dance Performance and Choreography.  She is a certified Pilates Instructor. Mary Jo’s training includes working with some of the most reputable teachers and choreographers in the industry. The Academy was named one of the top 50 dance schools in the United States in 2004 and continues to remain on the honor roll of outstanding dance schools for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Her performing credits include local, regional and national company productions and concerts. She was a Sundoll for the University of South Florida as well as a Swashbuckler for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She was an adjunct professor for the University of South Florida Dance Department and assisted in founding the fine arts department at Tampa Catholic High School.

Mary Jo is a certified examiner and the past Area Director of Dance Masters of America. She was Director of the Miss and Mr. Dance Pageant representing Florida and now serves as regional examiner. Mary Jo has judged numerous regional and national talent competitions including Starpower, On Stage America, Dance Masters of America, East Coast Talent, International Model and Talent and Starburst National Talent in Canada.

She is a member of Florida Dance Masters, Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America, Professional Dance Teachers Association, American Alliance of Dance Educators, and is certified in Dance Therapy and Dance Injuries Prevention. Mary Jo has received recognition in Who’s Who Among American Executives and Businesses. She has received many honors for her choreography and her work has been invited into festivals and congresses throughout the country. Shows include Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Chicago, Fiddler On The Roof, Hello Dolly, Nunsense, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wiz, Grease, Bugsy Malone, Follies, Best of Burlesque, Mannone’s Girls and Fame. She was assistant choreographer for the Super Bowl XXXV and choreographer for Tampa Bay Buccaneer pre-game shows. She has served as a guest teacher at conventions, seminars, workshops, schools and companies throughout the United States and Canada.

Many of her students have gone on to pursue professions in dance and the performing arts, including students who are currently dancing On and Off-Broadway, at theme parks, on cruise ships, with Cirque Du Soliel, as Rockettes, on television and film, and in companies in the United States and abroad. They have been accepted and are attending some of the most reputable dance programs in universities, including University of Arizona, University of the Arts, Marymount Manhattan, Fordham University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, and University of Florida.

Her company, Universal Movement has been invited to entertain both locally and nationally for prestigious venues and organizations. Most recent appearances include Arizona Dance Festival, Florida Dance Festival, and National Power Pak Tour for Starpower Talent Competition, a publicity exhibition with the touring company of Footloose at TBPAC, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Tap Kids in New York City, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, the ALS Benefit, and the FOOT Foundation. Mary Jo has been featured in dance articles and dance periodicals. The Senior Dance Company was invited to represent the United States in the Tanzsommer Summer Dance Festival in Austria. Her students have also been awarded the prestigious Critic’s Choice Award by New York City Dance Alliance.  Mary Jo continues to strive to provide an education of excellence in the performing arts.  Through her vast knowledge, outstanding faculty, and educational philosophy Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy continues to remain one of the top Academy’s in the nation.

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