1. Margaret Tapogna Gatzonis (Miss M)
AFFA Certified * IIN Health Coach *AED / CPR certified
Licensed Instructor in Zumba Gold * Zumba & Zumba Toning
Privately insured … Choreographer…. Dance & Fitness Educator
Mentor & life coach All ages & levels
Contact information @ Missm58@hotmail.com / 718-415-9576
Ms. Tapogna has dedicated her life to the art of dance and fitness. Margaret has studied with dance
industry icons such as Luigi, Phil Black, Frank Hatchett, Judy Bassing, Bob Rizzo, Ronnie De
Marco, and Sylvia Waters of the Alvin Ailey Company. Professionally, she has appeared in television
commercials, the American Image Awards honoring Michael Jackson, and numerous theatrical
productions. In addition to Margaret’s theater and performing arts credits are many appearances and
awards in the ballroom genre. She has choreographed and staged productions of “Funny Girl”,
“Ragtime” and “Newsies”. Ms. Tapogna’s passion has always been rooted in teaching and mentoring
students and future professionals in all areas of the dance industry. In 1992 Margaret founded
Danceworks Dance & Fitness Center and created one of the leading artistic and creative dance
education and fitness centers in the New York Area. Teaching excellence in dance and fitness to all
ages and levels. Many of her students have been accepted into the prestigious LaGuardia High
School for the performing arts and the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program in Dance. Ms. Tapogna has
helped many talented students make the leap from studio to stage. Ms. Tapogna’s students have
worked professionally in shows such as Bette Midler’s The Showgirl Must Go On, In the Heights
the National Tour and Broadway, the films Step Up, Step Up II and Step Up III, the Grammy
Awards, the MTV Awards, Riverdance the International tour, Riverdance on Broadway and the
Ailey II Company. Recently, her students have held principle roles in the Broadway productions of “In
the Heights” and Disney’s production of the “ The Little Mermaid”. Margaret has worked as
rehearsal director for the DeMa Dance Company. Most currently combining the worlds of dance and
fitness Margaret teaches Zumba Dance Fitness classes for adults. Margaret is the founder and
director of the Zumba for Rachel Charity Event benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Margaret hosts Zumba Workshops for schools and private organizations promoting healthy lifestyles
for both children and adults. Margaret delights in teaching Zumba Gold as well as Chair Zumba a
specialized program for the older chair bound active adult. Margaret hosts many charity events to
benefit organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The Sarcoma Alliance and The
American Heart Association. Margaret is a certified integrative health coach working one on one with
clients as well as with groups supporting healthy eating along with a happy fulfilled sustainable lifestyle
both physically and spiritually. Margaret feels blessed to be on this life journey and strives to touch as
many people as possible with her gifts. She continues to foster her vision of dance as art and fitness as
the element of sustained well being nourishing people to their fullest potential thru love and light always.