Meet Maria Ford
SHORT Bio
Maria Ford is a veteran Ottawa-based West Coast Swing community leader, All-Star, and master instructor. She has co-choreographed and performed winning routines, including team and Rising Star divisions. She founded Smoothstyle Dance Studio in 2006, providing group and private instruction. From 2014 – 2020, she recruited, trained, and oversaw a team of WCS instructors and DJs and launched Ottawa’s first weekly public WCS event featuring progressive syllabus and social dancing.
Maria is also a Professional/Open Hustle level dancer and a skilled social dancer in Salsa, Kizomba, Blues, and various styles of Swing. Today, she focuses on providing high-quality instruction and innovative West Coast Swing teacher team training. Maria is skilled in and gives equal support to both Lead and Follow roles. She is known for building strong technical foundations, quality of movement, troubleshooting, excellence in teaching, and generous social dancing.
LONG BIO
After dancing competitively throughout my childhood and youth, I began dancing West Coast Swing in 2004, began competing in 2006, and began teaching in 2007. I won (and often did not win) in top divisions of WCS (All-Star) and Hustle (Professional/Open); I co-choreographed and performed winning West Coast Swing routines, including team and Rising Star divisions. At one point, I levelled up to the Classic Division — ask me about that story! In 2019, I retired from competition and from judging in 2023. Since 2025, I do a wee bit of both now and then.
Teaching and community development have always been a focus of my dance life, including developing students and teachers. This continues today through active social dancing and teaching private lessons, specialty workshops, and providing teacher team training.
Skilled in both roles, I give equal attention and support to leads and follows. I am known for building strong technical foundations, quality of movement, troubleshooting, and excellence in teaching. I most value the opportunity to be a mentor, coach, and friend in the dance.
I received Master-level WCS instructor certification and WCS judge certification from the Global Professional Dance Instructors Association (GPDIA). I am grateful to have been trained and coached by some of the best Champions, teachers, and innovators in my chosen dance styles. These have shaped me the most: Angel Figueroa, Arjay Centeno, Robert Royston, Brandi Guild, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman, Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake, Jennifer Deluca, Michael Kiehm, Mario Robau Jr., Fred Price, Tina Price, and Stephanie Risser.
My teaching and coaching are also informed by other professional experience:
- My work as a strategic communications professional
- Certification and experience in change management
- Varied experience teaching adults, including as a college professor, presentation coach, dance instructor, and teacher-trainer