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Hello
Welcome! I'm Mai Telesford, Founder and Artistic Director of Move & Inspire.
I created Move & Inspire to build a welcoming community where dancers of all ages and backgrounds can express themselves, grow, and discover their potential through dance.
My passion is to share the joy of dance while helping each dancer develop confidence, creativity, and a sense of connection with others.
I believe dance has the power to inspire, bring people together, and create positive change.
My Story
Mai began studying Nihon Buyo (traditional Japanese dance) at the age of two. At four, inspired by watching her mother dance, she began studying jazz dance. She continued her training in jazz, tap, and ballet while working as an assistant instructor.
At age 13, she also began training in rhythmic gymnastics.
After graduating from high school, Mai moved to Tokyo, where she expanded her dance repertoire by studying hip-hop. A year later, she moved to New York to pursue further dance training at the prestigious Broadway Dance Center (BDC). There, she studied under renowned instructors including Rhapsody, Jermaine Browne, Brian Green, Sheryl Murakami, and Luam.
Following the completion of BDC's International Student Program, Mai returned to Tokyo and established herself as a professional dancer and choreographer.
She worked on concerts, music videos, and various entertainment productions, collaborating with Japanese pop artists.
During this time, she also taught dance classes for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea performers.
In 2008, Mai relocated to Boston, where she continued her career as a dance instructor and choreographer. In 2021, she founded MV + I, LLC, and established Move & Inspire, a Japanese-inspired dance program dedicated to nurturing young dancers through movement, creativity, and cultural expression.
Alongside her professional dance career, Mai developed a strong interest in early childhood development, particularly the relationship between cognitive and motor skill development. To deepen her understanding, she completed the Early Childhood Education program at Fisher College. She subsequently worked as a lead teacher at several early childhood education centers, gaining valuable experience supporting children's development and learning.
Today, Mai brings together her extensive professional dance experience and educational background to create meaningful learning and performance opportunities for young dancers. Her mission is to inspire the next generation through dance while helping each child develop confidence, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for movement and culture.