Maria Gateva is a former high level rhythmic gymnast
from Bulgaria, two times National Champion (1994, 1995) and part of the Bulgarian
national team for 6 years. Maria took part in several major competitions and
the results are: 1993 European Team Junior Champion; 3rd place European
Team Championship 1994; European Cup 1995 - 4th and 6th
place Individual.
After 15 years in high level rhythmic gymnastics,
Maria transformed her knowledge and skills into opportunity for her to perform
on stage. She was a soloist in three dance shows – “Two kingdoms” in 2000-2001,
“Orpheus and Eurydice” in 2002 and “World e-motions” in 2003-2004, and even being the choreographer of
the female part in the last one.
In 2004 Maria established a school of arts in Sofia –
“Nuance”, where dance, singing and acting are taught to different age groups.
For the last 9 years, she has taught there modern dance as well as managing the
company. More than 1600 children have attended the school and are still
studying there, participating in different shows, festivals and concerts.
In 2009 Maria opened her own rhythmic gymnastics club
“Nuance” in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she is the Managing Director and also the head
coach.
Parallel to her carrier she acquired a Bachelor and a
Master’s degree in high level sport – a rhythmic gymnastics coach in National
Sports Academy in Sofia, in 2001 and 2002 respectively. In 2003 she won a
scholarship for a Ph. D. which was completed and successively defended in 2008.
In 2009 she became a Lecturer at the National Sports
Academy and in 2011 she was promoted to a senior Lecturer. Her position at the
university allows her to participate in different conferences, seminars and to
be invited as a lecturer and key-note speaker on many occasions.
Currently Maria is taking part in the 2nd
edition of GSMP 2013 (8 September to 10 October) were she is going to learn
more skills and create opportunity into the Sports Industry. Sixteen women from
all over the world are in USA for Mentorship on how to empower women through
sport.