Maria J Hackett is a Brooklyn-based photographer with much of her work revolving around portraiture, dance, and documentary. Maria is also a mother and dancer rediscovering her journey in dance. Growing up in East Flatbush in a Caribbean household, dance and music has always been a part of her life. After participating in a partnership through her 5th grade of elementary school with the National Dance Association that led to her first stage performance at Laguardia High School, it was then realized her true love for dance and performance.
Having further explored movement through various styles within community events such as Ladies of Hip Hop and Urban Artistry’s Soul Society, along with performances with those such as Staci Canon’s Hope Out of Hole and works with choreographer Havanna Fisher, she currently finds herself rediscovering movement and what it means in her new journey of Motherhood.
Postpartum depression and the rebirth into motherhood was a complex process taken by surprise. Upon noticing that she was experiencing emotional, physical, and spiritual challenges, it was then realized movement was her tool to entering another layer of healing. With this new realization, continuous experimentation with movement in a storytelling and healing manner is what Maria continues to explore in her current exploration of movement.
[Image Description: Maria J Hackett poses in a self portrait in her choice of protective styling as a woman of color, continuously growing and learning to be proud of her unique being as a woman, mother and individual.]
