WHY ANOTHER DANCEWEAR COMPANY?
As a professional dancer, Marisa was always looking for the perfect dancewear; leotards that wouldn’t ride up in the back or fall down in the front, unitards without a front seam, interesting colors and fabrics and seams that last with no elastic.

Through her exposure to top designers and costume shops around the world, Marisa gained a strong knowledge of what is both visually pleasing and comfortable. It was her success among other professional dancers and teachers that lead her to pursue ByMarisa as a second career.

WHERE IT STARTED
While performing with The New York City Ballet, Marisa made dance clothes for herself and colleagues. While observing Barbara Matera in the NY City Ballet costume shop, Marisa started to develop her own ideas about designing quality dancewear for professionals.

OTHER INFLUENCES
While performing with Nacho Duato’s Compañia Nacionale de Danza in Spain, and later with Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse in France, Marisa began to incorporate a more European sense into her designs. Her dancewear was an instant success among company members.

In 2003, while back in the USA, Marisa offi cially launched ByMarisa while also performing in the first national tour of “Carousel” and then in “The Phantom Of The Opera” on Broadway.

COSTUMES
Costume designer Sue Kauffman, commissioned ByMarisa to create a look for Neve Campbell and members of the Joffrey Ballet for the film “The Company” by Robert Altman (Sony Pictures Classics 2003).

COMPANIES & CHOREOGRAPHERS
Kevin O’Day, Carol Parker (Pilobolus), The North Carolina Museum of Art, Sara Hook Dance, Pascal Benichou Dance Theater, Neglia Ballet Artists, Manhattan Youth Ballet and Ballet Academy East in NYC. In 2008, Marisa was costumier for Pascal Rioult’s new piece “ Small Steps,Tiny Revolutions”. Most recently Marisa created the costumes for Lisa DeRiberre’s “The Trout” for Barnard Dace Department.

ACCOLADES
Marisa’s work has been featured on the covers of Dance Magazine and Dance Spirit and in the pages of The New York Times, Pointe and Pilates Style Magazines.

In October 2008 Marisa was a featured designer for the premier issue of Dance Retailer News, and again in Dance Magazine’s article, “Dancer Designers”.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Currently Marisa is developing a new line of yoga clothing called OnMyMat, while simultaneously creating a studio workout with the same name. OnMyMat combines the essential principles of pilates, yoga and dance in an exciting new way.