Maria Hirsch received her early training in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Ballets de San Juan studying under Ana Garcia and joined the company at age 12. She attended the School of American Ballet, Joffrey and New York City Ballet during the summers where she studied under George Balanchine, Melissa Hayden, and Jacques d'Amboise. In 1995, she co-founded the Columbus Ballet and also directed. She received a degree in Elementary Education with a major in Special Education and is a full time teacher at Fort Middle School.