To get to where she is now, Ms Hiroti says there has been a lot of work and lots of learning, with her mother Lola her greatest inspiration.
The former Wanganui High School student joined the New Zealand Youth Salsa Team and danced her way through Asia, Australia and the USA.
The travel opened her eyes to a world of possibilities, which initially saw her shift from Wanganui to Auckland to teach salsa to youth.
While there she met dance students at the University of Auckland and was encouraged to audition.
Ms Hiroti, of Ngati Apa, Nga Wairiki descent, focused her research on community dance and how it might foster engagement and participation for youth.
During her study, Ms Hiroti was awarded a summer scholarship from the university that allowed her to set up and run a three-week community dance initiative in Wanganui.
The students who took part came from very diverse backgrounds and levels of education. They all trained with her four days a week during their holidays, choreographing and performing a dance that explored and addressed the issue of substance abuse.
"The relationships that were formed extended way beyond the classroom.
"The students worked really hard and would arrive at my sister's house, where I was staying, at 7am for 10am class. They would have breakfast and then come back at the end of the day. The house became like a big marae. I'm very whanau-focused so I loved it."
Ms Hiroti saw the positive impact dance has on everyday lives.
"The kids all developed an enormous zest for life through completing something well. They learned goal-setting and for some of them it was such a milestone."
She also helps teach Maori performing arts at Wanganui City College and runs a youth dance group on the side.
"While it's great to travel and research around the world, my heart's in Wanganui, and I want to work in my own community first and serve my whanau."
