| Martha Tornay Artistic Director - is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and a recipient of the Fine Arts Award in dance technique and choreography. Martha has over 3 decades of intensive classical ballet studies with dance masters such as Mme. Gabriela Darvash, Gretchen Ward Warren and Robert Brassel. After performing for over 18 years as a soloist with regional and international ballet and modern companies including Newport News Ballet (Virginia), Israel Ballet (Tel Aviv), and The Robert Kovich Company (NYC), she founded East Village Dance Project. In addition to directing EVDP, she teaches dance at New York University’s Experimental Theater Wing, Bates Dance Festival, and Louisville Ballet School. |
| In the East Village, there is only one dance teacher who instructs neighborhood children ages 4 to 15 in modern and ballet, choreographs the dances they perform, creates the costumes they wear, and makes sure students who can’t pay for lessons receive tuition assistance. Meet Martha Tornay, of East Village Dance Project (EVDP), the most inspiring and community-oriented dance program below 14th St. Founded in 1997, with a handful of students, EVDP now serves more than 60 children per year, 90% of whom live east of First Avenue. Many of these students take more than two classes a week, and some, dancing with Martha for most of their lives, are showing talent at a pre-professional level. Two young students have gone on to professional New York dance schools. “In both the modern and ballet classes, students get a clear understanding of a clean technique,” says Martha. “Students explore musicality, become familiar with a professional theater, develop a love of performing, and have an understanding of choreography (both mine, and developing their own).” No other dance organization in the area comes close to this across the board approach to training young dancers. Like the neighborhood, Martha’s dance education is inclusive: no student is turned away due to lack of funds. About 30% of the students currently in EVDP can’t afford the cost of lessons, which are well-below uptown prices and partially underwritten with grants from the Charlotte Ruby Cantor Fund. But as EVDP has grown, so too, has it’s need for financial support. Martha wants to offer more tuition assistance, as well as be able to provide dance education essentials like leotards, tights and shoes, and continue to bring in guest professionals to tutor dancers in improvisation, and build company repertory. Can you help? Naturally, we welcome any small (or large!) donations. If you have any questions, or need further information about our program, please feel free to call, 212 982 5751. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, EVDP Fundraising Committee |
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