Ballet - Tornay

This class is designed to emphasize a physical understanding of the source of ballet technique. Through clear barre exercises students are encouraged to recognize their individual anatomy and learn how to practice ballet in a secure and effective way, placing a strong emphasis on epaulement (upper body) working in harmony with the rest of the body. Center exercises further develop an awareness of technique using tangible combinations that are designed to escalate in complexity, giving the dancer the substantial benefit of a classical ballet class.

Martha Tornay founded the East Village Dance Project (EVDP), a dance development program for ages 4 to 19, in New York City in 1997, under the non-profit organization GOH Productions. In the Fall 2010, she opened her own space Avenue C Studio in the East Village, a studio that is home to all EVDP classes and to the Teen Repertory Company. EVDP presented the first Teen Dance Festival at La MaMa in Fall 2010. Prior to launching her teaching career, Martha graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and received a Fine Arts Award in dance technique and choreography. Martha has over three decades of intensive classical ballet and modern technique studies with dance masters such as Mme. Gabriela Darvash, Gretchen Ward Warren, Robert Brassel and Merce Cunningham; and performed for 18 years with regional and international ballet and modern dance companies in the US and Israel. For the last nine years, Martha has been teaching at NY University’s Experimental Theater Wing, Bates Dance Festival and for the Louisville Ballet School.