Cecilia M. Marta
Photo by Carole Elliano Meringola
The most compelling testimony to Cecilia Marta’s success is her originality of style and longevity. A native Panamanian, Marta has performed, choreographed, and instructed her original style of World Jazz throughout North America to as far as Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. This style is a distinctive breath of contemporary and ballet techniques, native Latin roots infused with world attitude, and nuances of earthy funk and soul. Ms. Marta is the Founder and Artistic Director/Choreographer of the Cecilia Marta Dance Company, a Casting Partner to Cirque du Soleil, and an esteemed dance educator.
Her stage and choreographic credits include projects and premieres for Cirque du Soleil as well as national and international television specials and tours for Grammy Award-winner, Roberta Flack. In addition, Ms. Marta has performed with Grammy winners Al Jarreau, Cissy Houston, the prolific poet/musician Gil Scott-Heron, singer/songwriter Sandra St. Victor, and for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. She has performed at the JVC Jazz Festivals in Nice and Deauville, France and Liberty Island, New York. As a director and choreographer, Cecilia’s works have been captivating in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan garnering numerous return invitations, and continue to be far-reaching. Recently, she choreographed recording artist Cee Lo’s music video It’s Ok, the Off-Broadway hip-hop musical PENUMBRA: A One-Man Show, and for the Uptown Dance Company in Houston, Texas.
Through the years as an educator, Ms. Marta has established herself at several dance institutions including the Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center, Steps On Broadway, and the Alonzo King LINES Dance Center. She has taught for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s school and scholarship program, while under the artistic direction of Judith Jamison.
Photo by Carole Elliano MeringolaCecilia Marta has instructed master classes to the Celine Dion A New Day dance cast in Las Vegas, and the full casts of Cirque du Soleil’s Cortéo and KOOZÅ in New York.
Upon invitation in 2009, Ms. Marta’s namesake company CMDC headlined for the NY City Parks Foundation’s SummerStage. In 2011, CMDC returns to present more of Cecilia’s choreography for SummerStage in Central Park as well as Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. By request, CMDC performed for the DUMBO Dance Festival’s 10th Anniversary Gala, the Latino Commission on AIDS,and Couture Fashion Week presented at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
With combined skill, passion, sensuality, intuitive musicality, and absolute self-expression, Cecilia’s choreographic contributions are some of the freshest and most exciting, and exude great appeal among the forces of dance, today. Based in New York City, Cecilia is on the faculty of the Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center, and has been an adjunct instructor and choreographer for institutions within the U.S. and abroad.