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Cecilia Marta

Headshot Cecilia Marta

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 Soul Sessions 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 Creative Director/Choreographer of the Cecilia Marta Dance Company (presently known as, Cecilia Marta Dance Projects) a Casting Partner to Cirque du Soleil, and an esteemed dance educator.

Her stage and choreographic credits include choreography for The Latin Nut Cracker video project, under the direction of Joe McCarthy, Leader/NY Afro Bop Alliance Big Band. Projects and premiers 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 Park, New York. As a director and choreographer, Cecilia’s works have been captivating in Alberta and Quebec, Canada, Russia, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan garnering numerous return invitations, and continue to be far reaching.

Through the years as an educator, Ms. Marta has established herself at several dance institutions including Alpha Omega, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School, while under the Artistic Direction of Judith Jamison, Alonzo King Lines Dance Center, Steps On Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Perridance Capezio Center.

Cecilia Marta has Instructed master classes for the Celine Dion’s A New Day dance cast in Las Vegas, and the full cast of Cirque du Soleil’s CORTEO and KOOZA in NYC.

Ms. Marta’s namesake company CMDC headlined for SummerStage in 2009 in Brooklyn, New York. In 2011 CMDC was invited to perform in Central Park as well as Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, both for SummerStage. In 2013 CMDC was presented at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, New York. And in 2015 CMDC performed as part of the Harlem Dance Caravan at the Marcus Garvey Park for SummerStage. CMDC has also performed for the DUMBO Dance Festival’s 10th Anniversary Gala, The Latino Commission on AIDS, at El Museo del Barrio, 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 continues coaching in both group and private classes for the dance community while residing in New York City where her passion as dance coach, choreographer, creative director and designer continue to blossom.

photo: Brian Thomas