Dance Theatre Eclectic

Who Are We

Dance Theatre Eclectic Company was formed in 1979 to enhance the lives of aspiring young artists in the performing arts and the visual arts. It has also been a voice in the communities of Long Island providing free performances to assist in the growth and development of people on and off stage. Fundraising and individual patrons provide revenue for out dance company to serve the community of Long Island. It continues to be dedicated to excellence in technical training and performance skills in the performing arts and has been actively participating in cultural and community events since 1974. Through the performing arts, Dance Theatre Eclectic strives to enhance the quality of life and education of the Company’s performers and the community. Its mission is to promote community awareness and appreciation of dance and theatre education.

We are one of the few dance companies on Long Island that provides semi-professional full-length dance production performances. Both Gregory Hines, until his death, and Roberta Flack accepted honorary board positions for our company. Several of our top dancers have gone on to perform with Major New York City ballet companies and European companies. Over the years many of our students had been granted scholarships at the Joffrey Ballet, Jacob's Pillow, NYC Ballet, Adelphi University, etc. Other students have gone on to careers in film (Heather Matarazzo, Devil’s Advocate, Princess Diaries) and stage (Idina Menzel, Tony award winner for Elphaba in Wicked) and major dance companies (Alexandra Ansanelli, principal with the New York City Ballet got her start with us; Mara Reiner with Mark Morris Company also started with us). We believe that with increased investment and support of our programs DTE can become an even more vital part of Long Island’s art community by attracting, developing and sustaining paying audiences not currently attending dance production performances.

Most of our performances have been provided to the Long Island community free of charge. DTE has been very innovative in the last three years through the Shadowgraph Dances Projects I, II, III. These performances combine the performing arts with the visual arts.

See some of our performance photos here.

Our Mission

The Dance Theatre Eclectic Company evolved from the Martha Merideth Dance Ensemble which itself was founded in 1960. Since the inception on DTE in 1979:

• Serves community cultural and artistic growth through the performing dance and theatre arts in and for humanistic goals for performers of all ages and denominations, and
• Encourages these performers who aspire to a higher, well rounded education to begin to reach for the range of preparation required to meet the future challenges in all careers, and
• Engages in the ideals of sharing growth, development, continuous expansive knowledge and the rewards reaped of these with one another with and through our community organizations such as
• Harry Chapin Summer Theatre
• Nassau and Suffolk Arts Councils
• Educational Institutions (Universities, Colleges, Schools)
• Hospital Holiday Performances
• Syosset Chamber of Commerce Arts Festivals
• Cultural Centers (Libraries, Museums)
• Religious Institutions
• Senior Citizen Centers
• Fleet Bank
• Affirms a greater purpose and passion to assist in the creation of unbiased relationships amongst all people regardless of race, color or creed, and
• Provides selective diversified programs made possible through the wide range of hands-on-hands training by highly experienced professional as well as annual guest artists from major dance companies, Broadway, films and television, as:
  
  • Gregory Hines in memoriam (Broadway - Tony Award Winner -Jelly's Last Jam, etc.; Hollywood Film Star; Concert Stage)
  • Roberta Flack (Concert & Recording star/artist)
  • Lazar Cedeno (Joffrey Ballet, Bat-Dor Company, Ballet Theatre of Harlem)
  • Gabrielle Tesfa Guma (Philadanco Dance Company)
  • Martha Merideth (See full bio)
  • Angelo Guillio
  • Loida Santos (Broadway star: A Chorus Line, Pippin, West Side Story. etc.)
  • Jeni Cook (Broadway: Starlight Express, West Side Story, etc.)
  • Nancy Eaton Stetman (Broadway: Sweeny Todd, Carousel, etc.)
  • Vito Durante (American Dance Machine - archives)
  • Kathleen Natter (Riverdance - star / lead female dancer)
  • Ken Kaja (Gitano, American Ballet Theatre)
  • Pawel Cheda (Modern Dancer, Julliard grad)
  • Kathleen Moore (Dancer)
  • Kaleria Fediecheva in memoriam (Prima Ballerina Absoluta - Kirov Russian Ballet)
  • Heather Matarazzo (Television & Hollywood film Star)
  • Aarti Ramananda (Indian and Ballet concert dancer)
  • Fred Gatti (Pianist / accompanist)
  • Barbara Bixby (Pianist / accompanist)
  • Nevart Zeronian (Pianist / accompanist)
  • Alexandro Oemeda (Tenor)
  • Enton Hoxa (Ajkun Dance Company)
  • Danica Hendry (Ajkun Dance Company)
  • Mami Tsuda (Ajkun Dance Company)
• Arranges field trips to Great Performances at Lincoln Center, NYC City Center, NYC Tilles Center (Post University) and Broadway
• Informs performers about inter-related fields, as:
• Dance and Theatre Teaching Opportunities
• Dance and Theatre Critics
• Dance Sciences and Scientists
• Dance and Vocal Therapists
• Dance and Theatre Historians
• Dance Anthropologists
• Dance and Theatre Journalism
• Fund-raisers for Major Dance Companies
• Dance Choreographers
• Professional Dance and Theatre Positions
• Dance and Theatre Film Makers
• Costume Creators
• Scenery Creators
• Dance and Theatre Administrators
• Physical Therapists
• Technical Directors
• Musical Creators
• Massage Therapists
• Pilates Instructors
• Dance Historian
• In turn, acknowledges graduates of both the Dance Theatre Eclectic Company and the Martha Merideth School of Dance and Theatre who have reached a professional status to attend complimentary class, and
• Ultimately to nurture and foster the love and appreciation which leads to a successful, yet well adjusted, fun-loving life

Auditioning

Those wishing to audition for potential DTE membership must be at least 8 years old and have a minimum of two years of serious ballet training. Those auditioning must wear dance attire and appropriate footwear. Successful candidates will be participating in community service performances and dance company Project IV Daring Shadowgraph Dances performances.

Next Audition:

Dates:
Saturday, January 17, 2009

There is a $20 audition fee for all DTE candidates. All auditions take place at the studio.

Contact Martha at the Studio with any questions.

Performances

Recent performances of the Dance Theatre Eclectic include:

• Martha Merideth Studio Annual Student Concert, June 2008: Nutcracker, Snow
• Martha Merideth Studio Annual Student Concert, June 2007: Giselle, Willies
• Martha Merideth Studio Annual Student Concert, June 2006: Western Symphony, 4th Movement
• Long Island Dance Consortium, 2008: Shadowgraph Project V: Concert In The Park
• Long Island Dance Consortium, 2007: Shadowgraph Project IV: Fashion Field Fantasy
• Long Island Dance Consortium, 2006: Shadowgraph Project III: Carousel
• Shadowgraph Dances II, Adelphi University & Farmingdale University
• Shadowgraph Dances I, Malloy College
• Nocello's Holiday Festival 2008: Snow; Scenes from Hairspray, etc
• Nocello's Holiday Festival 2007: Snow; Scenes from Grease, etc
• Syosset Chamber of Commerce Holiday Festival Tree and Menorah Lighting 2008: Snow; God Bless America
• Syosset Chamber of Commerce Holiday Festival Tree and Menorah Lighting 2007: Snow; Candy Canes
• Syosset Chamber of Commerce Holiday Festival Tree and Menorah Lighting 2006: Snow