Martha Merideth Studios Faculty
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Martha Merideth (Full Bio)Studio Owner |
Martha Merideth is best known in the community for her dedication to arts education in dance, theatre and drama. Through this passion children, teens and adults receive a genuine start and training needed. She is a very strong advocate for the aspiring young artists and encourages people of all ages to a healthy, passionate life reinventing and expanding themselves through creative connections.
Martha’s most recent success has been with her Daring Shadowgraph Dances Projects. Her debut of “Carousel” at the Long Island Dance Consortium Festival on April 29, 2006, was a massive triumph. She worked with dancers from Ajkun Ballet Theatre in producing this piece and they are currently making inquiries to have Martha do more choreography for their company.
“Born in New York City, I've been blessed with the opportunity to justify my existence through the dance, theatre and drama." Under the tutelage of her many teachers, including Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, Ruth St Dennis, Ted Shawn, Robert Joffrey, Doris Humphrey, Luigi, Mme Andersen Di Ivanzora, Gerald Arpino, Merideth Baylis, Perry Brunson, Bill Dollar, Margaret Craske, Mayra Kinch, Maria Grandy, Josephina Garcia, Goya and Matteo, etc., Martha performed by the age of 13 and received many scholarships. (See her full bio for details.)
Many successful artists received their start on the right foot under Martha's personal tutelage. A few of her alumni include John White, Heather Matarazzo, Alexandra Ansenelli and Idina Menzel. For more alumni, see our Graduate Alumni page.
In 1979 Martha founded her own nonprofit performing company, Dance Theatre Eclectic. Since its inception she has used DTE as a training vehicle for budding professionals.
In addition to teaching her regular classes and choreographing for DTE, Martha is also available for private and semi-private classes for those dancers with special needs or high ambitions.
in Dance Therapy. She recently moved to New York and has been dancing at Steps and Broadway Dance Center. She is very excited to be a part of the Martha Merideth Dance Studio. She believes that dance is more than just a way to move, it is a healing art and continues to inspire and bring joy to her life. Helen Keller put it wonderfully when she said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”
Fred has been a full time professional musician for 35 years and has been involved in every aspect of the music business. He leads his own band, The Fred Gatti Quartet, and performs regularly from an extraordinarily wide repertoire. He has played for two Broadway shows and co-wrote a song with Donna Koran's granddaughter, a piece currently in the possession of Disney.
Along with Martha, she helped making the head pieces and altered costumes for performances. She designed and constructed all the costumes for the orphans and Annie for the production of Annie. She also participates as crew for D.T.E. and the annual student concert.
Danilda graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology for "Childrenswear Design" where she was the winner of the Michael Sui for RGS Critic Award for Childrenswear for the Fashion Design department in 1991.
Peter as been a computer programmer for many years, so he maintains the school computer and web site. His talents extend to the visual arts and now does photography and videography. He takes most of the pictures for the web site and for publicity shots, as well as having produced DVD's of Martha's December performances at Nocellos and the Town of Oyster Bay Tree and Menorah Lighting, as well as audition videos.
