Faculty

MARTHA TORNAY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ FOUNDER/
BALLET TEACHER

Martha has over 3 decades of intensive classical ballet studies with dance masters such as Mme. Gabriela Darvash, Gretchen Ward Warren and Robert Brassel. After performing for 18 years as a soloist with regional and international ballet and modern companies including Newport News Ballet (Virginia), Israel Ballet (Tel Aviv), and The Robert Kovich Company (NYC), she founded East Village Dance Project. Martha is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and a recipient of the Fine Arts Award in dance technique and choreography. In addition to directing East Village Dance Project, she is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Experimental Theater Wing and teaches at Bates Dance Festival, the acclaimed summer dance workshop held at Bates College in Lewiston, ME.

photo: Stacie Joy

VICTORIA ROBERTS-WIERZBOWSKI
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/
MODERN DANCE TEACHER

Originally from Western Massachusetts, Victoria received her BA in social science and dance from Sarah Lawrence College. In addition to working with the students of EVDP, Victoria has taught movement in preschools and public schools, served as a staff development coach for instructors teaching physical education classes, and worked with adults touched by cancer and chronic pain. As a performer, she has worked with both choreographers and playwrights including Katie Rose McLaughlin, Dan O'Neil , Sibyl Kempson and David Neumann/advanced beginner group. Victoria has performed at New York Live Arts, The Whitney Museum, HERE Arts Center, La MaMa Experimental Theater, Triskelion Arts and other venues throughout New York and New England. Victoria's high school years at a performing arts charter school helped shape her belief in the vital importance of arts education, especially programs that emphasize non-competitive, creative communities.

Photo: Stacie Joy

BONNIE STEIN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOH PRODUCTIONS

Bonnie is a director, writer, and producer, and currently the Executive and Artistic Director of GOH Productions, a non-profit arts services organization founded in 1974 in New York City. GOH serves as East Village Dance Project's non-profit umbrella organization. With GOH, Bonnie has created and produced live theater, dance and film projects in the USA, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Photo: Karen Hatch

MORE ON EVDP:

East Village Dance Project (EVDP) was founded in 1997 under the artistic direction of Martha Tornay. The program has been recognized for its innovative approach to dance education, and for offering pre-professional classes to all, regardless of financial means. Through the program, EVDP students have performed at La MaMa Experimental Theater, Pace University, NYU Skirball Center, Abrons Arts Center, Vanaver Caravan Dance Festival, Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors and alongside the acclaimed modern dance company, Keigwin + Company. EVDP’s Teen Company, a pre-professional performance troupe, have been honored to perform works by guest choreographers including Kathryn Alter, Dante Brown, Ellen Cornfield, Molly Lieber, Amanda Loulaki, Nicole Wolcott and more. In 2017, EVDP relocated their youth program to Abrons Arts Center, renaming the program to East Village Dance Project @ Abrons Arts Center.