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Altered Modalities
Choreographer/Director
- Martha Kelly-Fierro
Movement is very interesting to me. It
tells so much about us - our struggles,
our desires, our passions, our
weaknesses. As a choreographer, it is my
challenge to discover and approach new
ways of moving. In this effort, I
created a dance company, Altered
Modalities, to act as my sketchpad and
my method of expressing myself. From the
inception of the company four years ago,
I have been blessed with dancers who not
only have a firm background in classical
and modern dance, but also are willing
to keep their minds open to the
possibilities of movement.
Altered Modalities debuted their first
full length concert in October of 2002
and have since been asked to perform as
guest artists in numerous concerts,
benefits, and showcases throughout the
country. The company recently performed
in the annual festival for Dancers
Responding to AIDS in New York City and
showcased in the L.A. Dance
Invitational, a benefit for the Gay and
Lesbian Center in Los Angeles. In 2000,
Martha Kelly-Fierro was awarded the Gold
Leo award at the Jazz Dance World
Congress for her choreography set on her
company. Altered Modalities has
performed at the University of Arizona,
Fullerton College, California
Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo,
and College of the Sequoias. The company
was judged and awarded the “new
choreographer” award at Dance Under the
Stars in Palm Desert. For several years
the company members have also performed
in the Miss California Pageant as the
featured entertainment. Altered
Modalities also offers workshops to the
community and works with students who
would otherwise not be able to
experience dance.
“Contemporary”, “alternative”, and
“modern” dance are all characteristic of
the company. Labeling the dancers and
the choreography as any one style does
not do justice, since all are quite
versatile. The differences in strengths,
bodies, and ages make the group
interesting to watch, as well as
challenging and rewarding to
choreograph. |
