Carlos Martinez

CARLOS MARTINEZ, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, began his dance studies at age 10 at the Escuela de Artes Jalisco under the direction of Javier Zavala, Michelle Monreal, and Nazira Yakuboba. At 13, he was awarded a major scholarship at the National Ballet Competition of Mexico to attend Idyllwild Arts in California. Joining the school in the fall of 2014, Carlos had the pleasure of performing with Ballet de Jalisco, BODYTRAFFIC, California Dance Theatre, and Inland Pacific Ballet, while also working with choreographers such as Alexandre Munz, and with repertoire from Bella Lewitzky.

In the fall of 2018, Carlos joined the freshman class at the George Mason University School of Dance on a full scholarship. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2022 with a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Arts Management. During his time at Mason, he had the privilege of performing featured roles in exceptional works, including Nacho Duato’s Na Floresta, Camille A. Brown’s City of Rain, Andonis Foniadakis’ Kosmos, Susan Shields’ Sunlit Song, Micaela Taylor’s 90s Sugar, and Rafael Bonachela’s Variation 10. Outside the university, he also had the wonderful opportunity to understudy for Alejandro Cerrudo’s evening-length work, It Starts Now.

Carlos has been a proud company member with First State Ballet Theatre since the fall of 2022. Some of his favorite performance highlights include Viktor Plotnikov’s Dracula, the Bluebird Pas de Deux from The Sleeping Beauty, and performing new contemporary works from guest choreographers such as Viktor Plotnikov and Zachary Kapeluck. Carlos also choreographs for the students of the First State Ballet School, whose competition-winning routines have earned top honors. 

He is thrilled to be creating highly anticipated new works for the main company this upcoming season.

Photos by Tisa Della-Volpe & Joe del Tufo