Frankie Martinez
 
Instructor, Choreographer and Performer
  
 

"“With our African roots always present we venture into the world of Latin music, never forgetting the origin of our Afro-Cuban music which spread like wild fire through the Caribbean Islands… and dug roots in my Puerto Rican heart. The name of ABAKUÁ stuck in my mind even before I had the correct spelling and origin of the word or its meaning. I have adopted this name for my Dance Company because of the rhythm of the African drums … when I hear the drums it awakes in me a great passion for Latin music. This is why my choreography is an expression of my feelings.”

Frankie Martinez
Frankie Martinez, born and raised in Forest Hills, New York, is a passionate, hard working and focused individual who always strives to be the best at everything he does. Frankie’s first love, at a very early age, was Martial Arts; Shotokan Karate became a life-long passion. He is a 4th degree black belt with numerous trophies and plaques in “form competition”.
Frankie joined the United States Navy on September 20, 1996 where he studied avionics technology. It was on one of his military leaves that Frankie visited a nightclub in Florida and took an immediate interest in Latin Dance. Upon returning to New York, he joined “The Dance Club” at Metropolitan Avenue, a ballroom dance school, and before long Frankie was hired as a dance instructor and managed the Salsa/Mambo Department. He later decided to join the Eddie Torres Dance School and was quickly asked to join the “EddieTorres’ Dancers”, an incredibly talented group of dancers 
Frankie met Aisha Koswara in a New York nightclub. It was Aisha (hair stylist/make-up artist) who asked eNe Salon’s proprietor, Nelson Barreto, if Frankie could teach Salsa/Mambo on Sundays at the Salon. The unique location of the classes generated an astounding amount of interest within the East Village; an interest which soon spread to all corners of the City through the numerous magazine and newspaper articles and interviews. Strengthened by articles in the September 1999 issue of New York Magazine, the February 2000 issue of Latina Magazine and this year’s article on the cover of the April 8th New York Times, Metro Section, the popularity of the dance classes as well as that of their instructor grew. Recently, Fox News aired Frankie’s class at eNe Salon on their “212” segment of the show. But within a creative mind there is always another idea lurking; Frankie wanted to form his own Dance Company and realized his ambition by forming the “ABAKUÁ Latin Dance Company”.

The Company’s motto “One Body, One Soul,” accentuates their belief that they will perform and succeed together as a family. ABAKUÁ Latin Dance Company performs original numbers choreographed by none other than Frankie Martinez. Their rhythm originates from the drums and percussion of early Cuban music and the sensual body movements of Africa mingled with our present Latin dances.

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Frankie Martinez currently happens to be one of the hottest and one of the most sought after Salsa/Mambo dancer, performer, choreographer and instructor in New York at the moment. His unique teaching technique, along with his gracefully clean styling, is what has recently brought on much attention.

His Heritage: Frankie Martinez born in Forest Hills, N.Y. and very proud of his Puerto Rican heritage is a passionate, hard working and focused individual who always strives to be the best at everything he does. This passion and commitment, is what promises to make Frankie Martinez one of the world’s top Salsa/Mambo instructor and performer.

His Triumphs: Frankie Martinez has performed for the late Tito Puente, as a premier dancer on New York City’s Manhattan Center stage, with the Eddie in Torres Dancers. He is also a featured dancer in Tito Puente’s “Mambo Birdland” music video, which has received worldwide exposure. Frankie has performed for various concerts and events in top New York venues such as, Madison Square Garden and Roseland Ballroom. Performances in other venues include: Los Angeles Palladium with the legendary “Fania All Stars”, San Juan, Puerto Rico for the “Bacardi Salsa Congress”, Washington, DC, Houston, Texas and various venues in and near Milan, Italy.

About his Famous Mambo Dance Company: Frankie Martinez is the Director and Founder of the “ABAKUÁ Latin Dance Company”. http://www.abakuadancers.com/. ABAKUÁ Latin Dance Company performs original numbers choreographed by none other than Frankie Martinez. Their rhythm originates from the drums and percussion of early Cuban music and the sensual body movements of Africa mingled with our present Latin dances. Their performances take us to yesterday, to the present and to the future and always have a story to tell, captivating the audience with their hypnotic rhythm.

Frankie performs solo or with a dance partner. His dance partners have included Aisha Dee Koswara, Erika Herrera and Lori Perez who are also Abakua Dancers. Their performances have taken them to:

US: Albuquerque, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Hawaii, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, Milwaukee, Portland, Puerto Rico, Santa Fe and Seattle.

International: Argentina, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, St. Martin, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.