ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE  

Carlos J. Martínez is a Cuban-born and British dance artist, choreographer, educator and researcher with over 20 years of international experience across performance, choreography, rehearsal direction, teaching and higher education.

His practice brings together Afro-Cuban epistemologies, contemporary dance, embodied knowledge, socially engaged performance and decolonial pedagogy. His work explores identity, diaspora, cultural memory, belonging and the body as a site of knowledge, creating connections between Cuban and Caribbean movement traditions and contemporary dance practices in the UK and internationally.

Carlos is currently a Lecturer & Facilitator at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), Leeds, where he contributes to contemporary and ballet training, curriculum development, student mentorship, choreographic research and critical dialogue around representation, assessment and epistemic equity in dance education.

ARTISTIC PRACTICE

Carlos's movement language is grounded, rhythmic, dynamic and relational. His choreographic practice draws on Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean rhythmic structures, contemporary dance, improvisation, physical storytelling and collective movement practices.

His work explores:

• Embodied memory and diaspora
• Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean cultural knowledge
• Identity, belonging and cultural exchange
• Decolonial and intercultural approaches to dance
• Rhythm, musicality and physicality
• Collective and participatory performance
• Site-responsive and interdisciplinary practice
• Socially engaged choreography
• The body as archive and living knowledge

CURRENT ROLE

Lecturer & Facilitator

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) | UK

• Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate contemporary dance and ballet
• Delivering Cuban-informed pedagogical and movement practices
• Mentoring students in creative research and performance
• Supporting choreographic development and professional practice
• Contributing to curriculum development
• Engaging in institutional dialogue around assessment, representation and equity
• Developing practice-led research within studio pedagogy
• Supporting interdisciplinary and collaborative learning

CHOREOGRAPHY & CREATIVE WORKS

Eshu at the Crossroads — Northern School of Contemporary Dance
9 hrs — Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Echoes of Us — Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Lucia — Gateway Studios
Under Your Stars — Gateway Studios
Kardec — Digital Commission, Phoenix Dance Theatre
Out of Many We Are One — Digital Work
Vitruvio — Dance Base, Scotland
Equilibrium — Ebony Dance Company, Cuba

ARTISTIC DIRECTORSHIP & LEADERSHIP

Co-Founder & Artistic Director

Echo Ground Dance Co | UK

Co-Artistic Director

CoDanza, Holguín, Cuba

Founder, Dancer & Choreographer

Ebony Dance Company | Cuba

Founder  and Dancer

MalPaso Dance Company | Cuba

Artistic Associate

Capuagate Dance | Newcastle, UK

Additional leadership experience includes artistic programming, rehearsal direction, commissioned choreography, mentoring emerging artists, international collaboration, festival jury work and institutional partnerships.

PERFORMANCE CAREER

Phoenix Dance Theatre | UK

Dancer | 2016–2022

Performed works by:

Sharon Watson · Christopher Bruce · Aletta Collins · Ben Duke · Douglas Thorpe · Darshan Singh Bhuller · Miguel Altunaga · Sandrine Monin

Danza Contemporánea de Cuba | Havana, Cuba

Performed works by:

Sasha Waltz · Mats Ek · Itzik Galili · Rafael Bonachela · Juan Cruz · George Céspedes · Osnel Delgado

Janis Claxton Dance Company | Scotland

Pop-Up Duets — Fragment of Love

Rehearsal Director

Jasmine Vardimon 2 | NSCD
Company Chameleon | Kevin Turner
Collide Dance Company

EDUCATION & TRAINING

MA Dance Teaching & Facilitating

UK

Dissertation:
Transformative Pedagogies in Contemporary Dance in Higher Education: A Practitioner-Led Study of Cuban and Latin American Approaches

Research areas:

• Participatory Action Research
• Decolonial pedagogies
• Embodied epistemologies
• Assessment and power structures in conservatoire training
• Collective learning and student support

Professional Diploma in Ballet & Contemporary Dance

National Ballet School of Cuba | Havana

Training under:

Fernando Alonso · Ramona de Saá · Carlos Acosta · José Carreño · Mikhail Baryshnikov · Erin Nieto · Mirta Hermida

TEACHING & FACILITATION

• Contemporary Performance Practice
• Cuban Contemporary Technique
• Ballet Technique
• Afro-Caribbean Embodied Pedagogy
• Choreographic Composition
• Improvisation & Rhythm Structures
• Practice-Led Research
• Mentorship & Professional Placement
• Inclusive and Anti-Racist Studio Practices

RESEARCH & ACADEMIC PRACTICE

Carlos's practice-led research investigates how dance education can be reimagined through decolonial, intercultural and embodied approaches, with particular attention to Global South epistemologies and collective learning.

Research interests include:

• Decolonising conservatoire pedagogy
• Global South epistemologies in higher education
• Embodied knowledge systems
• Collective learning models
• Assessment and power structures
• Studio practice as a site of social transformation
• Representation and equity in dance education

Conference Engagement

Better Together – Rethinking Practice Through Partnership
Northern School of Contemporary Dance

Global and Local Perspectives: Collaborative Practices Across Cultures

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Four Nations Grant — 2026

“Luna” Award — Carmina Burana
Mexico City

Finalist — Vladimir Malakhov Festival

International Festival - Alicia Alonso

INTERNATIONAL & PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT

• International Dance Council (CID) — Member
• International Contemporary Jury — Dance Festival “Adagio”, Portugal
• International workshops and guest teaching
• Festival jury and artistic programming
• International choreographic collaborations
• Institutional partnerships and cultural exchange

COLLABORATION & COMMISSIONS

Carlos has worked across professional dance companies, conservatoires, independent organisations and international cultural contexts, collaborating as a dancer, choreographer, rehearsal director, educator and artistic leader.

His professional experience includes collaborations with Phoenix Dance Theatre, Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, MalPaso Dance, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Gateway Studio CIO, Jasmine Vardimon 2, Company Chameleon, Collide Dance Company, Janis Claxton Dance, Dance Base and independent artists and organisations across the UK and internationally.

Available for:
Choreographic commissions · Performance · Teaching · Workshops · Rehearsal Direction · Residencies · Festivals · Artistic Collaboration · Research Partnerships