Frankie Martinez is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and renowned Latin contemporary dancers of his generation.

Frankie’s exploration into the Afro-Caribbean roots of his performance art and the choreographic possibilities native to Latin/Afro-Latin dance positions him as one of the foremost authorities in the genre. He is the leader of the Afro-Latin Funk Movement, a concept which answers the question, “What would Latin dance be if a disciplined training method were applied?”

In 2000, Frankie established his own dance troupe, the ABAKUÁ Afro-Latin Dance Company (ABAKUÁ). Within months of its inception, ABAKUÁ gained notoriety within the Latin dance community and then ultimately to the performing arts community at large.

To date, Frankie Martinez and ABAKUÁ have performed and taught in over 50 cities and over 20 countries worldwide. They have performed at prestigious venues including Madison Square Garden, Roseland Ballroom, Lincoln Center, Aaron Davis Hall, Jacob’s Pillow and NY Summerstage among many others.