Hailing from Monterey, Mexico, Mr. Martinez began his training in Mexican Flamenco. He has studied at the University of Arizona and at Texas Christian University and trained under Martha Graham and Yukiro Kimura in New York. He has performed as a soloist and a principal with the Fort Worth Ballet and the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet. In 1981 he founded the Francisco Martinez Ballet Theatre. He has been choreographing professionally since 1975 and is the recipient of numerous fellowships for the development of his choreography and for arts in education programs.