By Kathy Collins
When Jordan Jeffrey Martinez started dancing at the age of eight, little did he know that just seven years later he would be joining the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London. Beginning in September, Martinez will spend the next three years at the school. While there, Martinez will spend his days immersed in the world of dance learning classical techniques from the best teachers.
Why The Royal Ballet School? Martinez said, “It’s the best school in the world. The faculty are all former principal dancers, and the school prepares its students for positions with the top ballet companies in the world.”
Martinez is only 15-years-old, but he was accepted into the Upper School which is located in Covent Garden (adjacent to the Royal Opera House).
Martinez, who is from Lithia, first took jazz class at TADA in Lithia. He has taken classes at Leonard’s Academy of Dance and Brandon School of Dance Art. Since January 2014, he has been with the Patel Conservatory.
“The first dance class I took was a jazz class. The next year I changed studios and my dance teacher had me enroll in ballet class because ballet is really the foundation of all other dance. I do not think I would have chosen ballet on my own, but ever since that first class, I have been hooked,” Martinez said.
Martinez has been in Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. In May, Martinez will be in Giselle.
“I have also performed various roles in Next Generation Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker for the past three years. I was cast as the prince in the 2015 production,” said Martinez.
Martinez likes the challenging nature of ballet. “Every day your body feels different and each class is different so you have to make adjustments. It is also beautiful to watch,” said Martinez. “My greatest dream is to complete the three year Royal Ballet School program and be invited to join the Royal Ballet and one day perform as a principal dancer.”
Visit www.royalballetschool.org.uk.
