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"“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
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 Frankie
Martinez is one of the most innovative and renown Latin dancers
of his generation. A 4th degree black belt in Shotokan karate
and having served in the U.S. Navy, Frankie approaches all endeavors
with discipline and razor-sharp focus. These qualities and his
rich Puerto Rican heritage have helped to distinguish him as
a pioneer in the Latin Dance world- developing his own brand
of Latin dance, "Afro-Latin Funk".
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Frankie’s
accomplishments tell a story of an artist with vision and
ambition. After training for several months with Salsa/Mambo
luminary, Eddie Torres, Frankie was inducted into the Eddie
Torres Dancers as a principal dancer. As an Eddie Torres Dancer,
Frankie performed with Latin music icons such as Tito Puente
and the FANIA All-Stars and shared stages in Madison Square
Garden and the Roseland Ballroom among many others.
In 1999,
Frankie parted was with the Eddie Torres Dancers in order
to found his own dance troupe, the ABAKUÁ Dance Company
whose name is used with respect for the living tradition of
Abakúa societies and their music in Cuba. ABAKUÁ
quickly became recognized within the Latin dance community
for the artistry of Frankie’s choreography and the virtuosity
of its dancers.
Frankie’s
desire to explore the Afro-Caribbean roots and the choreographical
possibilities of Latin dance lead him to change the format
of his choreography from 5 minute presentations to 30 minute
theatrical showcases. In March 2008, the company was incorporated
as ABAKUÁ Afro-Latin Dance Company- its mission “to
advance the art of Afro-Latin dance worldwide as a legitimate
and established performance art form…through performance,
presence and education”.
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Since the company’s inception, Frankie
Martinez and ABAKUÁ have performed in over 50 cities
in over 20 countries worldwide. Frankie Martinez has been
invited to do interviews, workshops and seminars to teach
his unique brand of Afro-Latin Dance. ABAKUÁ continues
to broaden its audiences, performing amongst modern dance
companies for the 1st time as part of Aaron Davis Hall’s
E-Moves Festival for emerging artists.
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.
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