Octavio Martin

He began his dance studies at the Escuela Provincial de Ballet «Alejo Carpentier» in La Habana and completed them at the Escuela Nacional de Ballet. Among the teachers who contributed most to his training are Alicia Alonso, Loipa Araújo, and Alejandro González.

He joined the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1994, and from that year on has participated in numerous international tours, performing on stages in Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

His repertoire includes principal or soloist roles in works from the traditional romantic and classical ballet repertoire, as well as in creations of modern ballet by Cuban and foreign choreographers. His most frequent interpretations in protagonist roles are framed in works such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppélia, La fille mal gardée, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Spartacus.

In 2005 Octavio joined Ballet Sarasota and in 2008 was promoted to Principal Dancer. In 2009 he created his first choreography. He works as a ballet instructor at The Sarasota Ballet School faculty. Martín is the new artistic director of Ballet Brandon of Tampa Bay.

Cuban émigré who is now a U.S. citizen has been named artistic director and principal instructor of Ballet Brandon.