STEPHANIE MARTINEZ
Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Chicago based choreographer, Stephanie Martinez, started her dance training at Joseph Holmes Dance Theater and Giordano Dance Center before gaining a scholarship to Hubbard Street Dance in 1990.
With over 30 years professional performing experience, she has danced for Amaranth Dance Company, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Concert Dance, Inc, Same Planet/Different World Dance Theater and Dance Chicago amongst many others. In 2009, her choreographic debut, AviMar for Luna Negra Dance Theater instantly secured her status as a sought-after dancemaker.
Over eleven years of award-winning choreography, Stephanie moves her audiences along a journey guided by the kinetic momentum of her work. With original creations for Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Charlotte Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Kansas City Ballet, and National Choreographers Initiative among others, Martinez’s versatility expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet movement. Martinez has created over 60 ballets on companies and collegiate programs across the country.
In 2015, Stephanie was awarded Joffrey Ballet’s “Winning Works: Choreographers of Color” commission and the Chicago 3Arts Award in recognition for her work as a female artist of color. More recently, she was awarded an NEA grant for her premiere of Bliss! with Joffrey Ballet. Dubbed “a chameleon” of choreography by the Chicago Tribune, Martinez’s psychologically revelatory works challenge the viewer’s notion of what’s possible.
Stephanie is the founder and artistic director of Chicago-based repertory company PARA.MAR Dance Theatre. Founded in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARA.MAR was created together, with, and for diversity and access to excellence in contemporary dance - created, curated y hecho en Chicago.
In January 2022, Stephanie's PARA.MAR was named one of DanceMagazine's 25 to Watch with its cast of 'fearless dancers... PARA.MAR bolted out of the gate fully ready to steamroll the status quo.' - Nancy Wozny, DanceMagazine
Stephanie's piece, Kiss, premiered in June 2021 for Cincinnati Ballet and had its West Coast premiere at the inaugural Carmel Dance Festival in July.
In September 2021, Stephanie created her latest production, Something to Remember You By for Tulsa Ballet II and created El Maestro for Milwaukee Ballet in Spring, 2022 to critical acclaim.
In 2023, Stephanie staged and created new ballets for Sacramento Ballet, Ballet Idaho, DesMoines Ballet and American Repertory Ballet.
For opera and theatre, Stephanie has worked as Movement Director with Chicago Shakes on Shana Cooper's critically acclaimed production of, All's Well that End's Well in 2022 and in 2023 is the Choreographer for Marie Lambert-Le Bihan's production of Carmen starring J'nai Bridges for the Chicago Lyric Opera.
Stephanie is also highly in demand at universities across the USA with recent residencies at Southern Methodist, the University of South Florida, Booker T Washington in Dallas and the University of Washington, St. Louis.
In 2024/25, she staged Dos Lados for Orlando Ballet. In 2025/26 Stephanie is creating and staging ballets for Dimensions Dance Theatre, Oklahoma City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Madison Ballet and working with American Repertory Theatre, among others.
http://www.stephaniemartinezchoreography.com
@smartinezchoreography
@paramardance
