Born in Spain, Jose Martinez studied at the Rosella Hightower International Dance Center in Cannes.
In 1987, won the "Prix de Lausanne" and trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 1988, entered the Paris Opera Ballet. In 1992, won the gold medal at the Varna Competition and was promoted "Premier Danseur". In 1997, promoted to "Etoile".
Jose Martinez? distinctive style combines an innate natural elegance with brilliant technique. His richness of expression lends an added dimension to classical roles such as: Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Raymonda, The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Cinderella, The Nutcracker (Nureyev), La Sylphide (Lacotte), Giselle and Paquita (Bart), The Three Corner Hat, Le Beau Danube, Parade (Massine), Sylvia Pas de deux, Divertimento No15, Agon, Palais de Cristal, The Four Temperaments, Capriccio, Theme and Variations (Balanchine), Le Chant de la Terre, Manon (MacMillan), Jardin aux lilas (Tudor), Temptations of the Moon (Graham), Aureole (Taylor), Rhapsody, Scenes de Ballet (Ashton), Etudes (Lander), Suite en Blanc (Lifar), Soir de fete (Staats).
Has worked with many significant contemporary choreographers including Mats Ek (Giselle), Forsythe (In the Middle..., Woundwork 1), Bejart (IX Symphony) and Neumeier (Le songe d?une nuit d?ete, Magnificat, Vaslaw). Was the first dancer to perform the following ballets at the Paris Opera Ballet: Attentat poetique (Larrieu), Pasacaille (Petit), Coppelia (Bart), Sylvia (Neumeier), Le Concours (Bejart), Pas/parts. (Forsythe), Appartement (Ek).
He has received many prestigious awards: 1998: "Danza & Danza" and "Leonide Massine" prizes; 1999: "Gran Premio Nacional de Danza" (Spain); 2001: Chevalier de l?Ordre des Arts et Lettres.
Made his debut at the Mariinsky Theatre in 2002 as patr of the International Ballet Festival Mariinsky (Pas Classique)
Mariinsky Theatre: 
Mariinsky-2 (New Theatre): 
Mariinsky Concert Hall: 
