Nilas Martins
Born in Copenhagen, Nilas Martins received his early training at the Royal Danish Ballet School. As a student, he performed with the Royal Danish Ballet in works by John Neumeier, August Bournonville, and Glen Tetley, including Romeo and Juliet, Konservatoriet, A Folk Tale, Napoli, and Firebird.
In 1984, Mr. Martins relocated to New York to study at the School of American Ballet. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1986, was promoted to Soloist in 1991, and became a Principal Dancer in 1993. During his distinguished career with NYCB, he performed numerous featured roles and collaborated closely with leading choreographers including Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Peter Martins, William Forsythe, Susan Stroman, Boris Eifman, Trey McIntyre, Kevin O’Day, and John Alleyne.
His film and broadcast appearances include Live from Lincoln Center, Ray Charles in Concert, Warner Brothers’ The Nutcracker (1993), and Dance in America: Dinner with Balanchine, in which he danced Apollo opposite Paris Opera Étoile Isabelle Guérin. He also appeared in Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100, performing “The Man I Love” from Who Cares? with Wynton Marsalis.
From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Martins was selected as one of ten fellows for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, studying under Michael Kaiser. He has taught extensively at leading institutions worldwide, including the School of American Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, Harvard University, Princeton University, Indiana University, National Ballet of China, Novosibirsk Ballet, and NBA Ballet of Japan, among many others.
Since 1996, Mr. Martins has served as a répétiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, staging Balanchine ballets for companies and schools internationally. He joined the faculty of State Street Ballet in 2018 and was appointed Artistic Associate in 2024.
In 1984, Mr. Martins relocated to New York to study at the School of American Ballet. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1986, was promoted to Soloist in 1991, and became a Principal Dancer in 1993. During his distinguished career with NYCB, he performed numerous featured roles and collaborated closely with leading choreographers including Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Peter Martins, William Forsythe, Susan Stroman, Boris Eifman, Trey McIntyre, Kevin O’Day, and John Alleyne.
His film and broadcast appearances include Live from Lincoln Center, Ray Charles in Concert, Warner Brothers’ The Nutcracker (1993), and Dance in America: Dinner with Balanchine, in which he danced Apollo opposite Paris Opera Étoile Isabelle Guérin. He also appeared in Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100, performing “The Man I Love” from Who Cares? with Wynton Marsalis.
From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Martins was selected as one of ten fellows for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management, studying under Michael Kaiser. He has taught extensively at leading institutions worldwide, including the School of American Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, Harvard University, Princeton University, Indiana University, National Ballet of China, Novosibirsk Ballet, and NBA Ballet of Japan, among many others.
Since 1996, Mr. Martins has served as a répétiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, staging Balanchine ballets for companies and schools internationally. He joined the faculty of State Street Ballet in 2018 and was appointed Artistic Associate in 2024.