Dance department hosts guest artist

Jenny Sabliov, Arts and Entertainment editor

On Oct. 26, from 8 to 9 p.m., the Mercyhurst University Dance Department will host a Guest Artist Chat with Nilas Martins.
The chat will take place in Zurn 114. Martins will be discussing his field and his career as well as answering any questions.
Martins is currently staying with the Dance Department during the month of October to work with them on George Balanchine’s “Concerto Barocco” for their 2017 spring concert.
It is a work from the New York City Ballet that will be combined with Act III of “The Sleeping Beauty.”
It will feature works by the composer Tchaikovsky.
They celebrate Princess Aurora’s royal wedding. Guests include her court princesses, fairies, Puss in Boots, Red Riding Hood and many more familiar faces.
Martins was born in Copenhagen. His father is Peter Martins, a Danish danseur and choreographer.
Martins received his early dance training at the Royal Danish Ballet School starting at the age of seven. Martins performed with the Royal Danish Ballet in such works as John Neumeier’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Glen Tetley’s “Firebird.”
In 1984, he moved to New York and enrolled at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet.
In June 1986 he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet.
In September of the same year, he was made a member of the Company’s corps de ballet.
During the 1991 spring season, he was promoted to the rank of soloist, and in February of 1993, he was promoted to principal dancer.
He retired in 2010 due to a knee injury.
The Guest Artist Chat is free and open to the public.