Frankie’s Mambo

This film follows the course of a fledgling Latin dance company in NYC fronted by a phenomenally talented dancer named Frankie Martinez. Born and raised in the projects of Queens, NY, Mr. Martinez, of Puerto Rican descent, is considered the world’s foremost practitioner of Latin popular dance. A former champion martial artist, Mr. Martinez started his dance career at 18 with the Eddie Torres Dancers, relatively late for a professional. He formed his own dance company in the year 2000, and within months, thanks to his revolutionary vision, it was ranked among the top Latin dance companies in the world. Mr. Martinez has redefined the practice of salsa dancing by returning to the roots of Cuban rumba in its most authentic form and incorporating its movements into his teaching technique. He emphasizes the importance of the rhythm of drums and ’clave’ which are the foundation of classic salsa music. His philosophy is that in order to dance well, there is a need to by