Martin James is a dancer and graphic artist. After training at the New Zealand School of Dance, Martin’s first professional engagement was with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. He later joined the English National Ballet and became the Company’s principal dancer from 1987 until 1990. Subsequent engagements include with the Deutsche Opera Ballet (1990 to 1994), the Royal Danish Ballet (1994 to 2000), numerous guest appearances in Europe and Asia, and film and television performances. Martin was a guest teacher in Malmo, Sweden, in 1997, and with The Peter Schaufuss Ballet in 1998.

Knowing that he will not dance forever, Martin began to pursue an interest in painting and graphic arts. He held his first one-man exhibition of graphic arts at the Molesworth Gallery in Wellington, New Zealand in 1984, and in 1999 he sold an exhibition of paintings and graphics to the Royal Theatre Art Club in Copenhagen.

Martin has been recently included in 2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century, and named one of the Outstanding People of the 20th century in 1999. He has received a Golden Scroll of Excellence, 1997 and his Biographical information has been included in such noted reference volumes as International Directory of Distinguished Leadership 1997, Dictionary of International Biography (28th Edition) 2000, Five Hundred Leaders of Influence 1996 as well as 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 20th Century.

Martin currently lives in Sydney, flying to Canberra most weekends to teach ballet classes and offer private coaching.