Jimmy Ruiz started his dance career at the age of 13, performing with the Starlite Dance Studio and Side Street Kids Dance Company. Having danced for short periods with both, he was afforded the opportunity to travel and perform in various places both in and out of the country. His continuing passion for dance moved him to seek out, and train with a multitude of well-known instructors, and eventually landed him an opportunity with the Eddie Torres Dance Company. A recent graduate of Cornell University, Jimmy holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations. Jimmy came on board the Abakua Afro-Latin Dance Company as an understudy shortly after graduation, and was officially inducted into the group in the fall of 2005.