Martell Ruffin, born and raised on the south side of Chicago, began his formal dance training at Joffrey Ballet. He later attended Chicago High School for the Arts and continued his dance training on scholarship at The Ailey School. He has danced with Ailey II and A.I.M by Kyle Abraham and has been a guest artist for multiple dance companies and operas. Martell is also a dance maker and has choreographed for The Ailey School, Princeton University, Peridance, Orsolina 28 Arts Foundation, and Triptych's Eyes of One Another. Martell has been seen in Christian Dior’s Poison Girl commercial, Urban Outfitter’s commercial with music artist Samantha Urbani, and season 2 of Ziwe. Martell is thrilled to join Kayla Farrish in Put Away the Fire, dear.