Born in Cali, Colombia, Yamil Ortiz began his dance training at the age of seven at the Instituto Colombiano de Ballet Clásico (Incolballet). At fifteen, he moved to Barcelona, Spain, to continue his dance training at the conservatory of the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. In 2019, Ortiz also joined the famous youth company IT DANSA in Barcelona. There he completed a year of training and danced for two more years as a member of the company in repertoire by Alexander Ekman, Akram Khan, Cayetano Soto, Gustavo Ramírez and Lorena Nogal, among others. Ortiz has been an ensemble member of the Hessisches Staatsballett since the 2022/23 season.