Roman Baca is a United States Marine Corps veteran, classically trained ballet dancer, and the visionary co‑founder and Artistic Director of Exit12 Dance Company, an internationally recognized arts organization that uses dance to bridge the divide between military and civilian communities. A 2024 Scholar with the George W. Bush Presidential Institute’s Stand‑To Veteran Leadership Program and a PhD candidate at York St. John University in the United Kingdom, Baca has dedicated his career to transforming the stories of war into powerful artistic works that foster empathy, understanding, and healing.
Baca’s path to service and artistry is unique. After performing with respected companies including New Mexico Ballet Company, Connecticut Ballet, The Nutmeg Ballet, and Ballet Theatre Company, he paused his rising dance career in 2001 to enlist in the Marine Corps. Motivated by a commitment to defend the defenseless, he deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where he served as a machine gunner and fire team leader. His experiences in combat shaped his belief that storytelling and movement can help repair the human spirit. Upon returning home, Baca co‑founded Exit12 to tell the stories of veterans, civilians, and families affected by war. His choreography, movement direction, and community‑based workshops have reached audiences across the United States and internationally. Exit12 has partnered with institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, the Intrepid Museum, CreatiVets, and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. His practice‑based research, including his award‑winning thesis titled Choreographing Soldiers’ Stories to Provoke Empathy in Audiences, continues to influence global conversations about the arts as a vehicle for recovery and cross‑cultural understanding. A Fulbright Postgraduate Award recipient and respected educator, Baca has taught at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Peridance Center, Pineapple Studios, City Academy, and the United Nations.
