Roman Baca
US Fulbrighter
2017/18
Fulbright Postgraduate Award to the Trinity Laban Conservatoire
Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London
Social Innovator and US Marine
Dance, US Marine Corps, Iraq War, Veterans, Social Healing
US Marine Corps Iraq War Veteran Roman Baca bridges the gap between the worlds of dance and military service. After serving as a Marine in Iraq, Baca co-founded Exit12 Dance Company initially to spark his own healing and understanding of his experiences. Now, this innovative organization leverages the expressive power of dance to tell the stories of those impacted by war, including veterans and military families. Through choreographed performances and workshops, Exit12 aims to increase cross-cultural understanding, foster healing, and challenge societal perceptions of war and its impact.
Originally, Baca trained in classical ballet, where he ached to use dance as a powerful tool to address social issues and uplift marginalized communities. Unfulfilled in this effort, his life took an unexpected turn in 2001 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. As a machine-gunner and fire-team leader, he served in the intensely dangerous combat zone in Fallujah, Iraq. This experience profoundly shaped his perspective and ignited a passion to use art as a means of healing and understanding.
In 2017, as a Fulbright Scholar in London, Roman Baca realized his vision of creating a military-themed version of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and conducted in-depth research on fostering empathy in audiences through choreography, culminating in earning a Master of Fine Arts with merit at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Beyond his academic pursuits, he became deeply involved in the veteran art community, working impactful projects such as the UK tour and West End run of the play Soldier On and organizing the inaugural UK Veteran Arts Festival alongside the 2019 UK Invictus Trials. His Fulbright experience not only solidified the unique work he does but also expanded his opportunities to collaborate with organizations committed to veteran arts.
Baca's work has been recognized internationally. He has presented his choreography at prestigious venues such as the Intrepid Museum, the Boston International Trauma Conference, the Edinburgh Fringe, Kings College London, and the National Symposium on Art and Healing in the Military Continuum at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Creative Forces® initiative in partnership with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. He has also led art and recovery projects with the Royal British Legion and the Ministry of Defense in the UK. His award-winning short documentary, "Exit 12: Moved by War," produced by Square Inc., offers a poignant glimpse into his life and artistic vision.
Beyond his artistic endeavours, Baca is a dedicated advocate for veterans. He has served as a scholar with the Bush Presidential Institute’s Stand To Veteran Leadership program and a fellow with organizations like Veterans in Global Leadership, The Mission Continues, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. His commitment to using art as a catalyst for social change continues to inspire.