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Roman Baca

Roman Baca

Ballet Theater Company/Exit12 Dance Company

Career Roadmap

Roman's work combines: Acting & Theatre, Armed Services, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

General Manager/Artistic Director

I strive to create positive change through the art of dance.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Visual and Performing Arts, General

    Saint Marys College of California

  • Associate's Degree

    University of New Mexico

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Visual and Performing Arts, General

    The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Choreographers:

High School

Bachelor's Degree: Visual and Performing Arts, General

Associate's Degree

Bachelor's Degree: Visual and Performing Arts, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    I served in the Marine Corps for eight years and did one tour in Fallujah, Iraq.

  • 2.

    After I came back from Iraq, I settled into starting down a "normal" job path.

  • 3.

    My girlfriend sat me down and said, "You're not okay. You're not the same person you used to be."

  • 4.

    I realized something had to change, so I started thinking about what my "dream job" would be.

  • 5.

    I knew deep down that my dream had always been to start a dance company, so I co-founded Exit12.

  • 6.

    In 2012, I had the opportunity to go back to Iraq and teach dance through The Mission Continues.

  • 7.

    Seeing how I could affect a culture through the arts rather than through violence was life-changing.

  • 8.

    Soon, I'm beginning Columbia University's nonprofit management program in order to further my work.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    Your art isn't good enough.

  • How I responded:

    I applied to the Nutmeg Conservatory twice; the first time, I was rejected. But I decided to keep that rejection letter as a motivational tool to fuel my passion, and the next time I applied, I was accepted. Ever since then, I've been collecting pieces of negative feedback and using them to propel my art and my personal development. That noise helps me remember that for every one person throwing negative energy my way, I have a whole host of people behind me supporting me and pushing me forward.