From Battlefield to Ballet: A Veteran’s Journey Healing Through Dance

During his deployment as a Marine in Iraq in 2005, Román Baca rarely shared his pre-war background as a ballet dancer. His attempts to reveal this during boot camp had not been well received. However, when a close platoon mate noticed his curiosity about local dance traditions, Baca cautiously disclosed his ballet past.

Rather than reacting negatively, his friend embraced the revelation, encouraging Baca to pursue an unconventional idea: expressing their combat experiences through the medium of dance.

That initial concept evolved into a lifelong mission. Together with his wife, Lisa Fitzgerald, Baca established Exit12 Dance Company, which creates performances centered on military life and the challenges veterans face. Originally a personal outlet for coping with his own trauma, the company now aims to assist other veterans in healing through movement and artistic expression.

Recently, a diverse group of veterans and their family members have been meeting aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier converted into a museum on the Hudson River. Through improvisational dance exercises, they have been collaboratively developing a piece scheduled for performance on the ship’s flight deck on May 30, weather permitting. While the upcoming show is significant, the transformative creative process remains the primary focus.

Baca views these workshops as a counterbalance to the conditioning received in military training. He explains, “Military training is designed to reshape identity, compelling immediate obedience and readiness for violence. It strips away personal identifiers—such as clothing and hairstyle—and alters individuals through repetitive physical drills and intense mind-body conditioning.”