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Román Baca

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Marine machine-gunner turned ballet dancer heals veterans through the power of movement

Román Baca paused a classical ballet career to serve as a machine-gunner and fire team leader with the Marine Corps in Fallujah, Iraq. After returning home, he co-founded Exit12 Dance Company in New York City with his wife to help veterans process trauma through movement and storytelling. The company has presented work at the United Nations General Assembly, the Intrepid Museum, and venues across the country, and participated in the New York City Veterans Day Parade as the first dance company ever to perform in it. Baca is a U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Award recipient and 2015 New York State Veterans' Hall of Fame inductee. In 2026, he was named the New York Veteran of the Year by Military Friendly.

Honored by Map of Heroes — recognized here from public reporting.

Added June 12, 2026

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