Robert Battle’s dance journey began in Liberty City, Miami, Florida. Showing early talent, he studied at a high school arts magnet program, then at Miami’s New World School of the Arts under Daniel Lewis and Gerri Houlihan, and finally at The Juilliard School under Benjamin Harkarvy, where he met mentor Carolyn Adams. He danced with The Parsons Dance Company from 1994 to 2001 and began choreographing for the company in 1998. In 2002, he founded Battleworks Dance Company, debuting in Düsseldorf, Germany, and performing at venues such as The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, American Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

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Robert Battle served as artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from July 2011 to 2023, becoming the third person to lead the Company since 1958, chosen by Judith Jamison. His association with Ailey began in 1999 as a frequent choreographer and artist-in-residence, with many works staged by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School.

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Mr. Battle was honored as one of the “Masters of African-American Choreography” by the Kennedy Center in 2005 and received the Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in 2007. He earned an honorary doctorate from The University of the Arts in 2014 and was named a 2015 Visiting Fellow for The Art of Change by the Ford Foundation. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has addressed high-profile organizations, including the United Nations Leaders Programme and the UNICEF Senior Leadership Development Programme.