Eric Underwood

Eric Underwood is an American-British ballet dancer, actor, and model whose career has spanned some of the world’s leading ballet companies. He is widely recognized not only for his artistry on stage but also for his advocacy around representation and inclusion within the classical dance world.

Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Maryland, Underwood came to ballet relatively late, beginning formal training at the age of fourteen. What started as an unexpected audition placement quickly became a passion. His natural talent earned him a scholarship to the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City, where he trained intensively before launching his professional career.

Underwood first danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he quickly rose to the rank of principal , and later joined American Ballet Theatre. In 2006, he crossed the Atlantic to join The Royal Ballet in London, one of the world’s foremost ballet companies. He was promoted to soloist in 2008 and remained with the company until 2017. During his tenure, he created roles in acclaimed works by leading choreographers including Wayne McGrego (Chroma, Infra, Woolf Works) and Christopher Wheeldon (DGV: Danse à grande vitesse), in addition to performing a wide range of classical and contemporary repertory.

Beyond his artistic accomplishments, Underwood has become a powerful advocate for diversity in ballet. As one of the few Black dancers in elite international companies, he has spoken openly about the challenges of navigating an art form traditionally dominated by Eurocentric ideals. Notably, he drew attention to the lack of ballet shoes made in darker skin tones, a longstanding barrier to dancers of colour. For years, he “pancaked” his shoes with makeup to match his complexion—a process both costly and time-consuming. His advocacy prompted leading dancewear company Bloch to develop a new range of skin-tone ballet shoes, ensuring that dancers worldwide can access footwear that reflects their identity.

Underwood also works to broaden access to ballet for young people from underrepresented backgrounds. Through school workshops, public speaking, and outreach initiatives, he shares his story to inspire the next generation and to demonstrate that ballet is not reserved for the privileged few.

Now balancing careers in performance, fashion, and acting, Eric Underwood continues to use his platform to challenge stereotypes, expand representation, and make classical dance more inclusive and relevant to the world today.