When Calvin Royal III graces a stage, it’s hard keeping your eyes on anything else. As the principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, his flawlessly executed pirouette’s whisks audiences away. Interestingly, what Royal makes look easy comes from years of hard work. The self-proclaimed late bloomer didn’t touch a ballet barre until he was 14-years-old. Two years later, he became a finalist within New York City’s Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition and a full-time scholarship recipient at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of American Ballet Theatre. Now, as ABT’s third Black principal dancer in the company’s history, Royal is breaking down barriers for future dancers of color. Last August, he was the Creative Director and Co-Producer for <em>UNITE</em>, a ballet festival that brought together dancers from around the world to celebrate their timeless art form, landing him on the cover of the coveted <em>New York Times</em> Arts Section with the headline "At Dancer's Apex, Lifting Other's Up". Royal is creating with purpose and is truly ballet royalty. — J.S.M.