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Calvin’s dedication paid off when, after only two years in ABT’s junior company, ABT II (now ABT Studio Company), he was promoted to Apprentice.

His hard work and growth in the company soon garnered significant recognition, earning him nominations for the Clive Barnes Award and the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship, a $50,000 grant to further his artistic development. Calvin used this opportunity to see the world and study with private coaches at the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet in London, the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, and the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen. In recognition of his rising prominence, the City of St. Petersburg, Florida awarded him the Keys to the City.

In 2017, Calvin’s breakthrough year, he was promoted to Soloist with ABT. His performances in Swan Lake, Manon, and Fancy Free garnered glowing praise as The New York Times critic Alastair Macaulay wrote,  “...the season’s chief star so far has been a soloist: Calvin Royal III, now reaching his maturity. This marvel of rhythm, line, character and immediacy is irresistible in the Robbins “Fancy Free”..and in the new Dorrance “Dream within a Dream.” Often he seems to embody several layers of the music at once: meter, melody, harmony.”

2019 marked another milestone in his career: a triumphant debut as Apollo in George Balanchine’s Apollo, a role traditionally reserved for established principal dancers. His performance again captivated critics, when Gia Kourlas of The New York Times noted that Calvin “...is suddenly the most elegant male dancer in the company. He made a remarkable debut in the daunting title role of Balanchine’s Apollo. Splendidly expansive, he makes you realize how important expressive hands and fingers can be: In “Apollo,” they radiated with a wholeness that made you sense their interior force.”

In September 2020, Calvin made history becoming the third African-American dancer in ABT’s 81-year history to be promoted to Principal Dancer. This monumental achievement made him the first man of color in a quarter-century to rise from ABT’s JKO School to the highest rank in the company.

Throughout his ABT career, Calvin has worked alongside celebrated choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Justin Peck, Benjamin Millepied, and Alonzo King, performing at prestigious festivals and galas worldwide including the New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Summer Festival, Ballet Icons in London, Les Etoiles in Rome, and the Vail Dance Festival, where he was Artist-in-Residence in 2020 and 2021.

His passion for mentorship and paving a way forward is reflected in his creation of the Calvin Royal III: Apollo Foundation (currently under registration). An initiative which aims to empower and uplift youth in the arts, guiding the next generation of dancers with the same dedication and guidance that helped him overcome adversity.

Calvin’s artistic journey reached new heights in 2022 when he returned to the stage at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center as a Principal Dancer with ABT, starring in Don Quixote, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet. He also performed in Single Eye by Alonzo King and ZigZag by Jessica Lang, reaffirming his place as one of the most versatile and captivating dancers in the world.

In 2024, Calvin curated and co-produced UNITE, a global celebration of ballet at The Joyce Theater’s Ballet Festival in NYC. The event brought together dancers from nine esteemed companies across five continents, spanning four generations and a beautiful array of ethnicities, showcasing the universal language of dance as a force for unity and understanding.

Calvin Royal III’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of mentorship, and the beauty of dance as a medium for connection. He continues to inspire with his artistry, his leadership, and his vision of a more inclusive and compassionate future for the arts.

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