Eric Underwood

Eric Underwood is an American British ballet dancer, model and actor. He was a soloist with The Royal Ballet until he left the company in August 2017. He was one of the few black dancers in the company.

Early life Underwood was born in Maryland, and was raised in a poor suburb in Maryland. He has two paternal half siblings. There were gangs violence and gun crimes in the neighborhood, but Underwood stated "we were loved and appreciated at home." He also stated police officers would visit his school once a week to build "positive association" with police.

Underwood danced at home as a child, but did not start formal trainings until he turned 14. His mother wanted to send him to study acting at Suitland High School Center for Visual and Performing Arts, as it was "more promising" than mainstream schools, but Underwood got stage fright at his audition. As he was leaving, he saw a ballet class and asked the teacher to let him try. He ended up training at the school as a ballet student and was one of the few boys in the class. A year later, he received a scholarship to train at School of American Ballet in New York City, where he was the only African-American student in his class. He graduated in 2000. Throughout his time in the Royal Ballet, he was one of the few black dancers in the company. In 2017, Underwood left the company.

In 2015, Underwood posted a video of him applying make up to ballet shoes, as there were only pink and beige options. He then worked with Bloch, a ballet shoes manufacturer to produce ballet shoes that match dancers of color's skin-tones.

In 2019, Underwood played Admetus in Cats, the film adaptation of the musical of the same name. He appeared in many dance sequences but had no spoken lines. He was set to play Albert/Kevin in the 2020 revival of the play Clybourne Park in Park Theatre, London, though its entire run was delayed due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic. Underwood is also a model.

Selected repertoire Underwood's repertoire with American Ballet Theatre and The Royal Ballet includes:

After the Rain pas de deux Afternoon of a Faun Agon Rasputin in Anastasia High Brahmin in La Bayadère Officer in Cinderella The Four Temperaments Gaoler and Gentleman in Manon Serenade Von Rothbart in Swan Lake Apollo in Sylvia Mrs Pettitoes in Tales of Beatrix Potter

Created roles DGV: Danse à grande vitesse Acis and Galatea Aeternum The Caterpillar in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Chroma Electric Counterpoint Infra Live Fire Exercise Multiverse Obsidian Tear Raven Girl Tetractys Woolf Works

Personal life Underwood is a naturalised British citizen.