HERMAN CORNEJO is one of the most celebrated dancers of his generation, internationally acclaimed for his extraordinary artistry, technical mastery, and visionary contributions to the evolution of ballet. Over his three-decade career, he has performed more than 130 productions, worked with over 70 choreographers, partnered with over 70 international ballet artists, and appeared in 35 countries, establishing him as one of the most influential ballet artists of the 21st century.

Born in Argentina, Cornejo was admitted at age nine to the Instituto Superior de Arte of Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He later earned a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York before joining Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino, touring internationally in principal roles. At sixteen, he became the youngest Gold Medalist in the history of the International Moscow Ballet Competition, propelling him onto the global stage.

Cornejo joined American Ballet Theatre at seventeen, rose to Principal Dancer in 2003 at just twenty-two, and quickly became renowned for his charismatic presence, musicality, and unparalleled virtuosity. In 2024, Cornejo celebrated his 25-year legacy with ABT at the Metropolitan Opera House, performing Like Water For Chocolate by Christopher Wheeldon. He was also celebrated for reimagining Le Spectre de la Rose for City Center’s Fall for Dance program, highlighting him as the festival’s most recurrent guest artist, having performed for 10 consecutive years. Additionally, he marked 15 consecutive years of performances at the Vail International Dance Festival in Colorado under the direction of Damian Woetzel, showcasing his enduring contributions to the art form.

His performances span the full classical canon—Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, Manon, La Bayadère, La Sylphide, and more—alongside definitive interpretations in works by Balanchine, Robbins, Ratmansky, Tharp, McGregor, Ashton, Ailey, Kylián, Peck, Millepied, Morris, Taylor, Graham, Preljocaj, Petit, and Cranko. He has been a central muse for Alexei Ratmansky, featured in many of the choreographer’s most celebrated creations.

A sought-after guest artist worldwide, Cornejo has performed with leading companies including La Scala, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, the National Ballet of Japan, Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispánico, the Teatro Colón Ballet, Dortmund Ballet, and Danza Contemporánea de Cuba.

Cornejo’s artistic excellence has been recognized with more than 35 international awards and distinctions, among them: the Benois de la Danse, Dance Magazine Award, The Bessies Award, The Positano Prize, the Platinum Konex Award (Best Argentine Male Dancer of the Decade), UNESCO Peace Messenger, Emmy Award–nominated broadcast (Swan Lake, ABT/PBS) — Principal cast member, Dancer of the Year by The New York Times, the Great Immigrant Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and designation as a Distinguished Personality of Buenos Aires.

Beyond the stage, Cornejo is an artistic leader, creator, and advocate. He holds an Arts Leadership Certificate from New York University, graduating with top honors and the Golden Badge distinction, recognizing exceptional achievement in cultural leadership and organizational strategy. He was also a two-time Fellow of New York University’s Center for Ballet & the Arts (2021–2022 and 2025–2026), contributing to interdisciplinary research, creative inquiry, and institutional initiatives at the intersection of ballet, academia, and the humanities. He has served as a jury member for the Prix de Lausanne, one of the world’s most prestigious international ballet competitions, contributing his expertise to the identification and mentorship of the next generation of artists.

His directing work includes the Latin American Stars Gala for the LA Music Center’s 50th anniversary; Secret Ballet in The Hamptons with artists from ABT, NYCB, and Alvin Ailey; DanceLive, the groundbreaking 360° digital performance created with filmmaker Steven Sebring; and TRIOConcertDance, which he co-created and co-directed with Prima Ballerina Alessandra Ferri and Concert Pianist Bruce Levingston (international tour, 2017–2019).

In 2020, Cornejo founded The State of the Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to dance, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and increasing artistic equity through innovative formats. Since 2021 he has developed Anima Animal (part 1) in The Last of Nijinsky, a multi-part choreographic project inspired by an unrealized Argentine work originally envisioned for Vaslav Nijinsky. Its U.S. premiere at The Joyce Theater in 2025 opened the venue’s Spring/Summer Season.

In 2026, he is anticipating the launch of American Dancers Off-Road (ADOR), a next-generation initiative designed to create new ballet works year-round, provide equitable opportunities for dancers, and bring high-quality ballet experiences to communities beyond traditional stages.

He is also the co-founder of eVRywhere, an innovative 360° VR platform creating immersive dance experiences through livestreams, backstage access, and interactive viewing—reimagining how global audiences engage with the performing arts.

Cornejo has performed for heads of state and global cultural leaders, and collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists across music, film, and theater. His philanthropic efforts support medical research, environmental initiatives, and humanitarian causes worldwide.

A devoted mentor, Cornejo serves as Director of Repertoire at American Ballet Theatre and coaches principal and emerging artists internationally. He teaches ballet technique and partnering for ABT Studio Company, ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, the School of Teatro Colón, Interlochen, and other leading institutions. His commitment to education continues to shape the next generation of dancers.

Today, Herman Cornejo continues to perform, choreograph, mentor, innovate, and lead—driven by a lifelong commitment to excellence, artistic evolution, and the belief that dance can deepen community, expand access, and transform lives.