Who He Was
Hinton Battle was an American Broadway dancer and choreographer widely regarded as one of the most versatile performers in Broadway history. He trained in ballet as a child at the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet in Washington, DC, then earned a scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York, where he studied under the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. At just eighteen years old, Battle originated the role of the Scarecrow in the original Broadway production of The Wiz, launching a career that would carry him across ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theater. He went on to win three Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, for his performances in Sophisticated Ladies, The Tap Dance Kid, and Miss Saigon, more than any other performer in that category in Broadway history.
Why He Matters
Hinton Battle showed that a dancer trained in classical ballet could move just as powerfully through tap, jazz, and musical theater, without ever being limited to a single style. His three Tony Award wins remain a rare feat, proof of both his range and his consistency across very different roles and choreography. Later in his career, Battle became a dedicated teacher, opening a studio to train young dancers and pass on the technique and work ethic that built his own career. For young dancers, his story shows that deep training in one style, like ballet, can become the foundation for mastering many others.
