Robert Dekkers received his professional training from the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre under Artistic Director Lisa Sheppard-Robson. During the summers he studied with Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet. Mr. Dekkers has performed in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival, at the Tanzsommer Festival in Vienna, and with the Atlanta Ballet in London. Mr. Dekkers joined Ballet Arizona in 2002, where he has performed in August Bournonville's Flower Festival in Genzano and Konservatoriet, Julia Adam's Before, Paul Taylor's Company B, Twyla Tharp's The Golden Section, Ib Andersen's Mosaik, 2B, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, "Danse Bohème" from Carmen, Sueños, Coppélia, Romeo and Juliet and Play, and George Balanchine's La Sonnambula (harlequin), Agon (2nd pas de trios), Theme and Variations, Allegro Brillante, Prodigal Son, and Serenade.Mr. Dekkers choreographed his first ballet, Vivo Ascesco, in 2002, which was awarded the "Best Emerging Choreographer" award at the Southeastern Regional Dance America festival. This award allowed him to attend the 2002 Craft of Choreography Conference on full scholarship. Since then, he has had numerous works performed at Regional Dance America festivals, many of which were performed on the gala, including Finlandia (2003), Believe (2004), Four Dimensional (2004), III (2005), and mysterium tremendum (2006). In addition, Mr. Dekkers choreographed two works, Believe and Composure, which were performed at the Tanzsommer Festival in 2003.