Born in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Norbert De La Cruz III is an acclaimed choreographer, performer, and educator known for his versatility across classical and contemporary dance. He served as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Modern Dance at Point Park University and maintains a bi-coastal freelance career between New York City and Los Angeles. He holds a BFA from The Juilliard School and an MFA from Hollins University, with early training rooted in Cecchetti and Vaganova techniques.

As a performer, Norbert has appeared internationally, including as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera in Aida, and has worked with companies such as Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. His choreographic work has been commissioned by BalletX, Ballet Memphis, Saint Louis Dance Theatre, Repertory Dance Theatre, Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, Bruce Wood Dance, Richmond Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Grand Rapids Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and Hubbard Street 2. He is a recipient of the Princess Grace Foundation- USA Choreography Fellowship, with additional development through the Alvin Ailey New Directions Choreography Lab, National Choreographic Initiative, and New York Choreographic Institute.

An established educator and leader, Norbert has taught at institutions including The Juilliard School, Princeton University, and Boston Conservatory, and is on faculty at Steps on Broadway and Peridance. He served as Director of Dance for the 2025 Trentino Music and Dance Festival in Trentino, Italy, and is a full-time adjudicator and teaching artist with the Universal Ballet Competition. His work explores identity, queerness, and the human experience, contributing a distinct and vital voice to the field.