Feld, Eliot (1942-…), is a leading American dancer and choreographer (creator of dances). Feld’s choreography became noted for its athletic character and natural movement. He has choreographed many ballets on American themes set to music by major American composers. These composers, and the ballets Feld created for their music, include Aaron Copland (Tzaddik, 1974), George Gershwin (The Real McCoy, 1974), Charles Ives (Over the Pavement, 1982), Steve Reich (The Grand Canyon, 1984), and Stephen Foster (Doo Dah Day, 1993).
Feld was born on July 8, 1942, in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. As a child, he attended the School of the American Ballet. He made his performing debut in the New York City Ballet production of The Nutcracker in 1954. Feld danced with the American Ballet Theatre from 1963 to 1968, starring in such ballets as Fancy Free, Billy the Kid, and Helen of Troy. He also created his first dances for the company, notably Harbinger and At Midnight (both 1967).
Feld led his own company from 1969 to 1972. In 1974, he formed the Eliot Feld Ballet (later Feld Ballets/NY). In 1978, he created the New Ballet School (now the Ballet Tech School) to train public school students. Many members of his dance groups have come from the school. In 1994, Feld formed a company called Kids Dance, made up of students attending the New York City Public School for Dance. In 1997, he formed another dance group, the Ballet Tech Company. The Ballet Tech Foundation, Inc., is the parent organization of the Ballet Tech School, Kids Dance, and the Ballet Tech Company.
In addition to creating ballets for his own companies, Feld has choreographed works for major ballet companies in North America and Europe. They include Meadowlark (1968) for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Winters Court (1972) for the Royal Danish Ballet.
