John Field (dancer)
Encyclopedia
John Field was an English ballet dancer, choreographer, director and teacher. He was a renowned member of the Vic-Wells Ballet and Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet and was also Artistic Director of the La Scala Theatre Ballet.
, South Yorkshire
in 1921, Field began training in dance
with Edna Slocombe and Shelagh Elliott-Clarke in Liverpool
. He made his stage debut with the Liverpool Ballet Club in 1938, before moving to London
, where he trained at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School under Ninette de Valois
. He joined the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1939 and danced with the company for two years before leaving to serve in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. On returning to the company, he was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer, partnering many of the leading British ballerinas of the 20th century, including Dame Beryl Grey
, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Svetlana Beriosova
.
In 1946, the Vic-Wells Ballet relocated from Sadler's Wells to the Royal Opera House
in Covent Garden
, becoming known as the Royal Ballet in 1956. To continue ballet performances at Sadler's Wells, a sister company was formed known as the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, with Field appointed as its founder Artistic Director. The company would be the predecessor of today's Birmingham Royal Ballet
. After a number of years directing the Sadler's Wells company, in 1970 Field was appointed co-director of the Royal Ballet alongside Sir Kenneth MacMillan. He held the position for a year, but his relationship with MacMillan deteriorated and he eventually resigned, after being invited to take the post of Artistic Director at La Scala Theatre Ballet and the La Scala Theatre Ballet School in Milan
, Italy
. He was Artistic Director of La Scala for three years from 1971 to 1974.
On returning to England in 1975, Field was appointed Director of the Royal Academy of Dancing and was a Director of the British Ballet Organisation
he also taught at the Arts Educational School in London. His last post with a professional ballet company was as Artistic Director of the London Festival Ballet, today's English National Ballet
. Following his death in 1991, it was decided to hold a regular summer school in his memory, so the John Field Memorial Ballet Seminars were established in 1993 and ran for a number of years.
Biography
Born John Greenfield in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
in 1921, Field began training in dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
with Edna Slocombe and Shelagh Elliott-Clarke in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He made his stage debut with the Liverpool Ballet Club in 1938, before moving to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he trained at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School under Ninette de Valois
Ninette de Valois
Dame Ninette de Valois, OM, CH, DBE, FRAD, FISTD was an Irish-born British dancer, teacher, choreographer and director of classical ballet...
. He joined the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1939 and danced with the company for two years before leaving to serve in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. On returning to the company, he was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer, partnering many of the leading British ballerinas of the 20th century, including Dame Beryl Grey
Dame Beryl Grey
Dame Beryl Elizabeth Grey , DBE, DMus, DLitt, Ed.D, FRSA is a retired English ballerina. She began dance classes at the age of 4 while attending Sherbourne Preparatory School, and by age 8 was being taught ballet by Phyllis Bedells...
, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Svetlana Beriosova
Svetlana Beriosova
Svetlana Beriosova was a British prima ballerina who danced with the Royal Ballet of England for more than 20 years....
.
In 1946, the Vic-Wells Ballet relocated from Sadler's Wells to the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, becoming known as the Royal Ballet in 1956. To continue ballet performances at Sadler's Wells, a sister company was formed known as the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet, with Field appointed as its founder Artistic Director. The company would be the predecessor of today's Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet
Birmingham Royal Ballet is one of the three major ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet....
. After a number of years directing the Sadler's Wells company, in 1970 Field was appointed co-director of the Royal Ballet alongside Sir Kenneth MacMillan. He held the position for a year, but his relationship with MacMillan deteriorated and he eventually resigned, after being invited to take the post of Artistic Director at La Scala Theatre Ballet and the La Scala Theatre Ballet School in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He was Artistic Director of La Scala for three years from 1971 to 1974.
On returning to England in 1975, Field was appointed Director of the Royal Academy of Dancing and was a Director of the British Ballet Organisation
British Ballet Organisation
The British Ballet Organisation is a dance examination board based in London, England.- Overview :The British Ballet Organisation was founded in England in 1930 by Edouard Espinosa and Louise Kay, both noted dance teachers. It was established as a dance teaching society and developed a syllabus...
he also taught at the Arts Educational School in London. His last post with a professional ballet company was as Artistic Director of the London Festival Ballet, today's English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
. Following his death in 1991, it was decided to hold a regular summer school in his memory, so the John Field Memorial Ballet Seminars were established in 1993 and ran for a number of years.