John Field (1921-91). British dancer, director and teacher

John Field was born in Doncaster in 1921. He trained in Liverpool and made his debut with the Liverpool Ballet Club. He joined the Vic-Wells Ballet in 1939 until 1941, when he left to join the RAF. After World War Two he returned to Sadler’s Wells Ballet as a principal dancer, where he performed most of the major classical roles, often partnering Beryl Grey and Margot Fonteyn. He retired from dancing in 1956, after which he directed The Royal Ballet Touring Company, building up its reputation and stature. In 1970 he was appointed co-director of The Royal Ballet with Kenneth MacMillan, but this did not work out and he resigned during the 1970-1 season.

From 1971 until 1974 Field was director of the ballet company and school of La Scala, Milan, and on returning to Britain became artistic director and then director of the Royal Academy of Dance and was also artistic director of London Festival Ballet. From 1984 he directed the British Ballet Organization. John Field was married to Anne Heaton and died in Esher in 1991.