After seeing exhuberant school children on the subway, Mr. Feld founds a school. Its goal is to provide all children in New York City’s public schools an introduction to dance and access to a rigorous, pre-professional training program, tuition-free. It is called The New Ballet School until 1996, when its name changes to Ballet Tech. In its first year, 138 students from 8 elementary schools are bused to Ballet Tech’s studios at 890 Broadway for beginner ballet classes. In subsequent years, Ballet Tech adds classes for intermediate and advanced students.
In the years since its founding, nearly 1,000,000 elementary school children in all five boroughs have participated in Ballet Tech’s citywide audition program or in Ballet Tech Across New York. More than 25,000 children have enrolled in classes. In addition to performing with Ballet Tech, alumni have danced with distinguished companies such as A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Charlotte Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and on Broadway. Students rank in the top percentiles on standardized exams and alumni have enrolled at leading colleges and universities including Brandeis, Brown, Cornell, Juilliard, Purchase College, and Skidmore.