Footage by Natalie Manning

Born in Davis, California, Julia Feldman received her training under Pamela Hayes of Pamela Hayes Classical Ballet.  She began her professional career as a dancer with the Sacramento Ballet in 2011, and is a current Company Artist.  During her time with the Sacramento Ballet, she has danced principal and featured roles in works choreographed by George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Ma Cong, Ron Cunningham, Jodie Gates, Adam Hougland, Gabrielle Lamb, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Penny Saunders, Amy Seiwert, and Septime Webre, among others. Highlights have included performing the central couple in Jodie Gates’ Keep Me Wishing in the Dark, ‘1st pas’ in Ma Cong’s Bloodrush, the Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s Agon, Adam Hougland’s Cigarettes, and the role of Ophelia in Stephen Mills’ Hamlet.

 

Julia developed her passion for choreography through the Sacramento Ballet's choreography showcase Beer and Ballet, and has created a new work for the program annually since 2012. She has choreographed for the School of the Sacramento Ballet, in addition to teaching for the School's Summer Intensive program, and has enjoyed teaching master classes throughout the broader Sacramento region.

 

In 2015, Julia co-founded Capital Dance Project (CDP), a collective of professional dancers based in Sacramento for which she has created six premieres to date.  As a founding member she has played an integral role in the development of the organization’s mission and creative management, as well as the collaborative vision behind CDP's annual Behind the Barre production and most recent CDP Digital Series: Made in Sacramento.  Julia is inspired by the Sacramento arts community, and takes pride in her work with the CDP team to provide a unique creative platform and employment for local artists, musicians and dancers.  Her works for the project have included collaborations with classical composer Andy Tan, hip-hop artist Paul Willis, visual artists Franceska Gamez & Matt Brown, sculptor Daniel Tran, drummer Tim Metz, and filmmaker Natalie Manning.   

 

During the summers of 2015-2017, Julia was one of 16 selected dancers for the National Choreographer's Initiative in Irvine, Ca under the direction of Molly Lynch.  In 2019, Julia was honored to be invited back to the Initiative as one of four selected choreographers.  Julia received her first full work commission for the Sacramento Ballet under the direction of Amy Seiwert, originally scheduled for the 2020-21 season, now scheduled for the Spring of 2022, under the direction of Anthony Krutzkamp.

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In 2021, Julia was one of three choreographers commissioned to co-create and choreograph a new Nutcracker for the Sacramento Ballet, under the direction of Anthony Krutzkamp.  Most recently, she was honored to be selected as one of three choreographers to participate in the New York Choreographic Institute's 2022 Spring Session, under the direction of Adrian Danchig.