Patti Eylar

Patti Eylar is a dancer, educator, and philanthropist. She initially studied at the Maryland Youth Ballet and, in New York, at the American Ballet Theatre School. She moved to Chicago in 1977 to dance for the Lyric Opera Ballet. Eylar was a founding member of the Chicago City Ballet under Artistic Director Maria Tallchief and danced with Ballet Chicago from 1987 to 1993. She then danced with Ballet Chicago from its inception in 1987 until 1993, and was a soloist in Ruth Page’s Nutcracker at the Arie Crown Theater.
Eylar has taught at several Chicago dance studios, including as faculty of the Lou Conte Dance Studio from 2002 until its closure in 2020. She has also served on the boards of many dance organizations. In 2011, she received the Ruth Page Award for her contributions to the Chicago dance community and, in 2024, she was honored by See Chicago Dance for her Distinguished Service to the Dance Field. Eylar is currently President of the Board of Directors of Chicago Dance History Project.