d'Amboise, Jacques
Jacques d'Amboise (zhäk dămbwäz´), 1934–, American dancer and choreographer, b. Dedham, Mass. One of the finest male dancers of his era, d'Amboise became a soloist with the New York City Ballet in 1953 and did not leave the company until 1984. He is best known for his roles in such distinctly American dance works as Lew Christensen's Filling Station and George Balanchine's Western Symphony and for his performance in the latter's other ballets, especially the title role in Apollo (1957). He also danced in several movies, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Carousel (1956). His own ballets include The Chase (1963), Quatuor (1964) and Irish Fantasy (1964). He has taught at the School of American Ballet and the State Univ. of New York, and he founded (1976) and directs the National Dance Institute, a nonprofit organization that brings dance into the public schools.
See his memoir (2011).