Jacques dâAmboise, Charismatic Star of City Ballet, Is Dead at 86
He helped popularize ballet with an all-American style, combining the nonchalance of Fred Astaire with the nobility of a classic male dancer. Hollywood came calling, too.
Jacques DâAmboise in 1961. His energy, athleticism, infectious smile and boy-next-door appeal endeared him to audiences.Credit.Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Published May 3, 2021Updated May 7, 2021
Jacques dâAmboise, who shattered stereotypes about male dancers as he helped popularize ballet in America and became one of the most distinguished male stars at New York City Ballet, died on Sunday at his home in Manhattan. He was 86.
May 4, 2021 Share
Jacques d’Amboise, who combined classical elegance with all-American verve and athleticism to become one of the top male dancers at New York City Ballet, then spent more than four decades providing free dance education to countless youngsters through his National Dance Institute, has died at 86.
His death was confirmed by Ellen Weinstein, director of the New York-based institute. She said the dancer and teacher had died on Sunday at his New York City home from complications of a stroke. He was surrounded by his family.
Plucked for stardom at NYCB as a teenager by its legendary director, George Balanchine, d’Amboise performed with the company for about 35 years before retiring just before he turned 50. His exuberant style and dashing looks drew interest in Hollywood, where he appeared in films like “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Carousel.” But his real love was for the ballet stage, where he was known for iconic roles like Balanchine
Jacques dâAmboise, Charismatic Star of City Ballet, Is Dead at 86
He helped popularize ballet with an all-American style, combining the nonchalance of Fred Astaire with the nobility of a classic male dancer. Hollywood came calling, too.
Jacques DâAmboise in 1961. His energy, athleticism, infectious smile and boy-next-door appeal endeared him to audiences.Credit.Jack Mitchell/Getty Images
Published May 3, 2021Updated May 5, 2021, 10:12 a.m. ET
Jacques dâAmboise, who shattered stereotypes about male dancers as he helped popularize ballet in America and became one of the most distinguished male stars at New York City Ballet, died on Sunday at his home in Manhattan. He was 86.
Elegant dancer, passionate educator Jacques d Amboise dies
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Elegant dancer, passionate educator Jacques d Amboise dies
AP / Updated: May 4, 2021, 11:21 IST
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Jacques d Amboise. AP Photo
Jacques d Amboise, who combined classical elegance with all-American verve and athleticism to become one of the top male dancers at New York City Ballet, then spent more than four decades providing free dance education to countless youngsters through his National Dance Institute, has died at 86. His death was confirmed by Ellen Weinstein, director of the New York-based institute. She said the dancer and teacher had died on Sunday at his New York City home from complications of a stroke. He was surrounded by his family.
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2018, d’Amboise described the moment he decided to end his dance career in 1984.
“I was almost 50, there were only a few roles left that I could do,” he said. “I was waiting to go onstage, and I suddenly thought, ’I don’t want to go on. I danced, came off, took off my ballet shoes and quit.”
He had already long determined his next calling, founding the National Dance Institute in 1976. The joy he took in providing a dance education to kids who might otherwise never have tried the art form in schools, or for some, in classes at the institute was on full display in the Oscar-winning 1983 documentary “He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin,’” a look at his NDI work.