d'Amboise, Jacques (zhäk dămbwäz`), 1934–, American dancer and choreographer, b. Dedham, Mass. D'Amboise became a soloist with the New York City Ballet in 1953. He is best known for his roles in such distinctly American dance works as Filling Station and Western Symphony. He has 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 he established to bring dance into the public schools.

d'Amboise, Jacques

orig. Jacques Joseph Ahearn

(born July 28, 1934, Dedham, Mass., U.S.) U.S. dancer and choreographer. After studying at the School of American Ballet, he made his debut at age 12. He joined the New York City Ballet at age 15 and from the 1950s to the 1970s created leading roles in ballets such as Western Symphony (1954), Stars and Stripes (1958), and Who Cares? (1970). D'Amboise was admired for his athletic interpretations of both character and classical roles. He also performed in films. He later founded and directed the National Dance Institute, a nonprofit group dedicated to dance instruction in public schools.

D'Amboise, Jacques (1934– ) ballet dancer, choreographer; born in Dedham, Mass. After training with the School of American Ballet, he joined the New York City Ballet in 1949. For more than 30 years he performed leading roles in such Balanchine classics as Apollo. He began choreographing works in 1963. In 1977 he formed the National Dance Institute to teach dance to children in inner-city schools. The winner of a MacArthur Foundation award, he trained and staged performances involving over 100,000 children nationwide.