Broadway Dancers and Choreographers Share How Jacques D’Amboise Changed Musical Theatre Dance | Playbill

Special Features Broadway Dancers and Choreographers Share How Jacques D’Amboise Changed Musical Theatre Dance In honor of his 85th birthday, Chita Rivera, Camille A. Brown and more celebrate d’Amboise’s impact on Broadway and beyond.
Charlotte d'Amboise and Jacques d'Amboise Noam Galai/Getty Images for National Dance Institute

Jacques d'Amboise began his career as a dancer for New York City Ballet under the tutelage of George Balanchine. Though he went on to choreograph for NYCB, he did make his way to the theatre, performing in Broadway’s Shinbone Alley and dancing in films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Carousel.

But in 1976 d’Amboise founded the organization that would be his true legacy: the National Dance Institute. For the past four decades, NDI has been teaching children in New York City public schools to dance. The program serves over 6,000 students a week, the majority from low-income families, for free. While empowering all of the youth in the program to express themselves, NDI has also launched the careers of dancers, including Dharon E. Jones, who was recently cast in Broadway’s upcoming West Side Story revival.

Even for those who did not study at NDI, d’Amboise and his dancing have impacted some of today’s top dance minds. Here, they celebrate the performer and his contributions:

“Jacques has taught me many things aside from dance as an art form. He taught me that having patience for a vision and dream you have will allow you to enjoy and love every part of the process in turning those dreams into reality. I remember being in awe of Jacques’ jumping ability, I still am. He has inspired me to keep jumping and reaching for the stars through his honest and inspirational vision that he has brought to life with NDI.” —Dharon E. Jones (NDI alum & Action for the 2020 West Side Story Broadway revival)

“The students of NDI performed one of their dances for me when I visited and it was a glorious experience! There was so much joy and pride in all of their faces. That experience reiterated the importance of Jacques’ work and his profound influence on the dance world. He has created safe spaces for all generations to find and celebrate joy through movement. It is a gift to witness!” —Choreographer Camille A. Brown (Choir Boy, Once On This Island)

“Jacques is a legacy who has generously spent his time and money on creating a foundation to pass on his love and knowledge of dance. Jacques reminds me daily that art is for every person. Not elitist. But fundamental.” —Choreographer Lorin Latarro (upcoming Almost Famous, Waitress)

“As a student, I performed the part Jacques originated in Western Symphony for SAB’s Annual Workshop. Little did I know I would go on to perform many of his roles at the New York City Ballet. It wasn’t until we worked on ‘Apollo’ together that I really understood how to dance. Jacques has become not only a mentor of mine but a friend. He flew all the way to Paris to see my first show of An American in Paris. I owe him so much. He paved the way for a guy like me to do what we both love to do.” —Tony-nominated performer Robert Fairchild (An American in Paris)

“Watching Jacques d’Amboise and Sheree North in ‘The Best Things in Life Are Free’ is a lesson in storytelling through dance. What made Jacques so special, you believed everything he did.”
—Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter (current London revival Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, School of Rock)

“The mere thought of Jacques d’Amboise takes my breath away. When I was 14, I won a scholarship to the New York City Ballet. I saw Jacques dance in class and fell in love. Since then, Jacques has always brought dance to life. His body of work, especially in arts education with children, is unparalleled. Happy birthday, Jacques! Love from that 14-year-old girl.” —Two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman)

Inside the National Dance Institute Gala Honoring Tony Winner Bebe Neuwirth

D’Amboise has been a special guest performer on Playbill Travel’s Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Broadway in the Great Northwest, Playbill Travel’s first domestic cruise featuring Kate Baldwin, Tedd Firth, Christopher Fitzgerald, Aaron Lazar, and Faith Prince (April 26–May 4, 2020), and for Broadway on the Mediterranean (August 31–September 7, 2020), featuring Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Lindsay Mendez, and for Broadway on the Nile (December 27,2020–January 7, 2021), with performers soon to be announced. To book a suite or stateroom, call Playbill Travel at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.

 
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