I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise
By Jacques d'Amboise“Who am I? I’m a man; an American, a father, a teacher, but most of all, I am a person who knows how the arts can change lives, because they transformed mine. I was a dancer.”
In this rich, expansive, spirited memoir, Jacques d’Amboise, one of America’s most celebrated classical dancers, and former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet for more than three decades, tells the extraordinary story of his life in dance, and of America’s most renowned and admired dance companies.
He writes of his classical studies beginning at the age of eight at The School of American Ballet. At twelve he was asked to perform with Ballet Society; three years later he joined the New York City Ballet and made his European debut at London’s Covent Garden.
As George Balanchine’s protégé, d’Amboise had more works choreographed on him by “the supreme Ballet Master” than any other dancer, among them Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Episodes; A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream; Jewels; Raymonda Variations .
He writes of his boyhood—born Joseph Ahearn—in Dedham, Massachusetts; his mother (“the Boss”) moving the family to New York City’s Washington Heights; dragging her son and daughter to ballet class (paying the teacher $7.50 from hats she made and sold on street corners, and with chickens she cooked stuffed with chestnuts); his mother changing the family name from Ahearn to her maiden name, d’Amboise (“It’s aristocratic. It has the ‘d’ apostrophe. It sounds better for the ballet, and it’s a better name”).
We see him. a neighborhood tough, in Catholic schools being taught by the nuns; on the streets, fighting with neighborhood gangs, and taking ten classes a week at the School of American Ballet . . . being taught professional class by Balanchine (he was “small, unassuming, he radiated energy and total command”) and by other teachers of great Anatole Oboukhoff, premier danseur of the Maryinsky Theatre (“Such a big star,” said Balanchine, “people followed him, like a prince with servants”); and Pierre Vladimiroff, Pavlova’s partner (“So light on feather feet”). Vladimiroff drilled into his students, “You must practice, practice, practice. Onstage, forget everything! Just listen to the music and dance.”
D’Amboise writes about Balanchine’s succession of ballerina muses who inspired him to near-obsessive passion and led him to create extraordinary ballets, dancers with whom d’Amboise partnered—Maria Tallchief; Tanaquil LeClercq, a stick-skinny teenager who blossomed into an exquisite, witty, sophisticated “angel” with her “long limbs and dramatic, mysterious elegance . . .”; the iridescent Allegra Kent; Melissa Hayden; Suzanne Farrell, who Balanchine called his “alabaster princess,” her every fiber, every movement imbued with passion and energy; Kay Mazzo; Kyra Nichols (“She’s perfect,” Balanchine said. “Uncomplicated—like fresh water”); and Karin von Aroldingen, to whom Balanchine left most of his ballets.
D’Amboise writes about dancing with and courting one of the company’s members, who became his wife for fifty-three years, and the four children they had . . . On going to Hollywood to make Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and being offered a long-term contract at MGM (“If you’re not careful,” Balanchine warned, “you will have sold your soul for seven years”) . . . On Jerome Robbins (“Jerry could be charming and complimentary, and then, five minutes later, attack, and crush your spirit—all to see how it would influence the dance movements”).
D’Amboise writes of the moment when he realizes his dancing career is over and he begins a new life and new dream teaching children all over the world about the arts through the magic of dance.
A riveting, magical book, as transformative as dancing itself.
Buy I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise at attic books nairobi kenya||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise price in nairobi kenya||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise pricev at attic books||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise ||where to buy I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise in nairobi kenya||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise official book||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise discounted price||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise book summary||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise book review||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise book overview||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise edition||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise quotes||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise themes||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise pdf ||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise free pdf download||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise paperback||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise hardcover||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise audiobook||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise ebook||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise original book||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise online hardcopy||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise study guide||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise availability in nairobi||I was a Dancer book by Jacques d'Amboise
Book details
- Hardcover
- 464 pages
- English
- 1400042348
- 9781400042340
About Jacques d'Amboise
jacques d'amboise was Read More about Jacques d'Amboise
More Books By Jacques d'Amboise
People who bought this also bought
From Fallen to Forgiven: A Spiritual Journey into Wholeness and Healing
Used Book
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
New Book
The South Beach Diet : The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss
Used Book
Please Don't Drink from the Finger Bowl: An Executive Guide for Business Protocol
Used Book
How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed book by Ray Kurzweil
New Book
The young church in action: A translation of the Acts of the Apostles
Used Book
How to Make Anyone Like You : Proven Ways to Become a People Magnet book by Leil Lowndes
New Book
Forbes Richest People: The Forbes Annual Profile of the World's Wealthiest Men and Women
Used Book
Secrets of Building Electrostatic Lightning Bolt Generators including high voltage test equipment, expeeriments, motors and more!
Used Book
Does Inerrancy Matter? by James Montgomery Boice
Used Book
Breathwalk: Breathing Your Way to a Revitalized Body, Mind and Spirit
Used Book
Love Defined: Embracing God's Vision for Lasting Love and Satisfying Relationships
Like New
Winning Ways: Four Secrets for Getting Great Results by Working Well with People
Used Book
When Holidays Hurt: Finding Hidden Hope Amid Pain and Loss book by Bo Stern
Used Book
Loving the Questions: Exploration of the Nicene Creed by Marianne H. Micks
Used Book
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock
New Book
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly : A Memoir of Life in Death
Used Book
Signspotting : Absurd and Amusing Signs from Around the World by Doug Lansky
Used Book
No Picnic on Mount Kenya: A Daring Escape, A Perilous Climb book by Felice Benuzzi
New Book
Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living Book by Pema Chodron
New Book