JACQUES D'AMBOISE Obituary

D'AMBOISE--Jacques. The George Balanchine Foundation mourns the passing of beloved, one-of-a-kind dance legend Jacques d'Amboise, on whom Balanchine created more roles than any other dancer during Jacques' 35 years with New York City Ballet. We are fortunate that d'Amboise shared his insights in several quintessential coaching sessions recorded between 2012 and 2019 for our GBF Video Archives and housed for posterity at the Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the NYPL for Performing Arts. With his inimitable enthusiasm, poetry, showmanship and sparkle, Jacques brought to life in these coaching sessions with young dancers the nuance and intent behind principal roles from Balanchine's masterpieces Apollo, Who Cares?, Stars and Stripes, Episodes, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, and the Diamonds pas de deux from Jewels. Jacques was a man whose heart, like his leaps, knew no bounds. We cherish his memory and join our colleagues around the world in extending our condolences to Jacques' family and everyone at NDI.

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Published by New York Times on May 6, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for JACQUES D'AMBOISE

8 Entries

Donna Centracchio

May 8, 2021

My sincere condolences to family and friends. My heart, prayers and thoughts are with all of you.

Claude L. Winfield

May 7, 2021

Jacques was such a kind, warm and personal individuals. We shared a love if working with kids...when you saw him with the children..you knew he was for real.

Irene Rosner David

May 7, 2021

I remember Jacques as an exuberant teenager who danced outside my dad’s candy store in Washington Heights. As a child enamored of ballet, I was captivated by his skill and joy. Upon re-meeting Jacques only a few years ago in the audience at City Center, he greeted me with the same effervescence of his youth. He was excited to meet someone from his formative days and spontaneously flowed with colorful reminiscences. That radiance will glow on in our memories.

Jane Minion

May 7, 2021

A loss to the dance world, his contributions were immense.
Death shall have no dominion. Unique. No one compares.
His spirit will live in the hearts and minds of thousands whose lives he graced.

Lisa Wishnick

May 6, 2021

Jacques, you will be dearly missed for all the joy you have brought to so many, and the laughs we shared. Rest well. Sweet Prince.

Nina Priya David

May 5, 2021

It's been many years since I taught, choreographed and assisted Jacques with NDI. Yet rarely a day goes by that I don't draw upon something that I learned with him. He helped me as an artist and as a person beyond measure. The last time I saw Jacques was on the subway at Times Square during morning rush hour. It was perfect - all these people moving around yet such a warm connection, as if we'd seen each just the day before. I wish I could see him again - but the legacy lives on in the dancing. Thank you, Jacques!
Condolences and much love to the family and everyone at NDI

Colleen Neary

May 4, 2021

What a beautiful person, human being, dancer and life force. Jacques was a huge force in my life and an incredible coach and he always gave so much to everyone around him. He loved dance and life and that was proven through his work with NDI later on also. I knew him from when I was 8 years old, and I even babysat his kids later on with my sister Pat...I had the honor of working with him, and even dancing with him, and he taught me so much about detail, and made me believe in myself as a dancer.

A beautiful and wonderful person. RIP dear Jacques, you gave so many so much!!! And I know you are still giving and dancing......

much love and condolences to Chris, George, Charlotte and Catherine, and their children.....

Deborah Rush

May 4, 2021

Dear Charlotte,
We mourn with you for the loss of your great father. The world will celebrate his genius on the stage with Balanchine et al. We would like to add the memory of climbing Mt Kathadin in Maine with him on the first leg of his Appalachian Trail hike to raise money for his children’s dance institute. Kathadin was the harshest climb and his start. My son, Walt and I got to see him dance his triumphant jig on the mountaintop, although he, decades older, had arrived much earlier. Husband Chip Cronkite and our younger son Peter were shooting him from a small plane for a documentary. He would teach this jig to delighted school groups all along the trail. Extraordinary, enchanting, visionary, genius only begin to describe your father. Lucky everyone who got to enjoy any minute of him.
Sending love
Deborah Rush

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/09/23/with-a-song-in-his-step/fa985b11-befc-46e8-a5b6-e67f371b5e00/

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