Former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer
Honored Educator
Founder of the National Dance Institute
Recognized as one of the finest classical dancers of our
time, Jacques d’Amboise now leads the field of
education with a model program that exposes thousands of
school children each year to the magic and discipline of
dance. In 1976, while still a principal dancer with the New
York City Ballet, Jacques founded the not for profit
National Dance Institute in the belief that the arts have a
unique power to engage and motivate individuals towards
excellence. His contributions in arts education have earned
him numerous honors:
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THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF ARTS (1998)
America’s highest national honor for
cultural contribution
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THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS (1995)
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THE AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE ARTS
FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND LETTERS
(1993)
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MacARTHUR FELLOWSHIP (1990)
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THE CAPEZIO AWARD ( 1990)
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THE FIRST ANNUAL PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARD
FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN ENRICHING THE LIVES OF NEW
YORK CITY CHILDREN (1989)
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THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AWARD
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THE DISTINGUISHED PAUL ROBESON AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF HUMANITIES (1988)
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THE GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ART AND CULTURE OF NEW YORK
STATE (1986)
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THE BIG BROTHERS OF NEW YORK CITY SIDEWALKS OF
NEW YORK AWARD FOR ENTERTAINMENT (1984)
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An Academy Award, six Emmy Awards, The Peabody Award, the
Golden Cine Award and the Education Association Award for
the Advancement of Learning Through Broadcasting were
awarded for He Makes Me Feel Dancin’, a 1984 film
documenting Jacques’ work with National Dance
Institute.
As a teacher, has been the recipient of many honors and
served as a Professor of Dance and Dean for two years at
SUNY, Purchase.
Jacques has been an avid hiker most of his life. Since
leaving the rigors of the ballet, you could find him hiking
trails in lower New York State. Since 1984 he has become an
active back packer hiking various trails in the US. In
addition to hiking different parts of the Appalachian Trail
in Maine, Georgia and North Carolina over the past 10 years,
Jacques has hiked Crested Butte in Aspen, Jackson Hole in
Wyoming and Pekos Wilderness near Santa Fe.
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