Legendary Ballet Dancer, Jacques d’Amboise Coming to the Historic Asolo Theater
Sarasota, FL – March 13, 2008 – One of the finest ballet dancers of our time, Jacques d’Amboise will share his lifetime devoted to dancing and teaching in Jacques d’Amboise: He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing at the Historic Asolo Theater at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art on Wednesday, April 2 at 5:30 p.m.
This is the third and final in the Conversations With the Legendary Artists of the Stage series hosted by June LeBell.
“D’Amboise is a man of extreme commitment to the world of classical dance both on and off the stage,” said June LeBell, host of the Conversations With the Legendary Artists of the Stage series. “His energy and passion to the art is contagious.”
Now leading the field of arts education with a model program that exposes thousands of school children to the magic and discipline of dance, d’Amboise has devoted his life to classical dance on and off the stage. While the principal star at the New York City Ballet, d’Amboise founded the National Dance Institute to provide children with an awareness of dance as an alternative to life on the street. Starting with just 30 students, the program has expanded across the country. He has received numerous awards for his contribution to arts education including a 1990 MacArthur Fellowship, the first Producer's Circle Award for public service in enriching the lives of New York City children and the distinguished Paul Robeson Award for Excellence in the Field of the Humanities.
D’Amboise’s career as a ballet star began as a young child in New York City in an attempt to keep him away from street gangs. Soon becoming a prodigious ballet dancer, he became the principal dancer at the New York City Ballet at age 17 where he continued performing until his retirement at age 50. He was also a favorite for movies and Broadway shows and also inspired George Balanchine and Frederick Ashton to choreograph some of their most famous pieces.
The Academy Award-winning film, He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing, documents d’Amboise’s lifetime devoted to dancing and teaching. The film will be screened free of charge following the program.
June LeBell is a renowned music critic and was the first female broadcaster for New York City’s famed WQXR classical music station.
Tickets for Jacques d’Amboise: He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing are $30 and $27 for Ringling Members. A series of tickets for all three programs in the Conversations With the Legendary Artists of the Stage series, if purchased with the first two programs, are $81 and $72 for Ringling Members. Tickets are available at the Historic Asolo Theater Box Office by calling 941.360.7399 or www.ringling.org.