I Was a Dancer: A Memoir (Signed First Edition)
Language: English
Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York., 2011
- First Edition
- Signed
- Hardcover
- New
Seller: Dan Pope Books, West Hartford, CT, U.S.A.Dan Pope Books
AbeBooks seller since October 12, 2002
Condition: New
£ 389.30
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. First edition. First printing. Very fine in a very fine dust jacket. Publisher’s original price intact on jacket flap ($35.00). Comes with archival-quality mylar dust jacket protector. Octavo, 443 pages, with photographs. A pristine, unread copy. Jacques d’Amboise’s expansive autobiography, recounting his more than three decades as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and his collaborations with George Balanchine, as well as his later work as a choreographer and founder of the National Dance Institute. d’Amboise (1934–2021) was an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and educator, one of the most celebrated dancers of his generation, and recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors (1995) and the National Medal of Arts (1998). "I Was a Dancer" was his major memoir. Signed by the author on the title page, his name only. Purchased new and opened only for signature. You cannot find a better copy.
Seller Inventory # 04-2011-202
- Title
- I Was a Dancer: A Memoir (Signed First Edition)
- Author
- Jacques d'Amboise
- Publisher
- Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
- Publication year
- 2011
- Condition
- New
- Dust jacket
- New
- Signed
- Signed by Author(s)
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1400042348
- ISBN 13
- 9781400042340
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Seller catalogs
- Dance
In this rich, expansive, spirited memoir, Jacques dAmboise, one of Americas 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 Americas 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 Londons Covent Garden.
As George Balanchines protégé, dAmboise had more works choreographed on him by the supreme Ballet Master than any other dancer, among them Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Episodes; A Midsummers Nights Dream; Jewels; Raymonda Variations.
He writes of his boyhoodborn Joseph Ahearnin Dedham, Massachusetts; his mother (the Boss) moving the family to New York Citys 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, dAmboise (Its aristocratic. It has the d apostrophe. It sounds better for the ballet, and its 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 legend: 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, Pavlovas 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.
DAmboise writes about Balanchines succession of ballerina muses who inspired him to near-obsessive passion and led him to create extraordinary ballets, dancers with whom dAmboise partneredMaria 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 (Shes perfect, Balanchine said. Uncomplicatedlike fresh water); and Karin von Aroldingen, to whom Balanchine left most of his ballets.
DAmboise writes about dancing with and courting one of the companys 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 youre 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 spiritall to see how it would influence the dance movements).
DAmboise 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.
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About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Dan Pope Books
West Hartford, CT, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since October 12, 2002
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Signed Modern First Editions, University Press, Modern First EditionsSeller's business information
Dan Pope Books
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