Dance legend Jacques d'Amboise recently held a free ballet master class at Syracuse Stage for more than 30 local students. The class was a special event for registered students and special guests of the Syracuse University and Upstate NY Ballet Summer Dance Intensive, which begins July 9. D'Amboise was in town as part of SU Reunion weekend to honor longtime friend, SU Trustee and patron Gerald B. Cramer '52, who received an Arents Award from SU.
D'Amboise joined the New York City Ballet in 1950 and was a principal dancer and choreographer with the company for more than three decades. Some of his work continues as part of the company's repertoire. In 1976, he founded the National Dance Institute, inspired by the hope that he could do for young children what his first dance teacher did for him. Today, he is one of the world's best-known ballet dancers, choreographers and teachers.
The master class featured a live piano accompaniment. D'Amboise's friend Judith Fugate, an SU Summer Dance Intensive faculty member and former principal ballerina with the NYC Ballet, attended, as did Cramer's daughter Lauren. Lauren and her father are helping bring BalletNY to the SU campus on Nov. 2, as part of the 2006-07 SU Pulse season.
The SU and Upstate NY Ballet Summer Dance Intensive is a four-week unique and challenging
dance program for serious ballet students ages 12-20 to help them grow
technically, artistically and personally. It takes place on the SU campus,
features renowned guest artists, and culminates with a public dance performance.
The program runs July 9-Aug. 5. For more information, visit http://suce.syr.edu/ballet5.
