Active years: 1934-today

Position: American ballet dancer and choreographer.

Career Highlights: D’Amboise is known for his roles in some of the New York City Ballet’s greatest productions, including Balanchine’s Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, Apollo and Stars and Stripes. He also choreographed Tchaikovsky Suite (Nr. 2), which remains in the company’s repertory. D’Amboise’s film career includes hits such as the 1956 Carousel.

Career Totals: D’Amboise started dancing with the New York City Ballet nearly at its start, in 1949. He has danced in numerous pieces since then, becoming the principal dancer. D’Amboise choreographed his first piece for the company, entitled The Chase, in 1963 and went on to create more than eight dances. In the 1950s he appeared in three films and has often been seen on televison.

Scouting Report: At the tender age of eight, d’Amboise started dancing with his two siblings for the Ballet Society. The Society became the New York City Ballet, where d’Ambroise made his name.

Teammates and Contemporaries: D’Amboise danced in many Balanchine productions. He also performed pieces by choreographers Frederick Ashton, Lew Christensen and Jerome Robbins.

Fun Statistic: D’Amboise founded the National Dance Institute twenty years ago as an organization to help bring the satisfaction of success to children of all backgrounds through the arts, and especially dance.