Recognized as one of the finest classical dancers of our time, Jacques D'Amboise now leads the field of arts education with the National Dance Institute, a model program that exposes thousands of school children to the magic and discipline of dance. In 1976, while still a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, Mr. D'Amboise founded NDI in the belief that the arts have a unique power to engage and motivate individuals towards excellence. D'Amboise began his ballet training when very young, studying at the age of 8 with George Balanchine and other ballet greats, performing at age 12 with the Ballet Society, which later became the New York City Ballet, and joining the NYCB at age 15. As Balanchine's protg, D'Amboise had more works choreographed specifically for him by Balanchine than any other dancer. D'Amboise is most remembered for his portrayal of what critics called 'the definitive Apollo'. As a choreographer, Mr. D'Amboise's credits include almost twenty works commissioned for New York City Ballet. Since 1976, NDI programs in New York City and its associate programs, both nationally and internationally, have reached and influenced over 2 million children.