Books with title I Am: I Am a Dancer

Illustrated with more than fifty breathtaking color and black-and-white photographs, I Am a Dancer tells the inspiring on- and offstage story of thirteen-year-old Eva Lipman, a student at the prestigious School of American Ballet. Readers will be thrilled to follow in Eva's ballet slippers--from chubby, tutued toddler to her current career as a young ballerina in New York City. With a charming combination of beautiful photos and Eva's own words, I Am a Dancer offers a truly personal glimpse of a highly dedicated ballerina's glamorous--and sometimes not-so-glamorous--life, from the bouquets and blisters to the glare of the spotlight and the long, lonely hours of practice. A very special book for girls and ballet fans of all ages!

Illustrated with more than fifty breathtaking color and black-and-white photographs, I Am a Dancer tells the inspiring on- and offstage story of thirteen-year-old Eva Lipman, a student at the prestigious School of American Ballet. Readers will be thrilled to follow in Eva's ballet slippers--from chubby, tutued toddler to her current career as a young ballerina in New York City. With a charming combination of beautiful photos and Eva's own words, I Am a Dancer offers a truly personal glimpse of a highly dedicated ballerina's glamorous--and sometimes not-so-glamorous--life, from the bouquets and blisters to the glare of the spotlight and the long, lonely hours of practice. A very special book for girls and ballet fans of all ages!

“Who am I? I’m a man; an American, a father, a teacher, but most of all, I am a person who knows how the arts can change lives, because they transformed mine. I was a dancer.”In this rich, expansive, spirited memoir, Jacques d’Amboise, one of America’s 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 America’s 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 London’s Covent Garden. As George Balanchine’s protégé, d’Amboise had more works choreographed on him by “the supreme Ballet Master” than any other dancer, among them Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Episodes; A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream; Jewels; Raymonda Variations.He writes of his boyhood—born Joseph Ahearn—in Dedham, Massachusetts; his mother (“the Boss”) moving the family to New York City’s 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, d’Amboise (“It’s aristocratic. It has the ‘d’ apostrophe. It sounds better for the ballet, and it’s 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, Pavlova’s 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.” D’Amboise writes about Balanchine’s succession of ballerina muses who inspired him to near-obsessive passion and led him to create extraordinary ballets, dancers with whom d’Amboise partnered—Maria 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 (“She’s perfect,” Balanchine said. “Uncomplicated—like fresh water”); and Karin von Aroldingen, to whom Balanchine left most of his ballets. D’Amboise writes about dancing with and courting one of the company’s 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 you’re 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 spirit—all to see how it would influence the dance movements”).D’Amboise 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.

“Who am I? I’m a man; an American, a father, a teacher, but most of all, I am a person who knows how the arts can change lives, because they transformed mine. I was a dancer.”In this rich, expansive, spirited memoir, Jacques d’Amboise, one of America’s 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 America’s 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 London’s Covent Garden. As George Balanchine’s protégé, d’Amboise had more works choreographed on him by “the supreme Ballet Master” than any other dancer, among them Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux; Episodes; A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream; Jewels; Raymonda Variations.He writes of his boyhood—born Joseph Ahearn—in Dedham, Massachusetts; his mother (“the Boss”) moving the family to New York City’s 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, d’Amboise (“It’s aristocratic. It has the ‘d’ apostrophe. It sounds better for the ballet, and it’s 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 and by other teachers of great legend: Anatole Oboukhoff, premier danseur of the Maryinsky; and Pierre Vladimiroff, Pavlova’s partner. D’Amboise writes about Balanchine’s succession of ballerina muses who inspired him to near-obsessive passion and led him to create extraordinary ballets, dancers with whom d’Amboise partnered—Maria 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 (“She’s perfect,” Balanchine said. “Uncomplicated—like fresh water”); and Karin von Aroldingen, to whom Balanchine left most of his ballets. D’Amboise writes about dancing with and courting one of the company’s 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 you’re 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 spirit—all to see how it would influence the dance movements”).D’Amboise 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.

Disclaimer: The following story contains sexual explicit material which is not suitable for those who are under the age of 18.another beautiful gay love fairytale of 18 year old Adam who meets by pure chance the man of his dreams.Excerpt 1: I was startled, but soon I understood that Tom was the real boss, the super star from Vietnam, who was setting up the whole show. I admit I had never heard about him before, but the music which had been used for the rehearsals was really nice. Tom kept my arm captive and we ventured into an overstretched white Lincoln limousine waiting in front of the exit, which was taking us to a 5 star restaurant nearby. During lunch, I was sitting next to Tom who treated me like his best friend and chief-advisor; I was challenged to comment on the single issues and songs we had been discussing before. To my surprise, my observations were received with greatest interest and the dinner finished all smiles. Tom, who was maybe only 25 years old, treated everybody with great respect, yet he spoke with soft authority and even lowered his voice when he wanted everybody to listen more carefully. I liked his style, everybody respected him so much and I knew I was falling in love.Excerpt 2: “Come!” Tom pleaded me and guided me to the bedroom where he slowly undressed me and I, a bit unsure on how to do it, undressed this marvel of a young man. We continued kissing and it seemed to me the most natural thing in the world. Tom’s body was worth the discovery of America. Apart from his perfect golden brown incredibly smooth skin, his chest looked like sculptured by Michelangelo, with large well trained pecs and a wonderful smooth six-pack; his muscular arms were a delight. I was amazed on how beautiful he was. I had fantasized about men before, but I never actually had touched one.