LEWISTON — Lewiston Public Library will present an author talk and book reading by Jacques d’Amboise at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, in the library’s Callahan Hall.

A former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, d’Amboise will speak on his recently published autobiography, I Was a Dancer.

The event is free and open to the public.

D’Amboise entered the School of American Ballet at age 8 where he was discovered and nurtured by George Balanchine. Balanchine is considered by many to be the greatest dance luminary of the 20th century. At age 15, Balanchine invited d’Amboise to join the New York City Ballet and two years later moved him into a principal dancer role. Over the years Balanchine choreographed more pieces for Jacques than any of his other male dancers.

In 1976, after 35 years with NYCB, d’Amboise left the ballet to found a nonprofit, National Dance Institute, an arts education program that shares the joy of dance with the next generation. NDI has transformed the lives of more than 2 million public school children through award-winning arts and learning programs.

In addition to his international dance fame, the d’Amboise family has roots in Lewiston. In the early 1900s his maternal grandfather immigrated to the area from Quebec to work in the mills. Even though he grew up in New York City, Jacques has many fond memories of summers spent in Maine with his cousins.

In addition to his LPL presentation, Bates Dance will be hosting d’Amboise for a similar program during the afternoon of March 30th at 4:15 p.m. in the Muskie Archives, 56 Campus Ave., on the Bates College campus. This event is open to the general public.

Following both talks, copies of the book will be available for sale and signing by the author. For more information, visit the Lewiston Public Library webpage at lplonline.org or call the library’s Reference Desk at 513-3135.