what made jack cole (father of jazz dance) famous?

Question

does anybody know what gave Jack Cole his big break? a movie or a broadway play? i need to know by thursday night and i can't find it anywhere!!!!!!!!!!

i need a specific work. not just a general "choreographing broadway shows and movies!" type thing. thank you.

Answer 1

i believe it was prue talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Jack Cole (1911 - 1974) , born John Ewing Richter, was an American choreographer, and is known as the father of theatrical jazz dance.

Cole virtually invented the idiom of American Show Dancing known as "Theater Dance." He developed an entirely personal mode of jazz-ethnic-ballet that prevails as the dominant look of and technique for dancing in today's musicals, films, nightclub revues, television commercials and music videos.Jack Cole began as a modern dancer with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. During the depression era, he switched from modern to commercial dance. He danced and choreographed in nightclubs and would go on to work for Broadway and the movies. Jazz dance steps were popular at the time but lacked a technical side. Cole was the first to merge the modern dance aspect of motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make technical and artistic jazz dance.

In addition to modern influences, Cole had a background in East Indian dancing and Lindy hop. He blended all of these elements to create a distinctive style. If we look at the face of Cole's jazz dance style, we are bound to see an uncanny resemblance to ourselves.

From Cole's modern training, he brought a low sense of gravity. The use of deep plié gives jazz its sense of power and explosiveness. From East Indian dancing, Cole borrowed a refined use of isolation. Today, isolations are an integral part of jazz classes. From the Lindy hoppers, he brought an intricate use of swing rhythm - syncopation. The use of knee slides and floor work came from Cole's acrobatic experience. These common traits are found in the jazz dance genes of today. If Jerry Springer paid for the DNA testing, the results would be 99.98% positive that Jack Cole was indeed our father.

Jack choreographed numerous Broadway and Hollywood musicals. In Hollywood, Cole was put in charge of training dancers for the movies. To train dancers for his aggressive and cat-like style, Jack taught Cecchetti ballet, Humphrey/Weidman modern, East Indian dance, flamenco, and gymnastics. The classes included such movie and dance stars as Gwen Verdon, Ann Reinking, Rita Hayworth, Matt Mattox, and Mitzi Gaynor. Cole choreographed the films The Merry Widow, No Business Like Show Business, Kismet, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe. On Broadway, he choreographed several musicals including Kismet.



Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey , Cole is remembered as the prime innovator of the theatrical jazz dance heritage. Early on he decided to pursue dance with the Denishawn Dance Company led by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. Cole also performed with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, but eventually left the modern dance world for commercial dance career in nightclubs, performing with Alice Dudley, Anna Austin and Florence Lessing.

Cole is credited with choreographing the Broadway shows Magdalena, Carnival in Flanders, Kismet, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Kean, Donneybrook!, Jamaica, and Man of La Mancha. His filmwork includes Moon Over Miami, Cover Girl,Tonight and Every Night, Gilda, The Merry Widow, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, There's No Business Like Show Business, The I Don't Care Girl, Thrill Of Brazil, Down To Earth, Kismet, Les Girls, and many others. He was most famous in Hollywood for his work with Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe.

Jack Cole's unmistakable style endures in the work of Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion, Peter Gennaro, Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune, and countless other dancers and choreographers.

Answer 2

Jack Cole Choreographer

Answer 3

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RE:
what made jack cole (father of jazz dance) famous?
does anybody know what gave Jack Cole his big break? a movie or a broadway play? i need to know by thursday night and i can't find it anywhere!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

While his first experience was as a performer on the broadway stage. I think that his "big break" actually came in the form of choreographing for the stage. His background in modern dance fused with his theatrical flare are what made him different that what previously out there. Up until that point, most dance in theater was more ballet-centered. He broke that mold and used influences from a variety of dance forms, both traditional and contemporary.



EDIT ADDED 11/13: If you go to the IBDB link below, it lists EVERY show he was in and choreographed.