- Jack Cole (choreographer)
Jack Cole (1911 – 1974) was an American
dancer , choreographer, andtheatre director known as the father of theatricaljazz dance .Born John Ewing Richter in
New Brunswick, New Jersey , Cole virtually invented theidiom of American Show Dancing known as "Theater Dance." He developed an entirely personal mode ofjazz -ethnic-ballet that prevails as the dominant look of and technique for dancing in today's musicals,film s,nightclub revue s,television commercial s andmusic video s.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 andTed Shawn . Cole also performed withDoris Humphrey andCharles Weidman , but eventually left themodern dance world for commercial dance career in nightclubs, performing with Alice Dudley, Anna Austin and Florence Lessing.Cole is credited with choreographing and/or directing the stage musicals "Alive and Kicking", "Magdalena", "
Carnival in Flanders ", "Zenda", "Foxy", "Kismet", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ", "Kean", "Donnybrook! ", "Jamaica", and "Man of La Mancha ".His
film work includes "Moon Over Miami", "Cover Girl", "Tonight and Every Night ", "Gilda ", "Down To Earth ", "The Merry Widow", "Meet Me After The Show ", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "There's No Business Like Show Business", "The I Don't Care Girl ", "The Thrill of Brazil ", "Kismet", "Les Girls ", "Let's Make Love ", and many others. He was most famous in Hollywood for his work withRita Hayworth andMarilyn Monroe .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.External links
* [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=14461/ Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0170574/ Internet Movie Database listing]
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