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Birth of Jack Cole
Cole was born John Ewing Richter in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He decided to go into the dance industry with the Denishawn dance company led by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. Also did a performance with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman but soon got out of modern dance to enter commercial dance at nightclubs. (http://www.walkerdance.org/WALKERDANCE/JackColeBio.html) -
Style
Jack Cole was able to study the Indian form Bharata Natyam and used ethnic material in his dances. The performers he had were able to perform in nightclubs using Cole style of dance. -
First Broadway show
"The dream of Sganarelle" was the first Broadway musical Cole did. -
Moon Over Miami
"Moon Over Miami" was one of his films directed by Walter Lang with Betty Grable and Don Ameche in leading roles and co-starring Robert Cummings, Carole Landis, Jack Haley, and Charlotte Greenwood. -
Choreograher
"Something for the boys" was a performance that Cole got to choreograph, being his first Broadway credit as a choreographer -
The Thrill of Brazil
"The trill of Brazil" was also another film work Cole did. The play had a little tap involved and had people like Evelyn Keyes, Keenan Wynn, and Ann Miller starring in it. -
Legacy
Cole is leaving behind something that will be used throughout the dancing lifestyle. American show dancing known as "theatrical jazz dance." He developed a mode of jazz-ethnic-ballet that prevails as the dominant dancing style in today's musicals, films, nightclub revues, and television commercials. Cole acrobatic and angular dance style will always be remembered through people like Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse, and Jerome Robbins. -
Rest of Jack Cole
Left this world in 1974 and was staying in Los Angeles, California. He was a dancer, choreographer and theater director known as the father of theatrical jazz dance.
