April 27
Born Today:
Jack Cole
Dancer and choreographer Jack Cole (1911-1974) is often called the ‘Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance,’ and indeed he blended the components of what is now called jazz dance - jagged syncopated movement featuring isolations and influences from modern dance and world dance styles. He began studying dance with Denishawn and early modern choreographer Doris Humphrey (1895-1958) and made a name for himself as a Broadway choreographer and nightclub performer. Starting in the mid 1940s, he split his time between Broadway and Hollywood, choreographing for Rita Hayworth (1918-1987) in Gilda (1946) and Down to Earth (1947), and making Marilyn Monroe look spectacular in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Some Like it Hot (1959). He mentored Broadway dancer Gwen Verdon (1925-2000) and his style is evident in the work of subsequent generations of Broadway dancers and choreographers.
Also Born Today: Indian dancer Zohra Sehgal (1912-2014) danced with Uday Shankar (1900-1977) in the 1930s and appeared in Bollywood films and in Merchant/Ivory Films in the 1980s, Lindy Hop dancer Leon James (1913-1970) is best known for partnering Willa Mae Ricker (1910-1978). Postmodern choreographer, dance critic, and former architecture student Gus Solomons, Jr. (1940-) conceives of dance as “melted architecture”. Ballerina Darcey Bussell (1969-) performed with the Royal Ballet from 1989-2007 and was named president of the organization in 2012.