KATHERINE DUNHAM

JACK COLE-1911-1974THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCEKNOWN AS THE FATHER OF THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE.COLE IS REMEMBERED AS THE PRIME INNOVATOR OF THETHEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE HERITAGE.EARLY ON HE DECIDED TO PURSUE DANCE WITH THE DENISHAWNDANCE COMPANY LED BY RUTH ST. DENIS AND TED SHAWN.COLE ALSO PERFORMED WITH DORIS HUMPHREY AND CHARLESWEIDMAN, BUT EVENTUALLY LEFT THE MODERN DANCE WORLDFOR COMMERCIAL DANCE CAREER IN NIGHTCLUBSHE WAS MOST FAMOUS IN HOLLYWOOD FOR HIS WORK WITH RITAHAYWORTH AND MARILYN MONROE.HE COMBINED THE STYLES OF BALLET AND MODERN DANCE WITHTHE RHYTHMS AND ISOLATIONS OF AFRICAN AND EAST INDIANDANCE TO CREATE A JAZZ DANCE TECHNIQUE.