A Comprehensive Analysis of Jack Cole and Theatrical Jazz Dance

This essay examines the significant contributions of Jack Cole to theatrical jazz dance, highlighting his unique style incorporating Bharatnatyam, urban folk elements, and acrobatics. Cole's innovative approach led to the development of Jazz Ethnic Ballet, influencing numerous dancers and choreographers. His work in films like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' with Marilyn Monroe, particularly the 'Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend' choreography, showcased his groundbreaking techniques. The essay also references a contemporary jazz solo, Paulina Macias's 'Toxic,' as an example of fusion incorporating various dance styles, demonstrating Cole's lasting impact on modern jazz dance and its commercial applications. This analysis underscores Cole's role in shaping the vocabulary and grammar of jazz dance, solidifying his legacy as a pioneer in the field.

Running head: JACK COLE AND THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE
Jack Cole and Theatrical Jazz Dance
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Author Note

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JACK COLE AND THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE
This is to be noted that Cole learned Bharatnatyam, an Indian Classical style (Sajnani,
Nisha, and Gopalakrishna). He adopted the urban folk style and offered classes to teach this
style. It can be said that four years of tremendous experimentation he introduced Jazz Ethnic
Ballet. This is evident that Bharatnatyam, urban folk style and acrobats have a significant
influence in his Jazz Ethnic Ballet. It is to be mentioned that Cole is acknowledged as the
ancestor of Jazz Dance (Guarino, Lindsay and Oliver). He was sent to a boarding school and
was left by his parents because of their parents later. Cole learned various dance style including
classical, folk and western styles. However, he had to emerge as a commercial dancer in the
night clubs for earning bread and butter. This is to be mentioned he did not forget his early
lessons but took inspiration and extracts from multiple styles and incorporated them to give
birth to an absolutely new and fresh dance style named Jazz Ethnic Ballet.
This is to be noted that Cole has a significant contribution in the world of Jazz dance.
It is evident that this style is dominating as the leading dance style in the cinemas, musicals,
commercials, videos and nightclubs in the contemporary period. This is to be mentioned that
Cole took the responsibility to develop the vocabulary and grammar of Jazz style. Therefore,
Jazz dance is often acknowledged as Cole-style dance. It is to be seen that small collectives are
using Cole-dance style. This style often used as a popular style in the nightclubs instead of ballet
stages. There are significant talented popular dancers like Verdon, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse,
Peter Gennaro, Gower Champion, and Tommy Tune who wouldn’t emerge as a dancer if
there was no Coley. It is to be mentioned that the Cole Dance Style is angular and acrobatic.
There is a significant impact of Indian Classical Style on Cole Dance Style.
This is to be mentioned that Cole choreographed number of beautiful sequences in the
cinemas of 20th Century. One of these remarkable choreographies was seen in ‘Gentlemen

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JACK COLE AND THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE
Prefer Blondes’ with the popular actress Marilyn Monroe humming ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s
Best Friend’ (Parfitt-Brown and Clare). ‘Moon over Miami’ was the first commercial cinema
where Cole’s group and his choreography came to be regarded. Cole is perhaps the first man
whose dance moves were considered as significantly graceful rather than the women. Monroe
did nothing but copy his moves and appeared as the beautiful dancer. Cole incorporated Indian
Dance into the Jazz based supper club act (Iyengar and Mukunda). He apparently created
history with Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend. This choreography was re-executed in
Madonnna’s ‘Material Girl’.
I found the jazz solo video danced by Paulina Macias named Toxic interesting and
significant in the context of fusion. There is a conscious fusion of acrobats, gymnastic and
belly dance here in this jazz dance. I could also observe an impact of significant number of
Indian styles in this video. There are few moves of Bharatnatyam and Katthak here. I found
an effort of commercializing this format in this particular video. The dancer has used a number
Bollywood dance techniques in this particular solo.

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JACK COLE AND THEATRICAL JAZZ DANCE
Reference:
Guarino, Lindsay, and Wendy Oliver. Jazz dance: A history of the roots and branches.
University Press of Florida, 2014.
Iyengar, Kalpana Mukunda. Asian Indian American students' expression of culture and identity
construction through narrative writing. The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014.
Parfitt-Brown, Clare. "An Australian in Paris: techno-choreographic bohemianism in'Moulin
Rouge!'." The Oxford Handbook of Dance and the Popular Screen (2014): 21.
Sajnani, Nisha, and Maitri Gopalakrishna. "Rasa: Exploring the influence of Indian performance
theory in drama therapy." Drama Therapy Review 3.2 (2017): 225-239.