The Jack Cole Style

Cole dancer Buzz Miller remembers him as being a “coiled spring. ” Another quality was that of supreme strength in movement. His dancers were rock solid, and Graciela Daniele, the well-known choreographer and director of musicals at Lincoln Center, felt that Cole dancers were “warriors. ” An excellent description of this aspect of the Cole style was given by critic Debra Jowitt, who said ” Cole dancing strikes me as immensely aggressive; almost every gesture is delivered with maximum force, but then has to be stopped cold in mid-air to achieve the clarity of design he wanted… n immense counter effort has to be used to stop the gesture. ” Cole explored all spatial level in his choreography. Knee slides and floorwork were common, and it was normal for dancers to spring from the deepest plie into high, suspended leaps. He also abhorred the smiling, happy face seen in most jazz and tap dance of the time. Instead, he preferred a cool, almost cold look in the eyes. He danced with a piercing gaze, much like a newly caged tiger, that could prod and intimidate an audience. Rhythm is integral to Cole’s style.

Cole observed dancers at Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom dancing the lindy, and utilised the swing feeling in their bodies. Swingmusichas a drop and recovery, much like a bouncing ball, that generates new energy on each rebound. This feeling, as transformed into authentic jazz dances, gives renewed energy and attack to each subsequent movement. Cole integrated this bounce and rebound into his movement, giving it a fresh and lively appearance. He also manipulated the dynamics of his movement, alternating passages of sharp attack with smooth sections. This