Do you know who your father is?

No, this is not the topic of the latest Jerry Springer episode. What I mean is do you know whom the father of Jazz Dance Technique is? Who do we all, as jazz dancers, owe some gratitude to? Most jazz dancers are well versed on the trendy teachers of today. But where did it all start? Who took the popular jazz dance steps of the early 1900's and made it a technique? The answer: Jack Cole.

Okay, you might not feel comfortable calling him daddy, just yet. Nevertheless, it is only fair that you get the chance to know him a little better. So let's start at the beginning.

Why do we consider him the "father" of jazz dance technique?

Jack Cole began as a modern dancer with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. During the depression era, he switched from modern to commercial dance. He danced and choreographed in nightclubs and would go on to work for Broadway and the movies. Jazz dance steps were popular at the time but lacked a technical side. Cole was the first to merge the modern dance aspect of motivation for movement with popular jazz dance steps to make technical and artistic jazz dance.

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In addition to modern influences, Cole had a background in East Indian dancing and Lindy hop. He blended all of these elements to create a distinctive style. If we look at the face of Cole's jazz dance style, we are bound to see an uncanny resemblance to ourselves.

From Cole's modern training, he brought a low sense of gravity. The use of deep plié gives jazz its sense of power and explosiveness. From East Indian dancing, Cole borrowed a refined use of isolation. Today, isolations are an integral part of jazz classes. From the Lindy hoppers, he brought an intricate use of swing rhythm - syncopation. The use of knee slides and floor work came from Cole's acrobatic experience. These common traits are found in the jazz dance genes of today. If Jerry Springer paid for the DNA testing, the results would be 99.98% positive that Jack Cole was indeed our father.

Jack choreographed numerous Broadway and Hollywood musicals. In Hollywood, Cole was put in charge of training dancers for the movies. To train dancers for his aggressive and cat-like style, Jack taught Cecchetti ballet, Humphrey/Weidman modern, East Indian dance, flamenco, and gymnastics. The classes included such movie and dance stars as Gwen Verdon, Ann Reinking, Rita Hayworth, Matt Mattox, and Mitzi Gaynor. Cole choreographed the films The Merry Widow, No Business Like Show Business, Kismet, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn Monroe. On Broadway, he choreographed several musicals including Kismet.

If Jack Cole is such a big deal, why haven't I heard his name before?

Sadly, knowledge of Jack Cole seems limited to jazz dance aficionados and college dance history students. Part of the reason for this is that Cole never had a major hit like Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins who followed him. Another factor is that Jack's technique was never codified. Nevertheless, every jazz class shows evidence of his legacy. From the deep plié in second position to shoulder and head isolation in the warm up - all jazz dance classes are an extension of Jack Cole's ingenuity.

When we look at the family tree of jazz dance, we see Jack Cole at the base where musical theater and modern jazz branch off. Turning jazz dance into a technique helped it to flourish. Every jazz dance technique class is a descendent of one man's creativity. That man is the Father of Jazz Dance Technique: Jack Cole.