INDIA
THE NEW JACK COLE DANCERS
COME TO
COLE JAZZ & The NEW Jack Cole Dancers are dedicated to preserving the style and technique of Jack Cole, whose groundbreaking, culturally rich movement, born from African and Indian based modalities, shaped the foundation of American Jazz Dance. The company celebrates the roots of this lineage, while expanding on Cole’s legacy with new work that speaks to today’s audiences and artists. Cole's style is maintained today as one of the most dynamic and influential styles of Jazz Dance in history, and Artistic Director Cam Loeser is currently the sole representative of Cole's dynamic technique.
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We envision an exciting cultural trade between COLE JAZZ and the art community in India, spearheaded by Pia Sutaria and Cam Loeser, with the goal being to create more artistic and dance performing opportunities for young dancers, as well as bringing performance of the highest quality to the audiences in India India. This endeavor would mark the first time in history that Cole's legacy has been re-introduced to India and hark a thrilling return of Jazz to the culture that informed it.
The trade would include a 3 week educational and developmental process, with Cam and his associate Evy Vaughan training the students at The Institute of Classical and Modern Dance and The Indian Youth Dance Company in the dynamic Cole Technique, as well as reconstructing company repertoire on a select group of dancers. These 3 weeks would culminate with a thrilling dance concert, during which the students will present their piece, and The NEW Jack Cole Dancers will perform select company repertoire, offering the opportunity for the students to watch and perform alongside a NY based company of professional dance artists.​​
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COLE JAZZ would also bring their exciting new production, The NEW Jack Cole Dancers CLUB ACT, to India for a run this October 2026, with a one week rehearsal/ tech process followed by a limited run of performances. This endeavor would pre-ceed the production's future opening in London, fostering a connection between the art scene in India to that of the West End and NYC, and re-affirming India as a key player in the American Jazz canon.
To deepen the cultural exchange, the company would train in Bharatanatyam on a daily basis with a local instructor, bringing more nuance and integrity into their understanding of Cole's style. ​​
THE NEW JACK COLE DANCERS'
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​Jack Cole was the man who put Jazz Dance on the commercial map in America, who originally put Indian Classical Dance to Jazz music and created Natya Swing, who was the only choreographer Marilyn Monroe would work with, who helped shape Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Chita Rivera, and other stars of the Hollywood era, who gave a young Gwen Verdon a chance and sparked her rise to stardom. His work was seen across mediums, from Broadway shows to iconic films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend was his first collaboration with Marilyn), Three for the Show, There’s No Business Like Show Business, On The Riviera, Kismet, and more. His provocative fusion of world dances was unlike anything ever seen before on the commercial stage, and folks were in awe of his innovative mind.​​​
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers' CLUB ACT is reminiscent of Jack Cole's original troupe of dancers who made history over one hundred years ago performing in iconic jazz clubs across the US, exposing this iconic style of movement to the masses. Our CLUB ACT, originally presented at The Midnight Theater in Manhattan to sold out audiences, is making a return in New York City this summer ahead of a London run later this year.​
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CLUB ACT
​However, it was largely Cole’s work on the jazz club stage that first led to the popular spread of American Jazz Dance, so it is through this junction in time we now look. ​​​​​​Directed and choreographed by Cam Loeser, the CLUB ACT is a groundbreaking new concept and the only existing performance venture of its kind. The act transports its audience back in time to a roaring, scintillating supper club of the early 1900s, and celebrates the lineage and evolution of Jazz Dance through the lens of Jack Cole's legacy. ​
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THEN
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Cole made history when he began his journey studying African and Asian-based cultural forms with experts such as Uday Shanker, La Meri, and more, and immersing himself in the social dance community raging in Harlem, in order to foster an authentic understanding of these cultures and their vernacular styles. With this knowledge, Cole was able to theatricalize these dances for the stage and film, without losing the integrity of their cultural roots. Cole's style soon became the defining style of Theatrical Jazz Dance in America, and paved the way for many iconic artists who followed in his footsteps. Before Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins.... there was Cole.
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NOW
We aim to reflect the care Jack Cole took to instill truth into his work by bringing those who have been historically unrepresented, but have contributed vastly to the identity of Jazz, back to the forefront of the conversation. The COLE JAZZ Team is committed to casting artists that represent the global majority, as well as the many dance and music backgrounds that relate to Jazz. In terms of choreography, we are proud to have Angel Kaba (African) and Ramita Ravi (Bharatanatyam) on our creative team. Our diverse company of performers are trained in Jack Cole's dynamic and nuanced style of dance, and collaborate with Cam Loeser, as well as Kaba and Ravi, to ensure that every aspect of the work is actively handled with authenticity and respect. ​​​​​
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For our engagement in India we envision including a live Jazz Band made up of local musicians, as well as a local Jazz vocalist, further curating a collaboration between the company and artists based in India. Tanya Chauhan, an original company member, currently lives and teaches alongside Pia in Mumbai, and will be featured in the performance.
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THE ACT
The evening consists of boundary-pushing work that will captivate audiences, featuring a live jazz band of multi-versed musicians, thrilling and distinctive dance works, and passionate vocals. As patrons enter the space, they are transported to a time when supper clubs were all the rage and pulsating jazz music blocked out the rest of the world. A dreamlike sense of timelessness envelops the audience, and by the time the performance begins, they are already fully immersed in this world.​
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Through the reinvigorated lens of its social context, The Act pays homage to Jack Cole's innovative commercial work that spanned mediums, as well as the possibilities for the future of his legacy.
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PROLOGUE
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The space sizzles with energy as the company enters and the band strikes up a jazz standard. The company welcomes the patrons and share exciting bursts of movement together. A thrilling social dance gathering is born, the dancers bringing the space to life the more they dance together. The group forms a cypher, and various company members lead the group in expressing different cultural influences of this work. We see a rhythmic African soloist, a Bharatanatyam soloist, and a joyous Natya Swing trio light up the center of the dance floor. Our VOCALIST for the evening joins in the celebration.
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The spirit of COLE is among the company, driving the action. Our star, EVY, begins as a patron and throughout the prologue is enchanted and brought into the world. She and COLE share a playful and electric duet, before the company comes together and finishes with a exultant finish and a flourishing exit.
​SCENE 1. OJAI
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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​The company performs a provocative group number to a heavy, groovy Big Band piece that layers in elements of the worlds Jack Cole explored, including African, Afro-Cuban, Indian, and Swing dance styles. We see these elements coalescing and living in harmony in the iconic Cole style.​
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EVY is seen exploring the group and the space, her curiosity peeked by this new world she’s stepped into.
SCENE 2. STRAIGHTEN UP
Vocalist + The Band​
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Our VOCALIST, a classic jazz crooner, welcomes the crowd and sings an uplifting and percussive tune with The Band, charming us all with their smooth vocals and intoxicating spirit.
​SCENE 3. DAWN
Soloist + Percussionist​
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Cole’s essence simmering in the vibration of the space, like a phantom or quiet memory.
The space is still. COLE crawls into the space as our percussionist plays a heavy swung rhythm on the djembe. COLE performs a cool, frenetic solo, feeding off the drum. A fiery warm spotlight encases the drummer and dancer. The start of a new era.
​SCENE 4. HEAT
Peacock 1​
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As COLE dashes offtstage, PEACOCK shoots out and launches into a charged solo, heating up the space with their electric energy. She flies offstage in a thrilling frenzy.
​SCENE 5. SOMEONE
Duet + Vocalist
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Ala Cole’s romantic duet for Marge and Gower Champion to 'Someone to Watch Over Me' from Three for the Show.
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After hours at the club. It is late and moody, the romantic limbo that exists only in the dead of night in New York City. A woman finds herself in the club, having wandered in from the street. She is torn between leaving and returning to her life, and moving forward. A stranger coaxes her to stay, offering her support and the promise of new possibilities. They gradually connect and the dance builds to a sweeping, passionate climax.
​SCENE 5. CINEMATIC
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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An homage to Cole's Hollywood film and burlesque work.
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1. BLUES
Ala Cole’s ‘Beale Street Blues’ from The I Don’t Care Girl.
The ladies arrive one by one, flirting with the horn player’s sultry melody. There is heat between them all, an air of challenge and mystery, and they come together in a sensual demonstration of female prowess.
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2. HEATWAVE
Ala Cole’s ‘Heatwave’ performed by Marilyn Monroe in There’s No Business Like Show Business.
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A light bossanova kicks in and the ladies dance an easy Afro-Cuban groove, floating and snaking through the space as a unit.
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3. DIAMONDS
Ala Marilyn in ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
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EVY interrupts the group, stirring things up and flaunting for the ladies. COLE flies into space to join the group. The dancers flock around EVY, intoxicated by her, finishing with a bombastic theatrical finish.
​SCENE 6. HOW HIGH THE MOON
Vocalist + The Band​
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Our VOCALIST performs another upbeat tune with The Band. A DANCER walks in as the VOCALIST begins a scatting break. The two riff off of one another in a playful conversation.
​SCENE 7. STRUT OF THE PEACOCKS
Trio + Percussion​​
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2 female dancers, our PEACOCKS, strut across the stage, on the prowl for the FELINES, who they will later dance with in 'The Club Act.' They exude peacock energy, bird-like and carnal.
​SCENE 8. THE RIFF
Trio​
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COLE and two other feline dancers (our Feline energies) share a rowdy, high flying, athletic trio, filled with quick feet, jumps, splits, slides, cartwheels, and rhytmic grooves. An homage to The Riff Brothers, Gene Kelly & Fred Astaire, and The Berry Brothers.
The three slink through the space, break out into explosive dance breaks, and show off for one another in a playful challenge of strength and grace.
​SCENE 9. MS. EVELYN VAUGHAN
Evy Vaughan/ Female Star​
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A female tore de force 11 o'clock number paying homage to Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and other stars of the era. Filled with nods to old-school torch songs, burlesque, vaudeville, Can-Can, and comedic crowd work.
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EVY begins her act, but efore she gets too far, she stops and decides she would rather do something more personal. She has the BAND strike up ‘In A Sentimental Mood,’ serenading the crowd with her voice, all the while “absentmindedly” continuing her strip. This builds to a thrilling burlesque dance break, cheeky and vaudevillian, which buttons with EVY on the floor.
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EVY decides to go one steps further and she takes the microphone out into the audience and begins chatting with patrons. Her charm and humor romances us all. Before leaving, she breaks out into her wild Can-Can finish. Thanking the crowd, she leaves us with just her silhouette as she perches atop the piano.
​SCENE 10. AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'
The Band
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The Band plays a set as more food and drink is served to our patrons.
​SCENE 11. THE CLUB ACT
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The company dances a celebration of this legacy and Jack Cole’s nightclub acts. Our FELINES energetically heat up the space before our PEACOCKS, along with EVY, creep in and titillate the felines. The group comes together in a frenetic jitterbug that builds to a rapturous finish with a blackout.
​SCENE 12. TAKE ME AWAY
Vocalist​
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The Band plays a groovy, cuban themed melody that builds into a flourishing, romantic tune. Our two dancers from SOMEONE burst into the space for a celebratory, sweeping pass that ends with a groovy, playful tease and send off.
​SCENE 13. HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGIAN
Vocalist​
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Our VOCALIST thanks everyone for joining and performs an earnest, hopeful rendition of the classic anthem, that finishes tender and quiet as the lights fade to black. We feel this could be the end.
​SCENE 14. THE JAM
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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New possibilities. A groovy ensemble piece featuring the company engaging in a rhythmic, celebratory, humorous jam. ​
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1. THE JAUNT
A light piano melody brings the space back to life. The lighting is moody and hushed. The company, appearing as a group of seemingly strangers, are out for a jaunt. They connect and with the music, build to a joyous finish.​
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2. THE HULLA
The entire company joins and dances a celebratory hullabaloo, flying and strutting through the space, relishing in one another and the new possibilities ahead. An ecstatic finish. Blackout, leaving us with a fresh feeling of joy and freedom.