Dancers Over 40 Presents 'Jack Cole' at Symphony Space 10/13

Dancers Over 40 begin the second season of its popular series of panels and performances featuring Broadway and Film director/choreographer Jack Cole with “Jack Cole, Alive and Kicking” on Monday, October 13th at 8:00pm at The Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street.  It will be hosted by legendary television talk show host Dick Cavett.   Jack Cole gave Broadway, film and television a vocabulary and style of movement that is still imitated today.  Protégés Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, Carol Haney and Bob Fosse have passed down his legacy, and his influence can still be seen.  The popularity of these panels exposes a need within the theatrical/dance community to preserve the History, Legacy and Lives of dancers throughout the Golden Years of Theatre and Dance,

There will be clips of Cole’s television and film work, with special guests DO40 Advisory Board Members Chita Rivera and Marge Champion (in an incredible clip from the Cole-choreographed movie, “Three for the Show”, 1955), choreographer Alan Johnson, original Cole company members Ethel and George Martin, and other Broadway performers.  Member Gemze De Lappe assisted Cole in his revival of “Kismet”, and will be joined by member Stuart Hodes to discuss his experiences in that show in (as he did in DO40’s first panel in May, 2007). DO40 Board Member George Marcy (who performed in Cole’s last B’way choreography credit, “Man of La Mancha”), is seen in a taped interview by Cole documentary filmmaker and DO40 member Annette Macdonald who will also talk with director/choreographer Larry Fuller (“Evita”) who worked with Cole in Las Vegas and DO40 member, Norma Doggett Beswick, who was picked by Cole at 17 to perform in “Magdalena” (1948).  The spirit of Gwen Verdon, one of Cole’s original company members and dance muse, infuses the evening, as she is featured in almost every Cole movie musical, along with Ethel and George Martin.   Dana Moore (“Dancin’,” “Fosse”) will perform a Cole inspired piece with NYC Dance Makers (founded by Patricia and Lesley Lockery, dedicated to preserving not only theater, but television and film dance); with Carol Schuberg and DO40 member Patricia Lockery, who also choreographed the piece. The evening will be videotaped, as all past DO40 events and donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Collection at the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts.                 

Along with honoring directors, choreographers and dancers, DO40’s mission is also to assist dancers in need, and the group will now donate yearly to a new program at The Actors’ Fund, spearheaded by Bebe Neuwirth, called the Dancers’ Resource.  DO40 founding member Zoya Leporska left money in trust specifically for that purpose.   They will be presenting their first check to the Actors’ Fund at the Cole Event.  DO40 are not only promoting their own history and legacy, but will now help by donating to this important fund to help dancers enrich their lives and continue their artistic journey.

Tickets are $15.00 for DO40 members, $35.00 for non-members in advance ($50.00 day of) and are available by calling Symphony Space at 212-864-5400 or going to their website, www.symphonyspace.org.   

Dancers Over 40, Inc. was created as a not-for-profit organization to provide a community of support in response to the fiscal -- as well as physical - needs of mature dancers, choreographers and related artists. The goals are to seek educational opportunities, present seminars, socials and panel discussions on topics important to mature dancers concerned about their ability to continue to live and work in a creative environment and continue the legacy to those dancers about to begin their journey.  Founded in 1994 by a group of Broadway dancers, the growing organization also publishes a newsletter.  Memberships are available for ALL (you do not have to be a dancer). To watch clips from previous panels and performances, go to www.youtube.com/dancersover40  For more information as well as photos and features on DO40 events please go to the website:  www.dancersover40.org