Dancers Over 40 Kicks Off Season with Jack Cole Salute Tonight 10/13

Dancers Over 40 (DO40) kicks off the second season of its popular series of panels and performances saluting Broadway and film director/choreographer Jack Cole with "Jack Cole: Alive and Kicking"  tonight Monday, October 13th at 8:00pm at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York. 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 (pictured), 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. DO40 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 Broadway choreography credit, Man of La Mancha), is seen in a taped interview by Cole documentary filmmaker and DO40 member Annette Macdonald 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. DO40 members Dana Moore, Patti Lockery and Carol Shuberg will perform a Cole-inspired piece choreographed by Patti Lockery. (Patti and Lesley Lockery founded NYC Dance Makers a few years ago. It is dedicated to preserving not only theater, but also television and film dance.) Quinn Lemley, one of New York's favorite cabaret artists, will open the evening as Rita Hayworth, performing the Cole-choreographed Put the Blame on Mame. The evening will be videotaped and donated to the Jerome Robbins Dance Collection at 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 (and Fosse assistant) 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 journeys. 

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 visit  www.dancersover40.org

Photo credit: Walter McBride/Retna LTD