Jack Cole

Considered the Father of Jazz Dance Technique and The Father of Theater Dance, Jack Cole began as a modern dancer. Switching to jazz style dance during the Great Depression, he was the first dancer to combine the popular jazz steps of the time, aspects of modern dance and ethnic influences, creating artistic and technical jazz dance. He was the first dancer to formalize a theatrical jazz dance technique. He choreographed Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, with Marilyn Monroe, preceded by commentary from dance writer Debra Levine.y. He was alive from 1911-1974 and was very inspiring.