tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post8048764483201327552..comments2023-05-17T03:40:26.994-06:00Comments on Cinema Nritya: Choreographer/Dancer Jack Cole and "Hindu Swing"MinaiMinaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-90894777109380467632020-06-21T14:39:39.159-06:002020-06-21T14:39:39.159-06:00Hello there! I absolutely loved this blog entry, a...Hello there! I absolutely loved this blog entry, and I find your theories and content fascinating! I am somewhat skeptical about the extent/impact of Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury's influence on Jack Cole's integration of Bharata Natyam dance or Cole's style in general, as Kismet had already gone up on Broadway in 1953, and the extent of Cole's use/integration of Bharata Natyam, and its influence on his choreographic style, had been well demonstrated/observed earlier in his work. At the time of Kismet's 1953 Broadway opening, Bhaskar would have been only 23, and not quite yet in the US (or at least not for very long?), as Bhaskar is said to have arrived in the USA in 1955, which would put his arrival after the opening of the Broadway production of Kismet in NYC, and probably after the movie's filming in Hollywood, since the movie released in late 1955. Now, as for any other interactions after that, all bets are off! Having already possessed a zeal for Bharata Natyam, there's no reason to doubt that Cole, probably around 44 by the time Bhuskar himself started teaching/choreographing, wouldn't have stopped in to observe Bhuskar's work in the studios! Cole definitely would have been in NYC at some point during 1957 to choreograph the Broadway production of 'Jamaica'. If anyone knows anything else, I'd love to read/see more!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-49904717242706189642017-01-25T19:30:01.133-07:002017-01-25T19:30:01.133-07:00Greetings Fritz! Apologies for the delay in my res...Greetings Fritz! Apologies for the delay in my response--it takes me longer to respond these days. Oh what a find that you located, and in Key West which is fairly surprising! I would love to see the photo--you are welcome to email me at kasuvandi ^at^ gmail ^dot^ com. I would also highly recommend you send it to Debra Levine whom I mentioned at this end of this blog post. Debra runs the artsmeme blog and is a specialist on Jack Cole (one of the very few!!). Here's her blog's <a href="http://artsmeme.com/about/" rel="nofollow">contact page</a>. Thank you so much for sharing the news of your find with me, and I'm very happy that you found my post and found it helpful. MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-63894911621061078042016-12-18T06:04:27.122-07:002016-12-18T06:04:27.122-07:00How excited I was when finding this exquisite blog...How excited I was when finding this exquisite blog on Jack Cole .<br />Just yesterday , while on a holiday break , I wandered through a small Antique thrift-shop <br />on the Isle of Key West, and my eyes were suddenly drawn to a glassframed photo-print by a Hollywood-photographer I had never heard of before ,called Marcus Blechman. The beautifully aged black & white print showed a Male dancer, togetherwith two female dancers , and a signature of Jack Cole.<br />Admiring the moody 'Follies style ' depiction of the posing dancers ,Somehow I sensed this piece had true value , and I mean a value beyond E-Bay pricetags ..<br />I was able to purchase the embossed print for a good price, leaving the store ,thrilled to be able to bring it home back to Europe. <br />Now , I haven't been able to find this particularly image online , using searchtags as Marcus Blechman ór Jack Cole , and - being a photographer myself ( ánd one who is visibly influenced by hollywood past )- I feel I should offer you the possability to post the image on your blog if you are interested. Now , I'm going back to read this super interesting view into the story behind the photograph. thank you , sincerely : Fritz<br />STUDIO KOKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263832506385349165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-61705327342951986622012-09-25T22:39:53.570-06:002012-09-25T22:39:53.570-06:00Nadine - Hello again! Yes, Levine's work to sp...Nadine - Hello again! Yes, Levine's work to spread awareness of Jack Cole's talent and legacy is wonderful! I wanted to watch her special too but don't have cable either! At some point it might be available online to view.MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-80906708355391448162012-09-24T00:32:47.502-06:002012-09-24T00:32:47.502-06:00I'm back because I wanted copy a link to this ...I'm back because I wanted copy a link to this to artsmeme blog. I just found her tonight. So you two are already connected, it only makes sense. I wish I had cable so I could have seen the full films feature Cole's choreography. Tonight on PBS saw three hours of program, Broadway or Bust, at npr.org/broadwayorbust, Keisha Lelana, how much she had to do in four days with 60 high school kids from all around the country. She was amazing, and all the vocal coaches were, too. NadineisthatUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02014282612899951591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-3947874778783212722012-09-20T21:44:45.539-06:002012-09-20T21:44:45.539-06:00NadineisthatU - Hello and welcome! I'm happy t...NadineisthatU - Hello and welcome! I'm happy that you found my blog through the Kismet dances- they are indeed amazing. I think you're right that Cole was extremely talented in interpreting dance through natural ability. Do follow Debra Levine's artsmeme blog - she recently participated in a TV special highlighting Jack Cole's film work if I remember correctly, which you might find interesting. MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-73652381774796317102012-09-14T20:17:18.683-06:002012-09-14T20:17:18.683-06:00Blog is fantastic. I have only had computer two y...Blog is fantastic. I have only had computer two years and am senior citizen. First place I searched on Youtube was to see the Khyber Pass, and to see if people in Middle East danced. Films I saw were from the very wealthy travelers from the 1930's, and I became mesmerized with the dances of India, and Indonesia. The films had no sound. Knew that it was pure language, not to be mispronounced in anyway. Didn't know of Cole until I saw Mitzi Gaynor's video, "I don't Care." Then tonight to find Kismet, and a link to your blog. Well, just how lucky can you get! I am an Igor Moiseyev fan, too. <br />I saw one of your commenters said Jack was a quick study, and I know he had to see the great stuff to understand it, but I can tell you from experience, that there are those like Cole, whose mind can store and feed back exactly, or know where to reach until they get it. I with my limited experience of seeing dance except thru YouTube would say Cole loved gesture and nature, was primed to rejoice in physical expression. That is way beyond speculation on sexuality I saw mentioned. In the field of communication there is an expression about clarity called the signal to noise ratio. I think Cole experienced every signal he saw and lifted it up for us to see in our rhythm. It is a joy to watch, just as to see a falcon soar, or a horse and rider who share their nervous systems to perfection. I am going to follow some of the links you suggested. I am probably the least educated of your commenters, but I do love dance and hearing the music of other cultures. NadineisthatUhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02014282612899951591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-1292831738590377722012-06-24T22:25:14.166-06:002012-06-24T22:25:14.166-06:00Candace - I am completely stunned by your comment!...Candace - I am completely stunned by your comment! Amazing that you were one of his dance partners. I'm wondering if you are familiar with the Sruti magazine <a href="http://www.sruti.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=117" rel="nofollow">issue</a> that had Bhaskar on the cover and multiple articles about him? Your comment made me read through it again, and I was amazed to find your name mentioned multiple times! You are mentioned as finishing one leg of the tour with Carolyn after Bhaskar's paralyzing accident, again in a description of the friends who helped "Bhaskar keep his chin up," and again in writings by Bhaskar himself noting his two new partners who worked six months on and six months off. What a coincidence to have you here commenting on my blog! So wonderful. When I first read the Sruti articles about Bhaskar, I was so saddened to read about his horrific accident and many other sad things that happened to him. It was interesting to read in Sruti about the films he had done. Do you know of any other film dances Bhaskar had done? The articles say his only other classicalish dance was in "Dances of India" by Trident Films. <br />It's wonderful to read your confirmation that Creation of Woman wasn't the best example of Bhaskar's abilities. And you have his loin cloth! :) But most of all I'm happy to read your note that Jack Cole and Bhaskar rehearsed at the same studio - further proof of my theory! Thank you again, feel free to send me an email at kasuvandi@gmail.com. Toodles!MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-31120113856420995202012-06-22T20:35:04.223-06:002012-06-22T20:35:04.223-06:00sorry for the double post. Bhaskar said they were ...sorry for the double post. Bhaskar said they were both rehearsing at the same rehearsal studio. Cole was a VERY quick study. He would watch Bhaskar's rehearsals and just use what he liked. As far as I know it wasn't lessons.Candace Hibbard Lillienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-53290520646998036682012-06-22T20:27:59.013-06:002012-06-22T20:27:59.013-06:00I was one of Bhaskar's partners, 1976 until th...I was one of Bhaskar's partners, 1976 until the accident. He always told me the same thing about his influence on Jack Cole. Who can say? But CREATION OF WOMAN is an awful example of the BHASKAR: DANCES OF INDIA Bharatha Natyam technique. Believe me, it was VERY crisp and exactly on line. Fast, too. The dancers in the Merchant film are just beginning to learn the dances. It was early in the time Bhaskar was in the U.S., and they had not had time. BTW, i still have that loin cloth, if anyone is interested....Candace Hibbard Lillienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-72524838201483222862012-04-13T13:03:41.086-06:002012-04-13T13:03:41.086-06:00I haven't seen the 1982 Annie in such a long t...I haven't seen the 1982 Annie in such a long time and had completely forgotten about the turban-ed "Indian" Poon-jab character played by a black guy. :) What a humorous dance he does in that first link- gotta love the head movements and the faux-hand gestures he does at the end. And that Nita Bieber dance is great. I immediately saw tons of Jack Cole influences and then read her biography and saw that she was a Jack Cole dancer! Great finds, thank you for sharing.MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-56211127186373169582012-04-12T14:05:44.327-06:002012-04-12T14:05:44.327-06:00Hi,what do you think of this?From 1:11 to 2:16.In ...Hi,what do you think of this?From 1:11 to 2:16.In general,in my opinion it's a nice dance number.The choreographers are Joe Layton and Arlene Phillips.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3min3gGlmo<br /><br />And i signal this:http://www.nitabieber.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=58Jazz dancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076258116641497405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-83049864473197753652012-04-11T20:36:17.056-06:002012-04-11T20:36:17.056-06:00Jazz dance - So you're the source of that grea...Jazz dance - So you're the source of that great Limehouse Blues clip! What a rarity, especially since it's an old TV clip--I'm so glad you posted it for us dance lovers to see! Yes, all those reasons I listed for why Jack Cole is not so well-remembered today were all theories I had read in either Loney's Unsung Genius book or other sources listed. I wonder if the reasons you agree with (lack of hit show and director/choreographer roles) were due to Jack's own actions/wishes or if they were due to outside pressures/influences on him due to some of the other reasons listed. It seems hard to say for sure, and from everything I read on Jack he struck me as a person that had a love/hate relationship with the Hollywood cinema machine that likely affected how he chose to interact with it. But I am certainly no Jack Cole expert! :)MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-67762070404012030252012-04-11T19:45:07.177-06:002012-04-11T19:45:07.177-06:00Wow,"Limehouse Blues" it's from my Y...Wow,"Limehouse Blues" it's from my YouTube channel.<br />Sorry for my english,i'm italian.First of all,my compliments for this blog.I absolutely don't think Jack Cole is not as famous as Fosse or Robbins etc. because never dabbling in serious modern dance like Martha Graham or because he was gay(!).About the volatile temper and difficult,sometimes abusive,it may have been damaged,but partially.Instead,i agree with my Facebook friend Bob Boross,especially about his first and second point:Cole "never had a big hit show",and he was never employed in a "director/choreographer" role.<br />I have linked this page on my Facebook group about Jack Cole:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Coleone-of-the-greatest-choreographers-and-dancers-ever/162119210496478Jazz dancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076258116641497405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-47678987951661342092012-03-05T20:52:36.748-07:002012-03-05T20:52:36.748-07:00Sydney - How exciting, I didn't realize you we...Sydney - How exciting, I didn't realize you were so close to the production! In my post I had linked to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tasHkDiJXRA&feature=related" rel="nofollow">"teaser" video</a> of the Jack Cole Project, and there I see a couple small snippets of Not Since Nineveh rehearsals- the male dancers look phenomenal! I'm most impressed by their rendition of the flamenco number Cole choroegraphed for a film (I forget the name). Excited to see the final production, somehow!MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-1627072757814215062012-03-02T13:18:53.322-07:002012-03-02T13:18:53.322-07:00I've been watching their rehersals and they se...I've been watching their rehersals and they seem up for the challenge!Sydney Prattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-78050481982176972022012-02-24T20:14:26.596-07:002012-02-24T20:14:26.596-07:00Sydney Pratt - Thank you for the information. I h...Sydney Pratt - Thank you for the information. I hope the performance is recorded and available for purchase/viewing later because I certainly live on the wrong side of the country! :) I'm curious if anyone can do as much justice to Not Since Nineveh as the original Ababus did!MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-58151002371409077682012-02-22T15:45:14.547-07:002012-02-22T15:45:14.547-07:00In May, Queens Theatre in Queens, NY is opening a ...In May, Queens Theatre in Queens, NY is opening a show THE JACK COLE PROJECT. Alot of the pieces of Kismet will be performed. I think it is something definitely worth seeing if you are interested in his Indian style!Sydney Prattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-81777984087365521642012-01-18T21:25:22.479-07:002012-01-18T21:25:22.479-07:00Dance on Film - Hello! Thank you very much for the...Dance on Film - Hello! Thank you very much for the compliments- I see from your username you have similar interests. :) That's a very interesting story of how Cole was first exposed to the Indian/Swing combination. It seems curious though, especially since I read in one of the books I cited that once when Jack played some big band music or something similar in Ruth and Shawn's place, they reacted negatively and felt it was "defiling" the "temple." The Unsung Genius book mentions another version of the "story" of how Cole got exposed- it said it was Marcus Blechman who casually suggested the idea of pairing the movements with jazz music to Cole, and it took off from there. So it's hard to know what's true isn't it! Seems that's true of quite a lot about Jack's life, especially his personal life...MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-84866093597267606332012-01-18T16:35:19.112-07:002012-01-18T16:35:19.112-07:00This post is brilliant! For someone who has just b...This post is brilliant! For someone who has just been introduced to Jack Cole, you have "processed" so much of him - and write about it beautifully. There is a story (fable?) about how Cole was introduced to doing Hindu movements to jazz music: While touring with Ruth St. Denis and appearing at some small venue on the East Coast, Miss Ruth asked the band leader: "What choice of music do we have?" The band leader replied: "The only Indian music we have is 'In an Indian Temple Garden,' but it is a swing version." Miss Ruth asked the band to play it. As they played, she marked the choreography and said; "Yes, that will do just fine."<br /><br />Thanks for your passion, knowledge and incredible information on your site. It is now a big "FAVORITE" of mine.Dance on Filmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475332623952542934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-87131922102937051612011-12-30T20:18:06.827-07:002011-12-30T20:18:06.827-07:00Thank you Anand. Do you mean "La Bayadere&qu...Thank you Anand. Do you mean "La Bayadere" the ballet production, or is there a film adaptation of it you're referring to? I've just started watching some YouTube clips of these "oriental"-type ballets, and from what I can gather the ones supposed to be inspired from Indian dances seem to be inspired more in costumes than movement. I do see some namaste-hands, general arm fluidity, and maybe a half-seated posture but haven't seen much that looks really "Indian" to me. It seems the point isn't really to have authentic Indian movement but rather to be just exotic. :) But I could be wrong- will have to explore this topic further! Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again.MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-75200916550499032822011-12-27T16:48:07.026-07:002011-12-27T16:48:07.026-07:00Hi Minai,
You really have a nice website with wel...Hi Minai,<br /><br />You really have a nice website with well-researched articles on Indian Dance. Eventhough, I enjoy reading your articles, I have never commented before. I just wanted to ask if you have already reviewed "La Bayadere"...I think that would neatly fit under Western adaptations of Indian classical dance traditions...(even though it's an opera containing several dance pieces)...Thanks...Keep up the good work !! :)<br /><br />AnandAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-3745058909046958922011-12-27T13:42:09.183-07:002011-12-27T13:42:09.183-07:00gaddeswarup - wow, that book is a wonderful find, ...gaddeswarup - wow, that <a href="http://books.google.com.au/books?id=HmusVA1XKOoC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=Bhaskar+Roy+Chowdhury+at+%27Village+Elders%27&source=bl&ots=bW354YvM1k&sig=MqaNPCVCgG-UAicjxdFNJxuosfQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wiHxTpTXIK6XmQXw1tGwAg&sqi=2&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false" rel="nofollow">book</a> is a wonderful find, thank you for posting about it! 4 pages describing more about Bhaskar! There's so little info about him on the 'net that this is a great addition. How sad that he had some very tragic things happen to him at the end of his life.MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-62124535922886012082011-12-21T13:25:43.631-07:002011-12-21T13:25:43.631-07:00Yes,it is the book by Coleman and is available on ...Yes,it is the book by Coleman and is available on the net. I posted some links here<br />http://gaddeswarup.blogspot.com/2011/12/interesting-indian-dance.html<br />Since the images of that sculpture stayed with me.gaddeswaruphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16509075029154476375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812053459854550777.post-52406516059127275122011-12-21T12:20:18.488-07:002011-12-21T12:20:18.488-07:00rameshram - Thank you. I need more info on this Ki...rameshram - Thank you. I need more info on this Kismet-Star Wars comparison! :)<br /><br />cinemachaat - Lovely to find someone else that has seen Kismet! From reading reviews of the film, it didn't seem to be very well received in its day (apparently it was very hurriedly made). The funniest part to me is all the non-middle eastern things in it that appeared to go the heads of every reviewer I've ever read. :) Glad you enjoyed the post and the research, thanks for the comment!<br /><br />gaddeswarup - What an interesting connection! So Bhaskar came from an artistic family then. Are you referring to the 'Village Elders' book by Coleman that documents photos of the Gay/Lesbian community in NY? If so, this has my mind theorizing all sorts of things! Was Bhaskar part of that community (this certainly crossed my mind as I watched "The Creation of Woman"), or were his performances popular there? Jack Cole was apparently a closeted gay man, so I wonder if he had any sort of connection with Bhaskar (and this would further strengthen my theory that Cole and Bhaskar studied extensively together). I have a feeling that given the homophobia of the time period there is a whole other side to Cole's history and the dance community he was a part of (and Ted Shawn, etc.).MinaiMinaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868497630163066412noreply@blogger.com