The NEW Jack Cole Dancers' CLUB ACT is reminiscent of Jack Cole's original troupe of dancers who, over one hundred years ago, made history performing in iconic clubs such as The Rainbow Room and The Embassy Club. Our CLUB ACT is hot off of a sold-out inaugural run this past June at The Midnight Theater at Hudson Yards, with roaring audience approval and everyone saying they want one thing... MORE!
The COLE JAZZ Team is now developing an expanded version of the show through a Residency at CUNY and The Laguardia Performing Arts center, with a New York premiere set for Spring 2026 at The Cutting Room, with a West End premiere to follow.
It was largely Cole’s work on the nightclub stage that led to the commercialization and 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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​It is time to bring this titillating and eye-opening production to the next level, and we want YOU to be on this journey with us!
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THEN
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The course of dance history was changed when Jack Cole commenced extensive research into various global dance modalities. He trained with Uday Shankar and La Meri, becoming a master of the Classical Indian Dance form, Bharatanatyam, as well as Asadata Dafora, Mei Lanfang, Eduardo Cansino, all cultural movement experts, seeking profound physical immersion in an array of world and vernacular styles of dance. 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 Choreographer/Consultant) and Ramita Ravi (Bharatanatyam Choreographer/Consultant) on our NY 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.
Though much of our show is a historical tribute to “old school” movement, we are bringing the work into the 21st century by actively challenging the notion that gender determines what roles our dancers are “right” for. Rather, we assign dancers according to their ability to capture the essences that exist within the movement… ie. aloof, feline, cool.​​​​​
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EAST COAST WEST END
COLE JAZZ is gearing up for a West Coast premiere of THE CLUB ACT in Spring of 2026. The Cutting Room (pictured below), a stunning, period-appropriate theater in the heart of Manhattan, is excited to offer their space for this iteration. We will take advantage of this opportunity as an affordable "out of town" developmental process for a West End production in Summer/ Fall 2026.
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COLE JAZZ has been offered a Development and Performance Residency through CUNY at The Laguardia Performing Arts Center in New York City. This will be a 2 week partially funded residency for developing the CLUB ACT with our company and musicians. The residency will culminate with a showing of the work at LPAC's The Little Theater. Following these 2 weeks we will then transition to The Cutting Room for our NY premiere, along with an anticipated short engagement at a larger venue in NY, such as The Joyce.
As much of the show's material is already fleshed out, and our trained company of dancers familiar with the work, this NY engagement offers a cost-effective and efficient opportunity to continue shaping our concept, as well as build bi-coastal awareness in anticipation for the West End premiere.
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This endeavor offers YOU the unique opportunity to be involved in the beginning stages of the work, with a first right of refusal for its continuation to the West End. In the future, we anticipate this highly modular and accessible show will be produced in numerous places across the globe, including Hawaii, Mexico, Tokyo, and India. As part of the initial package, investors will continue to profit from the production's longevity.
For our West End endeavor, we plan to develop a unique version of the show that will maintain the immersive element, while also expanding the production for a larger audience. For this vision we are imagining the project could open in a venue such as Boulevard SOHO (the perfect period performance space) to draw in a crown and raise awareness, and later transfer to a larger space such as 'Here at Outernet' (pictured below) for a longer term run. 'Outernet' is an exciting and dynamic modular space that would allow us this flexibility for a West End run. Other venues appropriate for the work would be Regents Park and Sadler's Wells, both of whom have shown interest in supporting.
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Clayton Howe (Roxedge Entertainment) and Mitchell Reeve (M. Green Entertainment) are onboard as our US/London General Management team. We will collaborate with West End designers and talent, as well as engage a dramaturg/ writer to help expand the show to 1 hour and 45 minutes and offer a more cohesive structure that weaves the show's elements together in an engaging and impactful way.
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Given the affordability of the West End and the openness of its audiences, undertaking a London-based run before returning to New York City promises both an artistic and economical pay-off. After cultivating international appeal, we will then use this model as the foundation for a Broadway production, as well as iterations in Honolulu and Tokyo.​
THE ACT
The evening consist of boundary-pushing work that will stun the NYC nightclub and burlesque scene. The performance includes a live Jazz band of multi-versed musicians, thrilling and unique dance works, and passionate vocals. As patrons enter the space, they will be transported to a time when nightclubs and speakeasies were all the rage and pulsating Jazz music blocked out the rest of the world. Patrons will be captivated by a dreamlike sense of timelessness, and by the time our performance begins, they will already be engrossed in our 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 sharing of community and culture.
Company enters the space and mingles with the audience, welcoming them into our world. Organically, a social dance gathering is born, which turns into a cypher. Various Company members lead the group in expressing the different cultural influences of this work, including African, Indian, and Swing.
​SCENE 1. OJAI
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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A fusion 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.​
SCENE 2. STRAIGHTEN UP
Vocalist + The Band​
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Our Vocalist for the evening performs their first number with The Band.
​SCENE 4. DAWN
Soloist + Percussionist​
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A cool, quiet solo performed by a dancer symbolizing the essene of Jack Cole. A hand percussion plays a steady, swung rhythm, feeding off of the dancer's energy. A firey warm spotlight encases the drummer and dancer, the sun igniting the dawn. The start of a new era.
​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
A slow and sensual female group number, paying tribute to Cole’s ‘Beale Street Blues’ from The I Don’t Care Girl.
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2. Heatwave
A light, bossanova groove paying tribute to Cole’s ‘Heatwave’ performed by Marilyn Monroe in There’s No Business Like Show Business.
3. Diamonds
A female burlesque soloist joins the group, heating things up and dancing amongst the group ala Marilyn in ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’ from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The dancers flock around her, intoxicated by her. This builds to a bombastic theatrical finish.
​SCENE 6. VOCALIST SET 2
Vocalist + The Band​
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Our Vocalist performs another groovy song with The Band.
​SCENE 7. STRUT OF THE PEACOCKS
Trio + Percussion​
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3 female dancers strut across the stage, on the prowl for the felines they will later dance with in the finale. We see a provocative trio.
​SCENE 8. THE RIFF
Trio​
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Our featured male and two other feline dancers share a rowdy, high flying, athletic trio, filled with quick feet, jumps, splits, slides, cartwheels, and partnering. An homage to The Riff Brothers, Gene Kelly & Fred Astaire, and The Berry Brothers.
​SCENE 9. MS. EVELYN VAUGHAN
Female Burlesque Soloist​
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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.
​SCENE 10. THE JAM
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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A groovy ensemble piece featuring the company engaging in a rhythmic, humorous jam. The piece is broken up into numerous sections.
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1. The Jaunt
A humorous quintet. A group of seemingly strangers out for a jaunt, who come together in a joyous dance.​
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2. The Hulla
The group breaks out into a celebratory hullabaloo. ​​
​SCENE 11. CHIT CHAT
Dancer + Vocalist​
A dancer grooves as our vocalist begins to sing. The two have a playful, improvisational conversation through rhythmic footwork and scatting.
​SCENE 12. SOMEONE
Duet + Vocalist
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An homage to Cole’s romantic duet for Marge and Gower Champion to 'Someone to Watch Over Me' from Three for the Show.
​SCENE 13. HAPPY DAYS
Vocalist​
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Our main vocalist thanks everyone for jpining and performs a hopeful rendition of 'Happy Days Are Here Again.'
​SCENE 14. THE CLUB ACT
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The company performs a frenetic jitterbug to the iconic Benny Goodman song 'Sing Sing Sing,' a celebration of this legacy and Jack Cole’s nightclub acts.
​SCENE 15. ENCORE
The NEW Jack Cole Dancers​
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The Company performs a thrilling encore, harking back to exciting moments from the evening.
PROJECTED TIMELINE
SEPTEMBER 2025
London Training Program
A 3 week training program in London co-presented with House of Jazz. We will use this program to expose more West End dancers to the work, holding an audition for the London production in conjunction with the end of this program if we are in a place to do so.
JAN-FEB 2026
CUNY Residency NYC
2 weeks of funded rehearsals in New York City at the Laguardia Performing Arts Center through the CUNY Arts Residency. 1 week rehearsal prior, with a showing in The Little Theater at the end.
SPRING 2026
Premiere of the CLUB ACT at The Cutting Room in New York City. 1 week of rehearsal/ tech, followed by a short engagement at the venue.
The Cutting Room Premiere
SUMMER/ FALL 2026
NYC/ London run
Premiere at a larger NY venue: The Joyce, Little Island. Followed by a premiere at a London venue: Boulevard Soho, The Clapham Grand, Sadler's Wells.
JAN-MARCH 2027
West End Premiere
Followed by a West End run at Here at Outernet. An initial 2 week run with a potential extension.
FALL 2026
West Coast Tour
A potential tour down the West Coast, beginning in San Francisco and stopping at various theater and bar venues, Universities, and studios along the way. Offering masterclasses in conjunction with live performance.
FUTURE 2027
NYC Premiere & Beyond
Premiere of an expanded version of the show to premiere in New York on/ Off Broadway. Plans to package the show and take it to other places, including Hawaii, Mexico, Tokyo, and India.